Uwharrie National Forest ( locally / j uː ˈ w ɑː r i / yoo- WAH -ree ) is a federally designated national forest region located primarily in Montgomery County , but also extending into Randolph and Davidson counties in south central North Carolina . It is the smallest of the four National Forests in North Carolina, with a total area of 50,645 acres (204.95 km). About 79% of its acreage is in Montgomery County. The forest is managed together with the other three North Carolina National Forests ( Croatan , Nantahala , and Pisgah ) from common headquarters in Asheville, North Carolina . However, it does have a local ranger district office in Troy, North Carolina . There is one officially designated wilderness area within the forest—the 5,025-acre (20.34 km²) Birkhead Mountains Wilderness .
13-770: The forest derives its name from the Uwharrie Mountains , the ancient mountains atop which most of the forest sits. The western border of the forest is made by the Yadkin River / Pee Dee River while the northern border follows the northernmost range of the Uwharries near Asheboro . To the east, the forest is bordered by the Montgomery County seat of Troy . The Forest lies within the Southeastern mixed forests ecoregion and supports mixed forests of pine and oak . Land
26-576: A mountain range in North Carolina spanning the counties of Randolph , Montgomery , Stanly , and Davidson . The range's foothills stretch into Cabarrus , Anson , Union , and Richmond counties. The Uwharries were once a coastal mountain range; isostasy has slowly raised the eastern seabed until today they lie in the Piedmont of North Carolina over 150 miles (240 km) from the coast. Formed approximately 500 million years ago by accretion along
39-648: A broad arc from extreme southwest New Jersey southwest to Mississippi . It is distinguished from neighboring ecoregions by elevation and vegetation. At lower elevations to the east are the Middle Atlantic coastal forests on the Atlantic coastal plain . Similarly, the Southeastern conifer forests occupy the Gulf coastal plain to the south. Higher, and to the north and west, are the Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests and
52-944: Is found on ridgetops. The hickories ( Carya spp.) of this ecoregion are identifiable by their pinnately compound leaves. They include pignut ( Carya glabra ) and mockernut hickory ( Carya tomentosa ), both of which grow on a variety of sites from dry ridges to mesic habitats . Understory trees include sassafras ( Sassafras albidum ), hophornbeam ( Ostrya virginiana ), and green hawthorn ( Crataegus viridis ). Flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida ) blooms in early spring. Shrubs include highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum ), lowbush blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifolium ), mapleleaf viburnum ( Viburnum acerifolium ), huckleberry ( Gaylussacia baccata ), mountain laurel ( Kalmia latifolia ). Common pine ( Pinus spp.) species are shortleaf pine ( Pinus echinata ) and loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda ). The pine forests are regenerated by fire. Without fire, hardwood species grow in below
65-501: Is located in the Uwharries region. The Caraway Mountains , a segment of the Uwharries, are located in western Randolph County, west of Asheboro . Southeastern mixed forests The Southeastern mixed forests are an ecoregion of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forest biome , in the lower portion of the Eastern United States . This ecoregion covers the Piedmont region of the eastern United States, stretching in
78-906: The Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests of the Appalachian Mountains . Small stands of these forests extend into north Florida . This ecoregion lies within the Cfa Köppen climate zones, and the Cf and Do Trewartha climate zones, placing it in the humid subtropical climate category, with hot, humid summers, and mild to cool winters. The coldest month mean temperature at or above freezing, and significant precipitation in all seasons. Both oaks ( Quercus spp.) and hickories ( Carya spp.) are abundant in this ecoregion. Additionally, some 3,635 species of native herbaceous and shrub species have been recorded here. American chestnut ( Castanea dentata )
91-525: The Gondwanan tectonic plate, they are thought to have once peaked at some 20,000 feet (6,100 m), before eroding to a maximum of just over 1,100 feet (340 m). The range's high point is High Rock Mountain (1,188 feet (362 m) as measured by the NC Geodetic Survey), in southwestern Davidson County. The Uwharrie lie within the Southeastern mixed forests ecoregion . They give their name to
104-757: The US Army Special Warfare School 's ROBIN SAGE exercise for the training of Special Forces students. The first substantial gold strike in the United States was discovered near this area in 1799, and gold was found in the Uwharrie Mountains in the 19th century. A mini gold rush occurred during the Great Depression . Panning for gold in the forest's streams and rivers remains a popular activity. Boating and fishing are available at Badin Lake, while
117-644: The Uwharrie National Forest . Once entirely cleared for timber and farmland, the mountains were designated a U.S. National Forest in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy . The woodlands have since returned, providing a haven for a diversity of wildlife, recreational facilities, and numerous Native American archeological sites. In 1799, the discovery of gold at the nearby Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County led to America's first gold rush . The North Carolina Zoo , America's first state-supported zoo,
130-481: The 20-mile (32.19 km) Uwharrie National Recreation Trail runs through the forest. Other trails and paths provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, camping, and horseback riding. Off-road vehicles have their own trail system, which is open seasonally. Uwharrie National Forest has received attention for unconfirmed sightings of Mountain lions within forest boundaries. Uwharrie Mountains The Uwharrie Mountains ( / j uː ˈ hw ɑː r i / ) are
143-563: The forest on the Moore County line from north to south. NC 73 runs from west to east from the Yadkin River to Mount Gilead . U.S. Highway 220 runs parallel to I-73 / 74 . NC 109 runs from north to south from the Davidson County line to its end in Troy. NC 24 / 27 both run from the Yadkin River in the west to Moore County in the east. The forest is one of the key locations used in
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#1732851478704156-583: Was first purchased by the Federal government in 1931, and the area was known as the Uwharrie Reservation. The Uwharrie Forest was given federal designation in the early 1960s by President John F. Kennedy , along with the Nantahala , Pisgah , and Croatan National Forests . The forest is bisected by several state and interstate highways. Both Interstate 73 and Interstate 74 run along the eastern boundary of
169-619: Was formerly an important tree in this ecoregion, but its population was destroyed by the chestnut blight in the early 20th century. It still persists as an understory tree, but is often killed by the blight before it matures. The most common oaks ( Quercus spp.) of this ecoregion are white oak ( Quercus alba ), northern red oak ( Quercus rubra ), black oak ( Quercus velutina ), and scarlet oak ( Quercus coccinea ). Black and scarlet grow in open forests. Black oak grows in nearly single-species stands on dry, exposed sites. Scarlet oak grows in various habitats. Chestnut oak ( Quercus prinus )
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