Birkhead Mountains Wilderness — Attraction in Asheboro

This is a really fun hiking location. There is a really good loop that took me about 3.5 hrs with my dog. The trail meanders across streams and up to hill tops over looking valleys in the distance. The trail was very well marked with white marks on trees. However if you plan to hike the loop for the first time I would take a map. Even a simple map would be helpful. There are a few off shoot trails that could lead you off the loop if you didn't take a map. Also I went in Nov and when I got to the parking lot there were tons of hunters. I almost left but I decided to hike the trail and only ran into only one hunter on the trail entire time. However, during hunting season I wouldn't dare wander off the trail near the parking lots. There are two trail heads off Lassiter Mill road. If you drive in from 49 south and exit off science hill road then left onto Lassiter a few miles down you will hit the Thornburg trail head on the left. If you pass this trailhead and if you keep going on Lassiter Mill road you will see a sign a few more miles down the road for Robbins Branch trail. Turn left on the dirt road for a few miles and you will see a parking area. This is the trail head and from this parking lot it took me 3.5 hrs. I think if you hike from the Thornburg trailhead it is much longer. Also Lassiter Mill road on Nov 22 2016 had road closed signs to local traffic only but I was able to get to both trail heads by staying on Lassiter. Also there were signs that no wood fires were allowed in the forest as of Nov 2016.

It was a super nice hike and well worth the drive from...

It was a fairly subtle accent, but everything feels a little more strenuous in July heat/humidity. We only did about 10 miles out and back and didn't finish hiking the trail. There wasn't a readable map as the posted ones case is so weathered and there were no paper maps, but I'm sure there were plenty more trail miles to hike. They have a number of stone campfire sites, that don't look like they have been used recently. I'm definitely interested in checking out more of the Uwharrie national forest has to offer, but to be completely honest this location had me a little uneasy. First there was a number of discarded food items in the homestead, enough to suggest that perhaps someone was squatting there. Then there were several freshly and unnecessary chopped down young trees that were cut and left in the way of the trail. Lastly on the way out we took a different path that goes over a small creek near the trail exit and there were clear fresh footprints in the mud. There really isn't much chance we wouldn't have run into whomever it was on the trail. It really only splits near the top campsites. I expected to see another vehicle when we got to the parking lot, but nope. It may have been nothing or maybe someone is squatting there which isn't in itself a reason for concern, but either way something felt off. I definitely wouldn't go hiking alone there and without...

VERY CLOSE TO THE CITY OF ASHBORO NC. We did the other side through the one next to the tot hill farm country club ! That is more primitive , make sure you have water , the terrain is middle experience, not for a newbie or a kid for sure ! That part of the trail is marked , could be better , quite a few inclines and rocks along the path ! Make sure you have your walking sticks , almost twisted my ankle a few times ! If you hike in the summer heat days ! Bring plenty of water , we could not reach the other side of the birkhead , the way back would take up another 2 hours back specially my wife she wasn’t prepare for the long hike ! New trail hike for us !! So we had to be careful , if you venture to go back and forth , backpack , water and your sticks !! Trail is great...