Dutchman’s Creek Trail

Click here to see a Forest Service map including Dutchman’s Creek Trail, the Uwharrie Trail, and more.

1. Hike the Uwharrie Trail/Dutchman’s Creek Trail Loop starting at Highway 24-27/Wood Run Trailhead

Primary Route: Hike the Uwharrie Trail up to the junction with Dutchman’s Creek Trail (approximately 6 miles in), follow Dutchman’s Creek Trail back to the trailhead
Hiking Distance: 12 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: Unknown
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead: The 24/27 Wood Run Trailhead for the Uwharrie Trail. Click here to access Google Maps for directions to the trailhead. Alternately, from the town of Troy you will take Highway 24/27 West for approximately 10 miles, and the trailhead will be on your right. There is an information kiosk and parking for several dozen cars.

Hiking Directions:
[Click here for more information from EveryTrail]
Uwharrie Trail (white blazes): Starting at the 24/27 Trailhead, take the Uwharrie Trail on the west side of the parking area. Follow the Uwharrie Trail along Wood Run (creek). You will encounter two stream crossings. At the first four-way junction, continue straight to continue along the Uwharrie Trail. At the second four-way junction, turn left to head north while continuing on the Uwharrie Trail. Hike along Upper Wood Run, with multiple stream crossings, until the next four-way junction, at which you will continue straight again to remain on the Uwharrie Trail. Cross over Big Island Creek three times. You will then reach yet another four way junction, at which you will continue straight* and will very quickly come upon another four-way – this is the intersection of the Uwharrie Trail and Dutchman’s Creek Trail. Turn right to head south on Dutchman’s Creek Trail.
Dutchman’s Creek Trail (yellow blazes): The first four-way junction is an intersection of Dutchman’s Creek Trail and Wood Run Road. Continue straight to stay on Dutchman’s Creek. After crossing over Big Island Creek once, you will come upon a potential camp site that may be a good area to stop for lunch. Cross Big Island Creek again, and you will reach another intersection of Wood Run Road and Dutchman’s Creek Trail. Again continue straight to stay on Dutchman’s Creek. During the next stretch you will come to two four-way intersections with Supertree Trail – at both you will continue straight. After encountering Wood Run again, you will arrive back at the 24/27 Trailhead.

Alternative Routes: *Alternately, you can turn right onto Wood Run Road (due south) and will intercept Dutchman’s Creek Trail shortly, when you should again turn right (due south) on Dutchman’s Creek Trail. This route does not drastically change distance.

Additional Information: It may be helpful to have trekking poles for this route. Long pants are also recommended as in some places the trail can be narrow, and there is a chance of encountering brambles.

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2. Hike the Uwharrie Trail/Dutchman’s Creek Trail Loop starting at Yates Place

Primary Route: Hike from Yates Place Trailhead on Dusty Level Road, to the Uwharrie Trail up to the junction with Dutchman’s Creek Trail, follow Dutchman’s Creek Trail back to the Uwharrie Trail and back to Yates Place.
Hiking Distance: 10+/- round-trip
Elevation Gain: 1,040
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead: The Yates Place Trailhead, at approximately 590 Dusty Level Road, Troy NC 27371. Click here to access Google Maps for directions to the trailhead. Alternatively, from Troy, you will take Highway 109 North for approximately 3 miles, and turn left on Correll Road. You will follow it to the end, approximately 1.5 miles, and turn right on Dusty Level Road. Yates Place Campground will be on your left in less than half a mile.

