New Hope Overlook Trail at Jordan Lake SRA
Day 2 finds us about an hour from home, hiking a trail we've never been to before at Lake Jordan State Recreation Area.
New Hope refers to New Hope Creek, one of the creeks which was dammed along with the Haw River to form Jordan Lake. If you follow the outline of the lake from the dam, that is essentially New Hope Creek. It winds its way toward Durham and back northwest of Chapel Hill. The Lake was originally named New Hope Lake and the dam New Hope Dam. Before its completion, the name was changed to honor former NC Senator B Everett Jordan.
The timeline for the lake begins in 1945.
1945: A September hurricane floods the Cape Fear River, hitting Fayetteville particularly hard. The government puts the US Army Corps of Engineers in charge of a flood control plan. A dam is proposed right where the Haw River and New Hope Creek conflow.
1963: Congress authorises funding
1963-1970: Relocation of those in the lake area takes place.
1970: Project begins
1983: It's ready
Our hike begins in a Loblolly forest. Throughout the hike, we move from one forest type to another. Evidence of logging is apparent throughout. We even explore what appears to be an old loading deck. The ground is so soft here you have to walk slowly not to sink in too deep. That is where we see the old Ford pickup below.
We pass through two "walk in" camp areas. The sites are spaced nicely apart. The trail follows the shoreline of the lake but never right on the lake. Debris from high lake levels is evident all along the shoreline. It consists of trees and wood debris. Surprising, not much trash in this floodplain.
Very few hikers were out today and when we did encounter a few, it was easy to step aside as Covid trail etiquette now requires.
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