Uwharrie National Forest Guide Profile

Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Uwharrie National Forest

Uwharrie National Forest is 51,850 acres in Montgomery, Randolph & Davidson Counties. Uwharrie National Forest map Ranger District Office, 789 Biscoe Road, Troy, NC 27371, (910) 576-6391, uwharrie@usda.gov . America the Beautiful Passes and USGS Topo maps for sale at https://store.usgs.gov/ . Firewood permits are available for $20. For more information call (910) 576-6391. If you are seeking firewood for use in one of our campgrounds while camping, no permit is necessary as long as you are only collecting local dead and downed trees for use at your campsite. Hunting Uwharrie NF is designated Game Lands and part of 2 million acres of public lands for public hunting, trapping and fishing managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The appropriate basic annual hunting license and Game Lands Privilege license is needed to hunt on Uwharrie NF. Seasons, bag limits, and special restrictions are in the annual N.C. Inlands Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest .…

Camping & reservations

The booking button opens the official reservation destination for Arrowhead Campground. Other campgrounds in this forest may have separate reservations, first-come sites or district permits. Read the current instructions for your chosen site.

Arrowhead Campground ↗

Arrowhead Campground has 48 sites for Tent/RV camping. Sites #46-#49 are tent only. All sites, except for site #23, are accessible to people with disabilities. Each site has a table, grill, fire ring, lantern post and parking spur. The campground has 6 spigots/hydrants located around the campground for drinking water. A bathhouse with flush toilets, hot showers, and sinks is available. There is a family restroom located at the front of the bathhouse if privacy is desired. A 0.75-mile paved bicycle/walking path loops around the campground. The fee-station is located at the entrance to the campground. Trash cans and a dumpster are provided to properly dispose of your trash. There is a dump station located across from the pay station. Payment can be made by cash or check: make checks out to the USDA Forest Service. Payment must be made within 30 minutes of choosing your campsite. Check out the brochure.

Reservations: Reservations can be made by going to www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. They need to be made at least 3 days in advance or can be made up to 240 days in advance. We do not make reservations at the District Office.

Reservations / current camping instructions ↗

Badin Lake Campground ↗

Bordering the lakeshore and under the shade of pines and hardwoods, Badin Lake Campground offers a year-round retreat for swimmers, boaters, and anglers. The campground has 35 non-electric sites for tent and camper trailer camping. Some sites are located on the lakeshore. Each site has a table, grill, lantern post, fire ring, and tent pad. There are 4 water spigots/hydrants for drinking water located in the campground. Flush toilets and hot showers are located in both the upper and lower loops. Fee stations are located at the entrances of both loops. Trash cans and dumpsters are provided to properly dispose of your trash. Check out the brochure.

Reservations: Reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 or TDD 1-877-833-6777. Reservations need to be made at least 3 days in advance and can be made up to 240 days in advance.

Badin Lake Group Camp ↗

Badin Group Camp was developed for use by clubs, families and other groups up to 50 people. The camp includes three separate areas each with tables, grills and tent pads. Two vault toilet facilities, water spigots and a bathhouse with showers and 2 flush toilets are centrally located to serve all three sites. The sites are $75 per night. Opportunities for boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, picnicking, hiking, 4-wheel driving, and mountain biking can be enjoyed while staying at the campground. Cove Boat Ramp is located 2 miles south of the campground on FR 597B and is a boat ramp to access Badin Lake for trailered boats. Badin Lake Hiking Trail is 5.6 miles and follows the lake around Badin Lake Campground and around Arrowhead Campground and goes back to Badin Lake Group Camp. The campsites are available by reservations only. Reservations can only be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777; TDD 1-877-833-6777; International 1-518-885-3639.

Reservations: Reservations can only be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777; TDD 1-877-833-6777; International 1-518-885-3639. We do not make reservations at the District Office.

Reservations / current camping instructions ↗

Site rules: Alcohol Prohibited at Campground.

Truck-camping & permitted overnight use

The official recreation inventory lists Badin Lake Campground, Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp, Overflow Horse Camp for dispersed camping. Read each site’s current rules; this does not authorize camping on every forest road.

