Three Rivers Land Trust, formerly LandTrust for Central North Carolina, has received a $1,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Randolph. The grant will help with Uwharrie Trail development and outreach.

The grant was administered through the North Carolina Community Foundation.

The money will go toward efforts to bring the Uwharrie Trail into Randolph County through land protection in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina Zoological Society. Land Trust is working with the society to develop a trailhead on on High Pine Church Road, which will be open to the public upon transfer to the Forest Service.

Three Rivers has been working in concert with the Uwharrie Trailblazers to build 2.1 miles of new trail through the Walkers Creek area of Forest Service land, bringing the trail off Pisgah Covered Bridge Road and into the forest. This would prevent several miles of road walk for people who hike the full 40-mile length of the Uwharrie Trail.

Land Trust’s efforts also include a four-day, 40-mile backpacking trip of the entire Uwharrie Trail on Oct. 18-21. There are 70 people signed up for this trip, including people from as far away as Texas and Michigan. There’s a waiting list of 30 people who are interested in the hike.

“Three Rivers Land Trust is grateful to the Community Foundation of Randolph County for supporting our efforts to both extend and better publicize the Uwharrie Trail,” said Executive Director Travis Morehead.

Three Rivers Land Trust has filled three gaps along the trail by buying land and transferring it to the national forest. Through these efforts, 7 miles of trail have been added to the Uwharrie Trail north of Jumping Off Rock Trailhead.

To learn more about the project or how to support Three Rivers Land Trust, contact Crystal Cockman at 704-647-0302 or crystal@threeriverslandtrust.org.