Landmark on Dark

by mybirdwalks, posted in High Points, North Carolina, Walks

MONTGOMERY

953′

(#30/100 North Carolina county highpoints)

It’s been a while since we’ve had a highpoint that is an actual…thing, like a peak or hill, or as in this case . . .

DARK MOUNTAIN

ha ha, just kidding.

Montgomery County’s “Dark Mountain” is a little less imposing.

It’s there, an unremarkable bump in the forest.

The trailhead is in the Uwharrie National Forest near Ophir.

We follow the well-marked and oh-so-modern trail for about a mile.

I mean, seriously well-marked.

The trail climbs for about a mile to a saddle and continues up to the west.

But at this point we leave the trail and head up to the highpoint which lies to the east.

Every now and then I look back downhill for distinguishing trees or rocks to help us find the trail again on the return trip.

This is a “false summit”–there’s one more little hill before reaching the top.

Now we can see the “true summit” of Dark Mountain.

Now THIS is all that a highpoint should be!

After a short rest we find our way back down to the trail without incident–and with the occasional pause to enjoy a few natural treasures among the leaves and rocks.

The trail is equally well-marked in the other direction!
Although I first read this as “ZIM,” it actually is “21 miles,” which is the distance from the southern end of the Uwharrie Trail system.

Back at the car we enjoy a picnic lunch.

Yay! for Papa John!

One thought on “Landmark on Dark”

  1. It looks like you’re 900 feet from sea level, and it also looks like you must be within sight of the “hogback” which holds the NC Zoo!

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