Uwharrie Trailblazer Trail Adoption Program

We have partnered with the Uwharrie National Forest to adopt all hiking trails in the National Forest. The club has an agreement with the Forest Service to adopt all hiking trails. Our program divides the work up among volunteers. 

Our Trail Adoption program is designed to maintain 59 miles of hiking trails in the Uwharrie National Forest. We cover the entire Uwharrie Trail, Dutchmans Creek Trail and all the hiking trails in the Birkhead Wilderness.

Please see this interactive MAP showing all these trails and their corresponding adopters. Some few “orphan” trails are still awaiting adoption - see which ones HERE!!!

The basic requirements for trail adoption are simple:

• Each of the 19 sections are adopted on a one year, calendar year basis. There is a process to renew at the end of the year. 

• We ask that each adoptee walk their trail at least twice a year doing light maintenance, loping, cleaning water bars, cleaning campsites along trail, removing debris, cutting small deadfalls with a handsaw and reporting your work by submitting a Work Report form to Dave Gardener, our volunteer coordinator. 

• Trail problems which require crosscut or chainsaw work can be reported on the Work Report so the Trail Bosses can address it on a workday with those certified to do that work. Crosscut and chainsaw work done in the National Forest must be done by a certified sawyer. 

• Report any damage to or missing trail signs and blazes.

• We encourage you to do your adoption work with a partner or a team.

Instructional documents for trail adopters:

• Trail Adopter Training - Safety

• Trail Adopter Training - Lopping

If you are interested in helping, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at uwharrietrailblazers@gmail.com

Jim Plant is administering the program and the Trail crew is led by Trail Bosses Joe White, David Gardener, Steve Chase, and Gifford Del Grande.