Hiking Directions:
From Yates Place Trailhead you will follow Yates Place Road from gate, and turn right onto Yates Place Trail. You will go a short way until you intersect the Uwharrie Trail where you will take a left. The Uwharrie Trail is blazed white. After approximately 1/2 a mile, you will come to the intersection with Dutchman’s Creek Trail. Here you will turn right onto Dutchman’s Creek Trail (blazed yellow). You will follow it for approximately 5.5 miles, crossing Dutchman’s Creek and Little Island Creek. Expect to see some montane longleaf pines along this stretch of trail, as well as some rocky outcrops (perfect rattlesnake habitat, so watch your step!). When you get to the intersection with the Uwharrie Trail you will turn left to get on the Uwharrie Trail (farther south from where you started). You will follow the Uwharrie Trail (blazed white) for 2.75 miles approximately back to the first intersection with Dutchman’s Creek, but you will stay right to stay on the Uwharrie Trail for the 0.5 miles you hiked in on, then turning right again after 0.5 miles back onto Yates Place Trail and back to Yates Place Road and the trailhead. Please see Don Childrey’s book Uwharrie Lakes Region Trail Guide for more detailed information.

Additional Information: It may be helpful to have trekking poles for this route. Long pants are also recommended as in some places the trail can be narrow, and there is a chance of encountering brambles.

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3. Hike Entire Dutchman’s Creek Trail

Primary Route: Hike the entirety of Dutchman’s Creek Trail from the Wood Run Trailhead to the Yates Place Trailhead
Hiking Distance: 11.38 miles one way (Wood Run -> Yates Place)
Elevation Gain: 1,493 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead:
Start: The 24/27 Wood Run Trailhead for the Uwharrie Trail. Click here to access Google Maps for directions to the trailhead. Alternately, from Troy you will take Highway 24/27 West for approximately 10 miles, and the trailhead will be on your right. There is an information kiosk and parking for several dozen cars.
End: Yates Place Campground at 590 Dusty Level Road, Troy, NC 27371. Click here to access Google Maps for directions to the campground. From Troy, you will take Highway 109 North for approximately 3 miles, and turn left on Correll Road. You will follow it to the end, approximately 1.5 miles, and turn right on Dusty Level Road. Yates Place Campground will be on your left in less than half a mile. There is a 10 car parking lot with several picnic tables and an outhouse.

Hiking Directions: Follow the yellow blazes that mark Dutchman’s Creek Trail. From the Wood Run parking lot on 24/27, find the beginning of Dutchman’s Creek Trail on the east side of the parking lot beside the gate for Wood Run Road (starting elevation 550′). Cross Wood Run (creek) twice and encounter a relatively steep ascent to the top of the mountain (530′ -> 768′ from 2.09 miles -> 2.5 miles). At mile 3.03, cross Supertree Trail, and shortly after pass under a large power line. Again at mile 3.66 you reach the top of the mountain, at 740′. Cross Supertree Trail once again. At 4.5 miles reach the highest point on the trail, at 750′. At mile 4.99, cross Wood Run Road to continue on Dutchman’s Creek Trail. Cross over Big Island Creek at mile 5.27; there is also a campsite located at this creek. Once again cross over Wood Run Road. Cross the Uwharrie Trail at mile 6, and over an old roadbed (future mountain bike trail) at mile 6.05. At mile 7.06 you’ll find a side trail to Little Island Creek campsite. As you continue you’ll quickly cross and follow Little Island Creek until mile 7.39. You will then encounter another ascent, from 430′ to 700′ within half a mile, to reach the top of the mountain once again. Through this section you will find an extensive rock outcropping. Over the next mile you will descend into a low point at 500′ and again ascend to reach the top of the mountain at mile 8.8. At mile 9.67 you’ll reach and follow Dutchman’s Creek, and at mile 10.36 find the Dutchman’s Creek Flats campsite to the left of the trail. After you leave Dutchman’s Creek, you’ll cross Dutchman’s Creek Road and reach the end of the trail when it intersects with the Uwharrie Trail.

Getting to Yates Place Trailhead from Dutchman’s Creek Trail: When you finish Dutchman’s Creek Trail, you end at a three-way junction with the Uwharrie Trail. From here, turn left (due north) on the Uwharrie Trail and continue for about 0.5 miles and turn right onto Yates Place Trail (heading east). This trail is <0.5 miles and will connect to Yates Place Road, where you turn left to find the Yates Place Trailhead along Dusty Level Road (SR 1146).

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Thanks to Don Childrey’s book Uwharrie Lakes Region Trail Guide for detailed information.