The Uwharrie National Forest, located in north-central North Carolina near Charlotte, is comprised of 49,857 acres. There are four developed campgrounds.Located on the Piedmont plains of North Carolina, the area now known as the Uwharrie National Forest, has long been a crossroad for prehistoric and historic settlement. While the gently rolling land attracted European settlers centuries later, it was another by-product of those ancient volcanos, gold, that brought a boom to the area's population. Today, old home sites, cemeteries and the diggings of gold mines dot the Uwharrie National Forest. Another attraction to the Uwharrie National Forest is the abundant wildflowers. Blooming from early Spring through Fall, trout lilies, bluets, mountain laurel and many other plants, give the Forest delightful splashes of color.