A case for a World Class trail system in Uwharrie NC!

1. A case for trail development in
Uwharrie National Forest
Presented by:
Uwharrie Trails and Conservancy and the Land Trust for
Central North Carolina
Uwharrie Trails and Conservancy

2. The Take Away
1. Uwharrie is Central North Carolina’s potential prime
recreation area for: Hiking, Biking, Equestrian,
Boating, Fishing, Hunting and ORV.
2. Currently a large demand exists for new trails to
serve the 6 million residents in the regional area.
3. The Uwharrie Mountains have a wide variety of
natural features, floral and fauna, and history that
should be preserved.
4. New trails allow users to explore more of this area,
which in turn should foster a greater interest in wise
use of this resource.
5. Construction of state-of-art trails, should draw many
recreational tourists, promote local economic
development, and give the local community a great
asset.

3. The Mission
• Combine Trails and Conservation in Uwharrie
to lift up local communities.
• To promote Uwharrie natural assets as a
priceless public resource.
The Vision
• To further the vision of others that have
pioneered the acquisition and protection of
Uwharrie lands.
• Combine them with recreational trail use
and conservation for the greater good!
Our Goal
• Create a world class multi-user trail system
that will compliment and enhance the local
communities.

4. • Trails connect people to the natural environment: Trails
place to place, person to person, and neighbor to
neighbor.
• Trails connect us to scenic landscapes, natural
wonders, and cultural resources.
• They make our communities more livable:
improving the economy through tourism and civic
improvement, and building support for land
protection and stewardship.
• Trails provide opportunities for multiple-use
recreation: promoting physical activity to improve
fitness and mental health.
• They provide access for other recreational
opportunities such as hunting or rock-climbing.
• They enhance educational opportunities:
providing opportunities to improve and test skills,
to be challenged, or to learn about our natural or
cultural environment.
• Trails present opportunities for observation,
enjoyment, and exploration.
• Trails strengthen each of us: offering opportunities
for solitude, contemplation, and inspiration. To
some, trails provide a sense of freedom, personal
accomplishment, self-reliance, and self-discovery.

5. Trails help protect rare habitats and
sensitive resources,by concentrating use Conservation
on designated, sustainable pathways.
• Trails offering a rich and enjoyable experience don’t just happen. Creating a
sense of place and a sequence of events that add interest and offer
challenge are essential to good trail design.
• Moreover, the placement of any trail on the landscape has an ecological
impact. The challenge is to keep impacts to a minimum while providing the
desired experience.
• To be sustainable, a trail must serve the needs of users for generations to
come, while preserving the sense of place and protecting the quality of the
surrounding environment.
• Sustainable trails begin with thoughtful planning, good design, and
meticulous layout.
• Many of our trails suffer from lack of planning and poor design. Many are
user created pathways, or leftover routes from historic farm roads and
logging activities that are not appropriate forlong-term recreational use.
• Improperly planned and constructed trails need frequent maintenance, can
require significant investment in time and money, and still may not meet the
needs of the user or protect the surrounding natural resources.
• A sustainable trail will require little rerouting and minimal maintenance over
extended periods of time.
• A successfully designed trail will entice visitors back time and again.

6. History of Project
1998 – UMBA and Don Childrey
• WoodRun Trail System was born
2006
• Central Park North Carolina established a relationship with
IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association)
2007
• IMBA initiates “Ride Center” initiative and names Uwharrie as 1
of 5 destinations in the nation as a potential model trail system.
• Funding for the project commences.
2008
• Stanly County gets first ever bike park through the Ride Center
project.
2009
• 1.5 miles of new trail completed at Uwharrie.
2011
• Large RTP grant and local cash match by First Bank of Troy
awarded.
• First phase of Ride Center project completed by Trail Dynamics.
2013
• Partnership between LandTrust for Central North Carolina and
Uwharrie Trails and Conservancy forms ,to move project
forward.

7. History of Area
As Good as Gold!
“By the 1830s, gold prospectors and miners had moved into the
Uwharrie Mountain region, searching the hills and panning the
streams. At least fifteen mines, including the Russell Mine,
opened in the Uwharries before the Civil War”.
Sources: North Carolina Museum of History (text), Eldorado
Outpost (pictures )

8. Natural History
• The Uwharrie National Forest was first purchased
by the federal government in 1931 during the
Great Depression. The land was known as the
Uwharrie Reservation.
• In 1961, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed
these federal lands in Montgomery, Randolph, and
Davidson Counties the Uwharrie National Forest.
• It is one of the most recently formed in the
National Forest System.
• Though small, at only 50,189 acres, the Uwharrie
provides a variety of natural resources, including
clean rivers and streams, diverse vegetation for
scenery, wildlife habitat and wood products.
• There is also a wide variety of recreational
activities, and the Forest is a natural setting for
tourism and economic development.

9. Archeology
• The Uwharries and surrounding areas were favorite
stomping grounds of the Native Americans for at least
ten thousand years and probably longer.
• Their legacy and artifacts to future generations include,
but aren't limited to: arrow and spearheads, pottery
fragments, ancient campsites and fish-traps.
• Right below the Uwharrie National Forest is one of the
historic Mississippian culture's east coast ceremonial
centers called Town Creek Indian Mound.
• The archaeology on
the mound began in
the 1930s and some
amazing discoveries
have been made
there over the years.

