OVLD Badges

04/27/2026

SPECIAL EDITION PVC badge and brushed aluminum stickers! PVC badge is super clear and bright with raised lettering. And the stickers are not actual aluminum, but look great! Updated design now includes Lakeview trail.

Only 100 of each of these will ever be made so grab one today.

Patches are $20 and stickers are $10. Free shipping or add $5 for tracking or if buying more than 4 patches.

DM me your order

04/26/2026

03/28/2026

The Brown Mountain OHV Trail System has opened for the 2026 season through January 1, 2027.

Located about 20 minutes north of Morganton, NC, the Brown Mountain OHV Trail System offers 34 miles of designated trail for off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. Passes for motorcycles and other OHVs are available at local vendors near Morganton and Lenoir.

For your own safety and the safety of others, please remember to follow these guidelines while enjoying the trails:
- Passes are required to be displayed on your vehicle or helmet.
- Helmet use is required for motorcycles and ATVs.
- Park in designated parking spots only.
- Ride only on designated trails.
- No bushwhacking or cutting vegetation.
- Do not carelessly operate a vehicle in a way that could endanger yourself, another person or property.
- No alcohol is permitted on the trail system or at campsites.

For additional details and a list of vendors visit our website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina/recreation/brown-mountain-ohv-trail-system or contact the Grandfather Ranger District at (828) 652-2144.

03/22/2026

03/18/2026

The Uwharrie National Forest is conducting a 70-acre prescribed burn today, March 18, in Montgomery County. The Parsons Grove burn will take place between McCallum Road and Pekin Road. Please be mindful of fire traffic in the area and respect all posted signage. Smoke may be visible in this area throughout the day. For more information on air quality, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/.

03/05/2026

The Uwharrie National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this week, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the weekend as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help improve plant and animal habitat and reduce overgrown vegetation, protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. Notifications for prescribed burning on the Uwharrie National Forest will be posted to the National Forests in North Carolina page on the day of ignition.

Any roads or trails closed for prescribed firing operations will reopen promptly when safe. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media channels, and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.

02/14/2026

Drove all the way out to Manteo, down highway 12 to Hatteras, and then took the ferry to Ocracoke. Free ride turned into a sunset cruise

02/05/2026

🚨 Rescue on Closed Old NC 105 🚨

Burke County Emergency Services, Longtown Fire & Rescue, Burke County Rescue Squad, Burke County Sheriffs Office. McDowell Rescue, McDowell Emergency Management, and U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement responded today to an incident involving trespassers who drove around barricades on Old NC 105 to access the ice- and snow-covered wilderness area.

Despite clearly marked barricades, illuminated DOT “Road Closed” signs, and yellow fire tape, individuals continue to ignore the closure—putting themselves and our first responders in danger.

During this incident, the vehicle slid off the roadway and down an embankment, leaving the occupants stranded. One individual was already experiencing a medical issue prior to driving up the mountain, which was worsened during the rescue and extrication.

All individuals and rescuers are now safely out of the area. One patient was transported to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

🚧 Old NC 105 is closed for a reason.
Conditions are extremely dangerous, and emergency access is limited. When closures are ignored, it puts lives at risk—both yours and those who respond to help.

Please respect all road closures and warning signs. They are there to protect everyone.

01/30/2026

❄️🚨Winter Weather Alert ❄️🚨

Weather forecasts predict Winter Storm Gianna will bring heavy snowfall, extremely cold temperatures and strong winds across North Carolina this weekend, creating potentially dangerous conditions on all four of the state’s national forests.

Several roads and recreation sites in the Pisgah and Nantahala National forests are still closed from last week’s ice storm, and other closures could go into effect as the storm travels across the state. Always remember that Forest Service roads are generally not plowed or treated and can become dangerous quickly.

Before heading out, check current closures and alerts at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina/alerts.

01/16/2026

Fee Free MLK Day!

On Monday, January 19, all Forest-operated recreation sites will be fee free in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
This applies only to Forest Service managed sites, not sites that are run by a concessionaire or are seasonally closed. In Nantahala National Forest, these sites typically require a fee, but you can enjoy them for free this Monday:

🌲Dry Falls
🌲Whitewater Falls
🌲Whiteside Mountain

01/13/2026

12/11/2025

The Uwharrie National Forest plans to conduct prescribed fire operations on 22 acres today, December 11, near the western boundary of the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness, southwest of Asheboro, North Carolina. Smoke could be visible in this area. This prescribed fire project will positively impact the Shortleaf Pine Savanna by treating the warm season grasses found in the area.
The area may be closed for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.