Morrow Mountain State Park

Morrow Mountain State Park is a 4742-acre state park northeast of Charlotte in Stanly County. The closest town is Albemarle.

The park is located within the Uwharrie Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the United States. Over millions of years, the once mighty range has been eroded down by the elements such that all that remains are more hills than mountains. There are four peaks within the park - Morrow, Sugarloaf, Hattaway, and Fall, with Morrow Mountain being the highest at 936 feet.

Ancient artifacts indicate that Native Americans were present in the area 10,000 years before Europeans. The Europeans colonized along the Pee Dee River in the 1700s, and John Kirk established a ferry across the river in 1780. In 1823, Dr. Francis Kron emigrated from Prussia to the US and established the first medical practice in the southern Piedmont of North Carolina. Dr. Kron's homestead and a reconstructed home are located in the park and allow a glimpse into the history of the region. The park was developed in the 1930s as residents wanted a park in the area and much of the land for the park was donated by citizens of Stanly County. Morrow Mountain is named for one such citizen, James McKnight Morrow, who donated more than 1000 acres to the park.

Contact Information:

49104 Morrow Mountain Road

Albemarle, NC 28001

Phone: (704) 982-4402

Email: morrow.mountain@ncdenr.gov

GPS Coordinates: 35.373724, -80.073477

Directions:

From I-40 in Greensboro, take US-220/I-73/I-74 south, then exit onto NC-24 west. Before reaching Albemarle, turn right on Valley Drive and head north approximately three miles. Turn right onto Morrow Mountain Road to enter the park. Alternatively, from I-85 near High Point, take NC-109 south and merge onto NC-49 south. After about eight miles, turn left onto NC-8 south and then left onto NC-740 in New London. Turn left onto Morrow Mountain Road to enter the park after about eight miles. From Charlotte, take NC-24 east to NC-740 and turn right on Morrow Mountain road after about three miles.

Map:

Trails:

With more than 30 miles of trails, Morrow Mountain State Park is a great place for hiking.

Morrow Mountain Trail

Length: 2.6 miles (one way)

Difficulty: Moderate

Blaze: Blue Triangle

The Morrow Mountain Trail runs from the Laurel Trail loop and runs with the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail for a while before splitting, then heading up Morrow Mountain, a steep climb. At the top it meets the Mountain Loop Trail.

Mountain Loop Trail

Length: 0.8 miles (loop)

Difficulty: Easy

Blaze: Red Square

The Mountain Loop circles the top of Morrow Mountain and crosses the Overlook Picnic area. From the trail, there are breaks in the canopy allowing for views of surrounding countryside.

Sugarloaf Mountain Trail

Length: 2.8 miles (loop)

Difficulty: Strenuous

Blaze: Orange Diamond

The Sugarloaf Mountain Trail starts at the Horse Trailer parking lot and forms a loop going up and down Sugarloaf Mountain. Going clockwise around the loop, there is a gradual ascent up the mountain, followed by a steep (500 feet in 1/4 mile) descent. Note that going in the opposite direction, there is a steep climb and gradual descent. At the bottom, the trail runs with the Morrow Mountain Trail before splitting to go back to the parking lot.

Blog Entries:

19-May-2018: Morrow Mountain Peaks

External Links:

NC State Parks Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/morrow-mountain-state-park