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Best Dispersed Camping near Uwharrie National Forest

17 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Uwharrie National Forest offers multiple dispersed camping options throughout its 51,000 acres in central North Carolina. The forest features primitive sites along the Uwharrie Trail and Dutchman's Creek Trail, requiring hikers to pack in all supplies. Birkhead Mountain Wilderness Area provides hike-in only dispersed camping with no facilities. According to reviews, campers seeking solitude should venture deeper into the forest, as sites near Highway 24 may experience traffic noise.

Dispersed camping in Uwharrie is truly primitive. No facilities exist along the trails, requiring campers to carry water or bring filtration equipment for stream water. Several campers noted that "there are no electric, water, or sewer hookups" at dispersed sites. Established fire rings exist at many locations, but visitors must practice proper waste disposal. During hunting season (typically fall), wearing bright colors is essential for safety as the area is popular with hunters.

Access varies by location. The 23/27 trailhead offers overnight parking for backpackers with a decent-sized lot. Little River area can be accessed by boat or hiking in, with a boat ramp where Pekin Road crosses the river. For vehicle-based camping, some areas require 4WD or AWD, and arriving early is recommended to secure spots during peak seasons. Overnight passes are available for purchase at several stores near the forest, including Eldorado Outpost.

The Uwharrie Trail spans approximately 20 miles north-south through the forest. Hikers should be prepared for potential flooding in some sections after heavy rains, which can make creek crossings difficult. The forest features modest elevations with Dennis Mountain reaching only about 700 feet above sea level. Visitors are strongly encouraged to practice Leave No Trace principles, as some sites show evidence of previous trash accumulation.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Uwharrie National Forest (4)

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Uwharrie National Forest

17 Reviews of 4 Uwharrie National Forest Campgrounds

  • Myron C.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 1, 2021

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Truly Primitive Camping in a National Forest

    Personally, I would give dispersed camping here four or five stars, but I have to be objective from the point of view of many campers. This is not an RV camping area, at least not the dispersed camping area. You cannot drive up to the campsites. There are no electric, water, or sewer hookups. There might be at the more developed campgrounds, but if you are camping along the Uwharrie Trail or the Dutchman’s Creek Trail, it is completely primitive. With that said, I have enjoyed camping in the Uwharrie National Forest. 

    This makes my third time in the Uwharrie National Forest. The first time was with a Royal Ranger Junior Training Trails group when I was a Royal Ranger leader. We camped along the Dutchman’s Creek Trail. The second time was with the Boy Scouts when we were preparing the boys for a longer backpacking trip to Philmont in New Mexico. This time was my third time, and I was by myself. I hiked along the creek at what was marked as campsite 1 along the Uwharrie Trail. It was a short hike and easy to moderate. Unfortunately, it wasn’t far enough away to hear distant noises from Hwy 24, so if you want to get away from traffic noise completely, hiker farther in. 

    Obviously, there are no facilities, so I had to take my own water and a water filter. Since I was close to a stream, I had to take care of personal business about two hundred feet farther away. There was evidence that others had been at this site because of the trash, but as always(and I am not patting myself on the back), I left the site cleaner than I found it. I am sure there are other views, but my favorite view was from Dennis Mountain, which is only about 700 feet above sea level. I didn’t make it to Dennis Mountain this time, and I wish I had taken pictures when I was there before. On my previous trips, I also wish I had taken more photos. Nevertheless, backpacking and camping in the Uwharrie Mountains gives you a sense of being in the wilderness.

  • Wyatt M.
    May. 22, 2019

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Little River National Forest Area

    This area was one of my favorite ares for dispersed camping in Uwharrie National Forest while living in North Carolina. The area can be accessed by boat on the Little River, or by hiking in. Me and my friends would always float our kayaks down the river to a place we called "Bird Dog" and camp for the night. If you are looking for a place that has very little traffic, this is the place you want to go! This area would be limited to dispersed camping due to no campsites. It is a National Forest so be mindful of rules and regulations while visiting!

    link: 

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd485941.pdf

     There is a boat ramp where PEKIN ROAD crosses the Little River.  PLEASANT GROVE CHURCH ROAD pretty much cuts right through the area on the PDF.

  • Marvin D.
    Nov. 11, 2022

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Good challenging hiking, and plenty of campsites along the trails. This is a good place for a 'shakedown hike' if you ever plan on through hiking the AT. There are a few different trailheads, so you are never too far from your car or civilization. 23/27 trailhead has a decent sized parking lot and allows for overnight parking for backpacking etc. Rt 109 trailhead has slightly smaller parking.

