King Mountain Property

Randolph County

355 acres Fee Title Ownership

The LandTrust secured a critical link along the historic Uwharrie Recreational Trail this April. The full Uwharrie Trail, once covering approximately 50 miles, has never been officially open for public use. The current contiguous trail owned by the U.S. Forest Service and open to the public covers 20.5 miles in Montgomery County. Another 5 miles are accessible as the Birkhead Mountain Trail on the northern end of the historic trail, in the Birkhead Wilderness Area in Randolph County. This property acquisition makes the addition of 5 or more miles to this great resource a reality, and the future connectivity of the entire Trail a distinct possibility.

The 355-acre King Mountain Property, fills one of the gaps in the Trail. Executive Director Jason Walser notes “This was an absolute ’must-have’ property if the Uwharrie Trail is ever to be reestablished to its full length.” King Mountain connects three completely fragmented USFS parcels, provides only the third public road access point to the Uwharrie National Forest in Randolph County, and is home to the highest point in the Uwharrie National Forest. It is located in an area of outstanding resource waters, and houses a natural community, Piedmont Monadnock Forest, as well as a state rare species, Piedmont Indigo Bush. It’s location adjacent other protected properties provides habitat for large-range wildlife and more efficient management opportunities.

Reconnecting the Trail opens the resource to more user groups, such as trekkers and long distance runners. Presently, the Uwharrie Mountain Run has a 40-mile component where runners go 20 miles, turn around, and run back. Uwharrie Conservation Specialist Crystal Cockman, states, “What a unique opportunity it would be if runners of this popular race could go 40 miles without seeing any of the same scenery. Reconnection of this trail also provides the ability to spend several days camping and hiking on some of the most beautiful and challenging landscapes in the region.”

The Uwharrie Recreational Trail will be an important part of branding the Uwharrie National Forest region as North Carolina’s “Central Park.” With 5 million residents (more than half the state’s population) located within a two hour’s drive of King Mountain, it is not hard to see why this property ranks as one of the highest priority tracts for acquisition by the Uwharrie National Forest in the entire region. This is also why it ranked #1 in North Carolina for potential Forest Legacy funding through the competitive application process in USDA, and why Representative Howard Coble has requested a special appropriation for acquisition of this tract in next year’s federal budget. Although funding for this project is not yet secured, The LandTrust was able to act quickly and purchase the property thanks to a challenge grant by Fred and Alice Stanback, special financing from The Conservation Fund made possible by the Doris Duke Foundation, and special financing from The Conservation Trust for North Carolina.