Morrow Mountain State Park

Photos

Well marked trails lace the rounded peaks at Morrow
Rob Glover

Image for Morrow Mountain State Park — besides hiking, the lakes and rivers that border the park offer lots of water based activities
Rob Glover

About

Summary

Hiking the once giant peaks of Morrow Mountain State park. While humbled, the weather warn mountains still offer great views of the surrounding piedmont

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Written by

Rob Glover

Distance

10.0 miles

A popular combination of the Mountain Loop, Morrow Mountain, and Sugarloaf Mountain trail will net roughly 10 miles roundtrip.

Destination Distance From Downtown

44.3 miles

Difficulty

3 of 5 diamonds

Some uphill climbs bump the 15 miles of trail from beginner to intermediate. Several parking lots make it easy to access different areas of the park without the necessity of a long hike.

Time To Complete

5 hours

Depending on the loops taken, this can be a nearly all day event or a couple hour's walk.

Seasonality

All Seasons

Morrow is popular all times of year but the colors in late fall are remarkable.

Dog Friendly

On Leash Only

Without any rock scrambling or steep cliffs, Morrow Mountain is a fantastic place for four-legged hikers.

Topographical Map

Morrow Mountain State Park Map

Land Website

Morrow Mountain State Park

Review

Intro

Easy to moderate hiking trails cut through dense forest and traversing an ancient, if somewhat diminished, mountain range. Lots of hiking options lead to expansive views of surrounding farmland or a gentle stroll along the slow moving Yadkin River and up close view of the dam. Even on busy days, many of the park trails can seem deserted as there’s plenty of room to roam.

What Makes It Great

A long, long time ago, in a county not so far away, incredible geographic forces pushed and heaved the Uwharrie Mountains tens of thousands of feet into the sky. Never one to let well enough alone, Mother Nature used her common redecorating tricks - wind and water- to erode these ancient mountains to 1000 feet or less. Morrow Mountain is among the highest of these weather worn peaks at 936 feet.

As a contrast to the lower lying eastern piedmont, the Uwharrie Mountains still remain a formidable change to the otherwise rolling farmland that surrounds them. Fifteen miles of hiking trails wind around, and over, the stunted peaks, providing ample opportunities for forest ambling and wide open views.

The trail system at Morrow Mountain State Park is composed of several mostly-connected loop paths. The 4-mile Fall Mountain Trail includes a pleasant walk near the Yadkin River and the Mountain Loop trail is home to some of the best views of the park.

Besides hiking, the Yadkin River and Lake Tillery are first rate flat water paddling options with slow moving waters and abundant wildlife viewing. Primitive and group camping are available onsite.

Who is Going to Love It

While there are some moderately strenuous trails in the park, like the Sugarloaf trail, many are rated as easy. This, plus several picnic areas make Morrow a good choice for families. More experienced hikers can easily string together some decent mileage along Morrow’s 15 mile trail system. Dogs love morrow for the wide open trails and lack of rock scrambling.

Directions, Parking, & Regulations

There are multiple parking areas at Morrow Mountain. The most popular for hikers is the main ranger station in the middle of the park. There are bathrooms and drinking water and several of the most walked trails being from the parking lot. If you’d rather begin your hike at the highest point and work down, there is a parking lot at the top of Morrow Mountain.

Dogs are allowed on all hiking trails. Since they intersect with equestrian trails it’s best to keep them leashed.

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