Hike in Uhwarrie Forrest - Jumping off Rock trailhead

• Date Hiked: April 18, 2020
• Posted length: 20 miles
• Total miles Tracked: 5.9 miles
• Type of Trail: Single track trail (moderate)
• Conveniences: Parking lot
• Best Features:  For us, this trail is close to where James' sisters live and we enjoy hiking with them.  The trail itself offers varied terrain and it's really beautiful in the Uhwarrie
• Worst Features:  Jumping off Rock is not on the trail. No bathrooms or water.  
• Wildlife spotted: Anole
• Vegetation: Hardwood forest, Mountain Laurel, mosses and fungi
• Associated Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=49832&actid=50
• Primary Author: Cheryl

In April, James and I joined his sister Joy and Gina for a hike in the Uhwarrie Forrest in Troy, NC.  We went to the Jumping off Rock Trail head and tackled a section of the Uhwarrie National Recreational Trail.  The main trail itself is 20 miles long, but we chose to park at one of the three trail heads shown on the official website and see how much we could hike in the time we had allowed that afternoon.

There is a really nice parking lot at the Trail end off of Flint Hill Road, more commonly known as the Jumping Off Rock trail head.  We parked and headed over to the posted map at the kiosk.  No real paper maps or downloadable maps seem to be available, so we snapped a photo of the map then proceeded to the trail.  The first section is a very steep climb and is also very rocky.  You quickly climb up 400 feet within the first mile. The trail was lined with Mountain Laurel just beginning to bloom along with every type of moss that grows.

The section we hiked then reaches it highest point and there is a large outcropping of rocks.  We stopped here for a break before heading on along the ridge.  We continued until we reached the crossing of Tower Road before we turned around.  We'd have to come back another day to continue exploring the trail.

There are several campsites with fire rings.

But where was the Jumping off Rock?  Interestingly, it's not on the trail at all.

After we returned to the parking lot, we found out that the rock that the trail head is named for is actually about a quarter mile up Flint Hill Road.  We headed up the hill walking on the road, crossed two bridges and came to rocks that overlooks Barnes Creek.  There are maybe two parking spaces off the side of the road at this outcrop of rocks.  The upper section is covered with graffiti, and there is a trail that takes you down to the creek on one side.  On the other side of the plateau, you can scramble down to the actual "Jumping Off Rock."  Despite the name, jumping off Jumping Off Rock would be a very bad idea.  The creek that is far below is shallow and full of.... you guessed it, ROCKS!

The section of the Recreational Trail we tackled was very pretty, and we look forward to trekking more of it.