    If you are car camping, there are established campsites for that, and you can basically disperse camp anywhere there is a site in the Uwharrie.

  • b
    May. 22, 2021

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Uwharrie campground

    The State Forest has camping. We used our pop-up with a generator in rustic locations. There are hiking, horse, OHV, dirt bike, ATV, and mountain bike trails.

  • Misery C.
    Nov. 3, 2021

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Primitive camping

    We primitive camping here at least every other weekend. We love it. Great trails, beautiful scenery. A peaceful experience

  • Sean R.
    May. 30, 2019

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Backpacking In Uwharrie

    It should be no shock to those familiar with North Carolina’s geography that if one is seeking higher altitudes and breathtaking overlooks, Uwharrie is not the place he should go. Notwithstanding, as much of the higher elevations are impassable during the winter months, the forest offers backpackers an opportunity to stay on the trail a few days. The Uwharrie Trail, which pretty much spans the park north/south is about 20 miles point to point. The trailhead is kind of hard to follow sometimes, sections of the trail are prone to flooding and creek crossings can become difficult following heavy rains. Overall, however, the forest is a good place for backpacking in this region of the state. Th streams, provided one has filtration or iodine tablets, provide ample sources of drinking water.

  • Zachary S.
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Dispersed camping

    This is a great area for dispersed campers with 4WD or AWD. It's pretty popular so head out early to secure your spot. Some of the sites may have a little trash left from the last user, so please try to leave it cleaner than you came to. No toilets for disperesed areas. Most sites have rock fire pits and room to set up. Love it here. Plenty of OHV trails as well.

  • Wyatt M.
    May. 22, 2019

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Dispersed camping/hunting area

    This area was a place that I went often to deer hunt in the fall. I have never came across another camper/hunter at this location. It is a good location if you are looking for an area that is away from camp grounds and heavy traffic. I never shot a deer here but they are in the area.  The area is just SW of Troy, NC down HWY 109/24. On the map below, it is the most western forest area. 

    Link to Map: 

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd485941.pdf

  • Erica
    May. 26, 2019

    Uwharrie National Forest

    Great off-roading

    First time at Uwharrie and we drove about 5 hours to get there but it was worth it! It’s a huge area with several campgrounds. We stayed in 2 different dispersed primitive sites and they were both great. Plenty of space and trees and privacy! There are a 6 different stores/gas stations that have the overnight passes available for purchase. We got our passes from Eldorado outpost and the attendants there were very knowledgeable and helpful! We also took our Jeep on the OHV trails and had a blast. There are several places you can take a canoe or kayak on and the scenery on the lake was beautiful as well. They also have several hiking trails throughout. Canebrake horse camp is located in Uwharrie and has horse trails throughout. We didn’t come across a park store but they did have showers and bathrooms in the actual campgrounds. There’s a store/gas station (Eldorado Outpost) right down the road and they also have an air compressor for inflating tires (which is handy for off-roading). It was definitely a long drive but we will definitely be making the trip again. We really liked the secluded primitive campsites and the various trails we were able to take our Jeep on.

Guide to Uwharrie National Forest

Uwharrie National Forest dispersed camping areas provide remote wilderness experiences across the 51,000-acre forest's varied terrain. The forest's moderate climate allows for camping nearly year-round, with temperatures ranging from 30-90°F depending on season. Campsites along trails require different preparation levels depending on location, with some accessible sites near trailheads and others requiring significant hiking to reach.

What to do

Hunting opportunities: The western forest area offers secluded spots for deer hunters. "This area was a place that I went often to deer hunt in the fall. I have never came across another camper/hunter at this location. It is a good location if you are looking for an area that is away from camp grounds and heavy traffic," notes Wyatt M. about Uwharrie National Forest.

Kayaking and river camping: Access the Little River area by boat for a unique camping experience. "Me and my friends would always float our kayaks down the river to a place we called 'Bird Dog' and camp for the night. If you are looking for a place that has very little traffic, this is the place you want to go," shares a visitor to Uwharrie.

Off-road vehicle trails: The forest contains designated OHV areas for Jeeps and other off-road vehicles. "We also took our Jeep on the OHV trails and had a blast. There are several places you can take a canoe or kayak on and the scenery on the lake was beautiful as well," reports Erica from her camping trip.

What campers like

Diverse campsite options: The forest provides both developed campgrounds and free camping near Uwharrie National Forest. "We stayed in 2 different dispersed primitive sites and they were both great. Plenty of space and trees and privacy!" writes a reviewer about Dispersed Camping off Falls Dam Trail.

