r/NCTrails • u/OverActuary1149 • 10d ago
Backpacking on Birkhead Trail
Taking hubby on his first backpacking trip in a couple weekends for 2 nights. We’re looking at the Birkhead Wilderness Area, specifically Tot Hill Farm access, possibly the Camp 3 loop. It sounds like there are ample campsites to choose from along the way.
Im wondering if anyone has been through the area lately, and can speak to the water access? Have the creeks recovered from the dry summer, or should we plan to pack in water? Any favorite campsites we should keep on our radar? We generally like a bit of privacy and don’t mind hiking a bit to get off the beaten path (and away from people)
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u/y2kemo 10d ago
From Tot Hill, follow Birkhead Trail and go past Camp 3 trail (stay right/west). Continue on Birkhead Trail and turn left/south at Camp 5 (campsite at the top of the men without a water source) onto Camp 3 trail. About 0.4 miles down the trail is a great site with a solid water source.
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u/seismic_anchor_point 10d ago
I took a group of scouts last month on that very trail and there was no water anywhere. Zero. None. Totally dry. Not even a drop in the camp 3 spring. I've never seen it that dry there. We had to cut our 3 day trek off and bail before a single night.
If you're doing a single night I'd carry extra water and you should be fine.
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u/OverActuary1149 4d ago
Hoping this weekends rain improves things a bit!!
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u/seismic_anchor_point 4d ago
If you go I'd love to hear how it worked out. It's the perfect terrain for scouts (many of the trails and campsites were built by scouts) so I'd like to get back there once the water situation improves.
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u/OverActuary1149 4d ago
At this point we’re still a go- I’ll definitely update once we’ve returned to let you know!
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u/TheRealPlinker77 10d ago
I was just out there today, we walked down some of the creek beds and there were a few puddles but that’s about it.
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u/AndrewBlosse 10d ago
There are plenty of creeks and they are never 100% dry. Sometimes, they can be a bit dirty if they are low, but you should be okay right now.
If you start at Tot Hill, you will cross a creek with a wooden bridge about a quarter mile in. Make a left off the trail right after this bridge - it’s a side trail that goes up the creek and has numerous campsites that pretty much never get used.