Trying to plan a quick overnight hang for this weekend, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for spots within an hour or two of the piedmont triad.
This will be my fiance's first experience with backpacking/hanging so I'd like to keep the miles short and the navigation easy. I am thinking of maybe the wilson creek area, south mountains state park, etc. Just wanted to put it out there and see if anyone might think of a place I've overlooked.
Have you looked at the Uwharrie NF ?
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I did some camping there when I was in the scouts, but that's been 8 years ago and I don't remember much about it.
Tell me more please...
Another good spot is Stone Mountain State Park. They have the regular type family campground and some backpack in sites (1 to1.5 miles).
In the Uwharrie area you have 3 good choices: Uwharrie trail or Dutchman's Creek trails near Troy. The Birkhead Mountains Wilderness area near Asheboro, and Morrow Mountain State Park.
Morrow Mountain SP
Birkhead Mountains Wilderness
Stone Mountain SP
Dutchman's Creek
It's only about a mile (or less) to the first group of packpacking camp sites at South Mountains State Park, but it's all up hill.
Wilson Creek area is nice, but I've only become familiar w/ one part it.
I take road 192 to the parking area at Roseborough & take the trail following gregg Prong Creek.
Beautiful area but lots of creek crossing though.
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Here is a thread from a local hang at Birkhead that took place last month. Some info about the trail inside. http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=28307
All of the state parks have good camping. I just got back from South Mountains, and that's really nice. If you were to camp at Shinny Creek camp there's not much uphill to get there and a nice big stream. Stone Mountain SP is fun too in the backcountry. I also like the backcountry site at Rock Castle Gorge/Rocky Knob, in Virginia off the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can park near it and hike in a very short distance, or hike the full loop in from the top.
Good luck! Let us know where you ended up.
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MacGruber already posted the link to our thread about the Birkhead trip a few weeks ago. I scanned a trail map for Birkhead and have it in my trip report here:
http://gear-report.com/birkhead-wild...-and-pictures/
I couldn't find a map anywhere online before the trip... so I hope this helps.
The hiking was pretty easy at Birkhead. My 7 year old daughter went. I had to carry her pack part of the way, but she did fine on the rolling hills.
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Uwharrie is probably your best bet.
We make a crazy 8 loop by combining part of the Uwharrie trail and Dutchman's Creek trail. It works out to be about 18 miles give or take. Its got some pretty tough terrain here and there but nothing too bad. Big Lick Mt. is only a few hundred feet tall but it feels like its straight up. Total elevation change is something like half a mile each way IIRC.
Childrey has a decent book on the area but its a bit old at this point. Not sure if there's anything worth updating or not though. Your local REI will have it.
I THINK Birkshead is somewhat more mellow but I haven't been that way myself.
Thanks for all the help. Starting to look like weather might get in the way so I'll have to keep an eye on that.
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