Well-maintained trails: The wilderness areas offer accessible hiking even for less experienced backpackers. "Very nice trails. Well maintained. Not marked the best... signs at intersections. Plenty of creeks. Hike in for dispersed camping," notes Rachael H. about Birkhead Mountain Wilderness Area Dispersed.

Water availability: Many campsites are positioned near water sources. "Along the Uwharrie trail. Water available on both sides of camp / trail," states Wayne R., mentioning the convenient stream access at his campsite.

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: During hunting seasons, safety precautions are essential. "Make sure to wear bright colors during hunting season because there are a ton of people out deer hunting in this area. That being said there are a ton of great campsites that are private and secluded," advises Brandon D.

Campsite conditions: Dispersed sites may require cleanup. "Some of the sites may have a little trash left from the last user, so please try to leave it cleaner than you came to," suggests Zachary S. regarding the no-cost camping near Uwharrie National Forest.

Terrain challenges: While not mountainous, the forest presents moderate hiking difficulty. "The tent sites nice and clean and level. The host drove through many many times in the 3 days I was there," reports Chris about the maintained areas.

Tips for camping with families

Multi-activity options: The forest offers diverse recreation beyond just camping. "The State Forest has camping. We used our pop-up with a generator in rustic locations. There are hiking, horse, OHV, dirt bike, ATV, and mountain bike trails," explains Bart about recreational options at Uwharrie.

Noise considerations: Some campsites experience traffic noise depending on location. "If you want to get away from traffic noise completely, hike farther in," advises Myron C., suggesting families seeking quiet should select interior sites away from highways.

Stream safety: After rainfall, water crossings can become challenging for younger hikers. "Sections of the trail are prone to flooding and creek crossings can become difficult following heavy rains," notes Sean R. about conditions along the Uwharrie Trail.

Tips from RVers

Vehicle requirements: Many dispersed sites require appropriate vehicles. "This is a great area for dispersed campers with 4WD or AWD. It's pretty popular so head out early to secure your spot," recommends a reviewer about Uwharrie National Forest.

Generator use: Some areas permit generator use for pop-ups and smaller RVs without hookups. "Had a good time camping and enjoyed the song of wind and birds," shares Daniel R. about the natural camping experience at Dispersed Camping off Falls Dam Trail.

Timing considerations: Popular sites fill quickly during peak seasons. "It's a huge area with several campgrounds. Plenty of space and trees and privacy!" notes Erica, suggesting the forest offers enough options for RVers who arrive early enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between primitive and dispersed camping in Uwharrie National Forest?

In Uwharrie National Forest, primitive camping refers to designated undeveloped campsites that may have minimal amenities like established fire rings but lack facilities such as running water, electricity, or restrooms. These sites might be accessible by vehicle but offer a rustic experience. Dispersed camping, on the other hand, allows you to camp anywhere within the forest that's not expressly prohibited, away from developed recreation areas. Birkhead Mountain Wilderness Area Dispersed exemplifies true dispersed camping, requiring a hike in with no designated sites or facilities. Both options require pack-in, pack-out practices, but dispersed camping offers more solitude and often requires more self-sufficiency and backcountry experience.

Can you camp anywhere in Uwharrie National Forest?

No, you cannot camp absolutely anywhere in Uwharrie National Forest. While dispersed camping is permitted throughout much of the forest, there are restrictions. Camping is prohibited within 200 feet of water sources, in day-use areas, and near developed recreation sites. Robbins Branch Trail offers access to legal dispersed camping areas that follow forest regulations. The forest has both designated campgrounds and dispersed camping zones, with specific rules for each. When choosing a dispersed site, look for previously established locations with existing fire rings to minimize environmental impact. Always practice Leave No Trace principles, and be aware that some areas may be temporarily closed due to wildlife management, trail maintenance, or environmental concerns. Check with the ranger district office for current restrictions before your trip.

Where can I find dispersed camping in Uwharrie National Forest?

Dispersed camping in Uwharrie National Forest is available throughout the forest, with popular access via hiking trails or boat access on the Little River. The 23/27 trailhead provides a sizeable parking lot for hikers accessing backcountry sites. Many dispersed sites are located along established trails, offering privacy and natural settings. For those with 4WD or AWD vehicles, there are accessible dispersed sites, though arriving early is recommended as these locations can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Look for established fire rings which often indicate dispersed camping areas. Some campers prefer the Dispersed Camping off Falls Dam Trail for its secluded nature.

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