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Birkhead Mountain Wilderness Area

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Birkhead Mountain Wilderness Area NARRATIVE AND HISTORY OF THE All trails within the Wilderness are BIRKHEAD MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS designated hiking trails, and are blazed in white paint. Travel by horse, motorized WILDERNESS The Birkhead Mountain Wilderness was established vehicles, or bicycles are prohibited. A by the 1984 North Carolina Wilderness Act. The detailed map of the Wilderness is available at goals are to protect and preserve its natural resources and wilderness character and provide for public use. the District Ranger’s Office. The Wilderness includes 5,160 acres at the northern end of the Uwharrie Mountains. These Mountains are considered to be the oldest on the Northern American Continent. Evidence of early Indians date back over 12,000 years. The Catawba Indians and small tribes inhabited the area when the Europeans began exploring the region in the late 1600’s. By 1760, explorers and traders began to exploit the area, some eventually settling in the surrounding area. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origins, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs and marital or The Birkhead family raised a son, John Watson familial status. (Not programs.) Persons with disabilities who (Watt), who was born in 1858. The 3,000 acres that he require alternative means for communication of program acquired over the years were made up of many small National Register Thornburg Farmstead information (Braille, large print, audio tapes, etc.) should contact the USDA office of communication (202) 720-2791 (voice). To file a tenant farms. Thus the mountain range became known complaint, with the secretary of Agriculture Department of locally as the “Birkhead Mountains”. This old ACCESS FROM TROY, NC Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250 or call 1-800-245-6340 or 1- plantation is the core of the Wilderness. Evidence of 800-1234(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity employer. early Indians and settlers can often be found. These Take 109 North to the community of archeological and historic artifacts and sites hold clues Uwharrie and turn right onto Ophir Road. FOR MORE INFORMATION: to America’s past. If disturbed, a part of our heritage Ophir Road becomes Burney Mill Road as UWHARRIE RANGER DISTRICT is lost forever. Federal Law protects such sites and you cross into Randolph County. Continue 789 NC HWY 24/27 EAST artifacts on public land. If you discover such remains, on to the intersection of Lassiter Mill Road TROY, NC 27371 please leave them undisturbed. Remember, as you use the Wilderness, your challenge is to leave no trace of and turn right. Proceed north on Lassiter you passing. This will protect and preserve the area Mill to either of the trailhead locations as Tel: 910-576-6391 for future generations. depicted on the map. FROM ASHEBORO, NC Take Hwy 49 south, approximately 6 miles. UWHARRIE NATIONAL FOREST Turn right onto Science Hill Road. About a NORTH CAROLINA fourth of a mile further, at the T intersection, turn left (south) onto Lassiter Mill Road. Continue on to two trailhead locations as depicted on the map. Gold Miners - Early 1800s UWHARRIE NATIONAL FOREST BIRKHEAD MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS TRAIL 42 11 SR D S R ND IE R F L L E W E P O H !C Tot Hill F Trail Head R B 7 0 S 1 1 T R O S B L A T !C Thornburg Trail Head TH L ORNB I URG A T R TR A N IL AI NT U O M D A R E C H H K C R N I A B R R C B N L S I U N D I R A B A R R B T O E O V R R L H SI L C L N I A !C M Trail Head Parking R B R INS E B B T I O R Roads S S A L D H Thornburg Trail 1.8 Miles H R !C A NC N A N FS6532 R A B Hannahs Creek Trail 1.4 Miles S H ROBBI N S C TR REEK AIL Robbins Branch Trail 3.1 Miles Birkhead Mtn Trail 5.9 Miles EEK HS C R NA district H A N Wilderness 9 0 1 1 R S E CHURC D IN H R P RD H H H IG C R U H D C Y R B H E C I R R U T H S C E N 3 I 4 P 1 H 1 G R HI S 0 0.5 1 Updated 4/21/2010 Miles.
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