Wildflowers in the Uwharries

Yesterday a lot of wildflowers were popping out from their long winter's rest.  Just off the parking lot at the Tot Hill Trailhead for the Birkhead Wilderness Area are lots of Blood Root wildflowers.

          Blood Root

Blood Root Flower

Near the banks of the Uwharrie River at Burney Mill Rd. are blooming Trout Lillies and stunning Trillium Cuneatum wildflowers also called Sweet Betsy or Wake Robin.

                                                              

Trout Lillies

      Wake Robin

Jumping Off Rock in the Uwharrie National Forest

An early spring Mourning Cloak butterfly along the trail.

The northern most “official” section of the Uwharrie Trail begins at the Jumping Off Rock Trailhead. It then runs south for 19 miles to the 24/27 Trailhead that is about 2 miles east of River Rd. on Hwy 24/27. The popular Uwharrie Trail is well marked with white blazes along its many rocky curves, ridges, peaks and valleys.

To get to the Jumping Off Rock Trailhead you turn onto Orphir Rd. off of Hwy 109 in the crossroad community of Uwharrie and head about 5 miles. You will come to Ant Hill Rd. or the road's other name, Flint Hill Rd. If you take that right onto Ant Hill Rd. and go about 2 miles you will see a small parking lot with a rail fence on your right that is the trailhead.

Jumping Off Rock Outcrop

(to enlarge any picture click on the photo)

Barnes Creek below Jumping Off Rock

To find the actual Jumping Off Rock outcrop go about a quarter mile east of the Jumping Off Rock Trailhead on Ant Hill Rd. and you will notice a pull off area on your left that holds a couple of cars. The outcrop juts out about 40 feet above Barnes Creek.

                                                                              

Barnes Creek (last two photos) from across the street from the pull-off for Jumping Off Rock.