Badin Lake Campground ↗ — Bordering the lakeshore and under the shade of pines and hardwoods, Badin Lake Campground offers a year-round retreat for swimmers, boaters, and anglers. The campground has 35 non-electric sites for tent and camper trailer camping. Some sites are located on the lakeshore. Each site has a table, grill, lantern post, fire ring, and tent pad. There are 4 water spigots/hydrants for drinking water located in the campground. Flush toilets and hot showers are located in both the upper and lower loops. Fee stations are located at the entrances of both loops. Trash cans and dumpsters are provided to properly dispose of your trash. Check out the…

Overflow Horse Camp ↗ — Overflow Horse Camp is an open field with horse tie outs. There is no water or bathroom available.

Activities, hiking & trails

Arrowhead Campground ↗
Arrowhead Campground has 48 sites for Tent/RV camping. Sites #46-#49 are tent only. All sites, except for site #23, are accessible to people with disabilities. Each site has a table, grill, fire ring, lantern post and parking spur. The campground has 6 spigots/hydrants located around the campground for drinking water. A bathhouse with flush toilets, hot showers, and sinks is available. There is a family restroom located at the front of the bathhouse if privacy is desired. A 0.75-mile paved bicycle/walking path loops around the campground. The fee-station is located at the entrance to the campground. Trash cans and a dumpster are provided to properly dispose of your trash. There is a dump station located across from the pay station. Payment can be made by cash or check: make checks out to the USDA Forest Service. Payment must be made within 30 minutes of choosing your campsite. Check out the brochure.

Badin Lake Campground ↗
Bordering the lakeshore and under the shade of pines and hardwoods, Badin Lake Campground offers a year-round retreat for swimmers, boaters, and anglers. The campground has 35 non-electric sites for tent and camper trailer camping. Some sites are located on the lakeshore. Each site has a table, grill, lantern post, fire ring, and tent pad. There are 4 water spigots/hydrants for drinking water located in the campground. Flush toilets and hot showers are located in both the upper and lower loops. Fee stations are located at the entrances of both loops. Trash cans and dumpsters are provided to properly dispose of your trash. Check out the brochure.

Badin Lake Group Camp ↗
Badin Group Camp was developed for use by clubs, families and other groups up to 50 people. The camp includes three separate areas each with tables, grills and tent pads. Two vault toilet facilities, water spigots and a bathhouse with showers and 2 flush toilets are centrally located to serve all three sites. The sites are $75 per night. Opportunities for boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, picnicking, hiking, 4-wheel driving, and mountain biking can be enjoyed while staying at the campground. Cove Boat Ramp is located 2 miles south of the campground on FR 597B and is a boat ramp to access Badin Lake for trailered boats. Badin Lake Hiking Trail is 5.6 miles and follows the lake around Badin Lake Campground and around Arrowhead Campground and goes back to Badin Lake Group Camp. The campsites are available by reservations only. Reservations can only be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777; TDD 1-877-833-6777; International 1-518-885-3639.

Maps & road access

Consult the current Motor Vehicle Use Map for permitted motor routes, vehicle classes and seasonal designations. A route on an MVUM is not a guarantee that it is maintained or passable. Check current road closures and conditions with the district; carry an offline map.

Use the official directions for the exact named campground or trailhead; forest boundaries and administrative offices are not campsite entrances. Official directions / site access ↗

Before you travel

Check the forest’s current alerts, seasonal services, fire orders and campground rules. Download the relevant official maps before entering areas with limited reception.

Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. USDA Forest Service official information ↗

Photograph sources & licensing

Banner: Badin Lake from Uwharrie National Forest
Badin Lake, viewed from Uwharrie National Forest, Badin Lake Recreation Area, Montgomery County NC
Credit: Wasrts. Original source ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Second large photograph: Rhododendron buds in Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharie Nat Forest across the river from Morrow Mountain State Park in NC
Credit: bobistraveling. Original source ↗ · CC BY 2.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.