10. USFS 15 Year Plan
People who work, play, or live in or near the Uwharrie NF were invited to participate in a
series of meetings to learn how the revised plan would be developed.
• Many participants expressed appreciation for the sights, sounds, and smells of nature as a
refuge from urban life; some are interested primarily in conservation of the native ecosystems
while others see the Uwharrie NF as a place to recreate by hiking, mountain biking, horseback
riding, OHV riding, camping, boating, hunting, fishing, or shooting.
• Some look for ways the Forest can provide economic benefits to local communities. All
participants expressed value for the Uwharrie NF’s rural setting and its diversity of native plants
and animals.
Three themes came to dominate the collaborative planning process
and most conversations about the Uwharrie NF:
1. Restoring the forest to a more natural ecological condition: For example,
reducing the amount of loblolly pine plantations in favor of reestablishing
longleaf pine forests or oak-hickory forests.
2. Better managing cultural resources: The Uwharrie NF has an abundance of
artifacts and historic and prehistoric sites within its boundaries. These need
protection, but they also provide opportunities for research, teaching, and
interpretation; and
3. Providing outstanding and environmentally friendly outdoor recreation
opportunities, with excellent trails and facilities: It is a challenge to provide the
kind of experience recreationists want while minimizing impacts to other forest
resources and other forest users.

11. The Urban Crecent
Downtown Winston-Salem: 1.2 hrs, 60 mi.
2011 population 232,000 Downtown Greensboro 1.1 hrs, 60 mi.
2011 population 273,000
Downtown Raleigh: 1.75 hrs, 95 mi.
2011 metro area pop. 1.79 million
Downtown Charlotte: 1.5 hrs, 60 mi.
2012 metro area pop. 1.84 million
Downtown Fayetteville: 1.7 hrs, 80 mi.
2011 population 203,000

12. User Sampling
CURRENT MOUNTAIN
BIKE TRAIL HEAD

13. Project Area
Approx. 14,000 acres

14. Project Phases

15. Phase 1 Complete!

16. Health and Wellness
Trails for Health and Wellness
With millions of acres of public lands and thousands of miles of rivers,
Americans have access to an amazing outdoor “gym” in which they can
pursue a variety of activities. Between the National Park Service and the
Forest Service alone, there are approximately 160,000 miles of trails, 58
national parks, and more than 14,000 recreational sites. This doesn’t include
the numerous state and local parks and recreation areas that may be next
door to your home, school, or worksite. Contrary to popular belief, being
active outdoors doesn’t have to mean a long car trip, a lot of gear, or special
skills.
Trails: A Scientifically Proven Asset
Scientific evidence from the Guide to Community Preventive Services shows
that providing access to places for physical activity, such as trails, increases
the level of physical activity in a community. Trails can provide a wide
variety of opportunities for being physically active:
Walking, jogging, running, and hiking
Bicycling
Fishing
Hunting
Forestry work

17. Community Benefits
• Because of their linear design, trails act as a meeting place for
the community. Trails foster community involvement, and
corresponding pride, in addition to providing an opportunity to
interact with people of varying backgrounds, and experiences.
• Common trail activities such as walking, bicycling, and cross-
country skiing are all relatively inexpensive, unorganized
activities, providing accessible recreation opportunities.
• An important by-product of trails is improved selfimage and
social relationships, reduced crime, a livelier community
atmosphere and a lifestyle which encourages young people to
find their entertainment in healthier and more wholesome ways.
• Trails help build partnerships among private companies,
landowners neighbouring municipalities, local government, and
advocacy groups.
• When residents are encouraged to be involved in a community
project, like a trail project, they feel more connected to the
community.

18. Economic Development
• Over 62.5% of NC’s population is active
• They contribute over $19 billion annually
• Outdoor Recreation Supports 192,000 jobs across the state
• And generates $1.3 billion in local and state taxes

19. The Vision Case Study
• To have a destination quality access park owned and managed by the City
of Anniston where the family can play while mom or dad is o the trail.
• Mayor Vaughn Stewart wants Anniston to be able to call itself “Bike City,
Alabama”
The Project:
• Coldwater Mountain is a 4000 acre tract of land owned by the State of
Alabama's Forever Wild organization and managed by the State Lands
Division of the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
• It is a program dedicated to preserving Alabama's most beautiful land,
while expanding the recreational opportunities available to the public.
• The Coldwater tract was purchased by Forever Wild in the late 90's and is
presently being developed into a world class destination trail system for
mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers.
• Sixty miles of trail have been designed and construction will be performed
in phases over a 3 to 5 year period.
• To date, it is funded primarily through a Recreational Trails Program (RTP)
grant with the help of the Alabama Department of Economic and
Community Affairs (ADECA).
• Funding Update: City Council members voted unanimously to fund
$450,000 to the project, making 9 miles possible!

20. Case Study
Annual Economic Impact:

21. Anniston vs Uwharrie

22. Who is involved
Brian Don
Bristol Childrey
Brian and his son Tyler on Supertree
Brian Bristol
Successor of Don Childrey in Uwharrie
mountain bike trail development.
Previously worked with NC Central
Keyauwee Trail opening day. The fruit Park organization.
of Brian and Don’s vision and effort.
Works for ScanOnline in Albemarle.

23. Ed checking some 2011 Uwharrie work
Ed on his machine of choice: Sweco bulldozer
Ed Sutton
Owner: Trail Dynamics LLC
PTBA Member
Pisgah SORBA/IMBA
Ed, with wife Sophia and son Rudy in Uwharries

24. Cliff hiking to ski
Tuckerman
Ravine in New
Hampshire.
Enjoying Alta’s great snow trails in Utah
Cliff Neill
Land Surveying, Civil Engineering, CAD & GIS
Developing Uwharrie trail plan.
Trail Dynamics Crew at Woodrun Cliff on new Keyauwee Trail
Currently works with Trail Dynamics.

25. Thank You!
Learn More at:
www.uwharrietrails.org
www.landtrustcnc.org
To donate to our cause please contact the Land Trust
for Central North Carolina at:
704.647.0302
landtrust@landtrustcnc.org