Hiking in Morrow Mountain State Park
Nestled in the ancient Uwharrie Mountains of central North Carolina, Morrow Mountain State Park offers some of the best hiking trails away from the Blue Ridge Mountains of the western part of the state.
Morrow Mountain State Park offers over 20 miles of hiking trails, the most prominent being the Morrow Mountain, Fall Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Hattaway Mountain trails. Most trails within the park are not of great distance or difficulty, but they can be combined to form extended loops and to offer a greater challenge for the more diehard hiker.
Using my own personal experience with these trails, having hiked them numerous times, let’s explore them in more detail.
Morrow Mountain Trail
Length: 2.6 miles (one way); 5.2 miles (there-and-back)
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Streams, mountain views
The Morrow Mountain Trail starts at the back end of the parking lot at the park office. While the majority of the 2.6 mile hike is an easy stroll, just after the two mile mark the trail begins a difficult ascent up the side of Morrow Mountain. Don’t fret having to stop and catch your breath because this is where the views begin to emerge and is worth the slower pace so you can admire the beauty of the Uwharrie Mountains.
After a steep climb of approximately a quarter mile, the remaining trail is a more gradual climb to the summit of Morrow Mountain. Before reaching the top, you’ll cross the start of the Mountain Loop Trail. Take this if you want to add another .8 miles to your hike.
Once at the top of Morrow Mountain, you’ll find picnic tables, bathrooms, and a shelter, plus information about the Native Americans that used to roam these hills. By the shelter is a viewing deck where you get a nice view of the surrounding mountains.
Note that vehicles can drive to the top of the mountain, so depending on the time of day and year, you can expect to share the mountain top with locals and tourists.
Once you have taken in all that Morrow Mountain has to offer, begin your trek back to the park office by heading back the way you came. Take in one last view where the parking lot starts on the top of the mountain before stepping over the barrier and heading back down.
Fall Mountain Trail
Length: 4.1 miles (loop)
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Highlights: River views, mountain views, streams
Fall Mountain Trail begins by the river. This is a popular area of Morrow Mountain State Park so expect there to be other people.
Hiking counter-clockwise, you will have nice, easy hike by the river for about half a mile. There is one location where the trail meets another footpath that leads to a picnic area. If you find yourself here, you are off the Fall Mountain Trail. Turn around and it won’t be hard to find where the trail continues.
After hiking by the river, you’ll start a gradual ascent up Fall Mountain. As you get closer to the summit, the trail becomes more rugged but a view of the surrounding mountains begins to open up. The view from the top is nice, even in the summer, but the views will really be clear in the winter.
When you’re done enjoying the view, the trail continues gradually down Fall Mountain. You’ll eventually come across a nice stream towards the end of the trail before arriving on the other side of the parking lot near from where you started.
This is probably the most popular trail in Morrow Mountain State Park and with good reason. From the river to the mountain views, this hiking trail offers something the entire family can enjoy.
Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
Length: 2.9 miles (loop)
Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous
Highlights: Mountain views
Parking for the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail is close to the entrance of the park where horse trailer parking is designated. It starts on the east side of the parking area.
At the beginning of the trail there is a fork. Your direction determines the difficulty of the hike. An easier trek will be to take the left path and hike the trail clockwise. Take the right path for a more strenuous hike.
Regardless of which path you choose, you’ll find the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail joins with the Morrow Mountain Trail briefly. If you went clockwise, you’ll take a right once you reach the Morrow Mountain Trail. If going counter clockwise, be sure not to miss the left turn to continue the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail. Also, this is where the hike will become more strenuous.
The top of Sugarloaf Mountain provides some views, though they are better seen during late Fall and in the Winter. Nevertheless, it is rewarding for a short hike.
Hattaway Mountain Trail
Length: 1.8 miles (loop)
Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous
Highlights: Mountain views
The Hattaway Mountain Trail starts near the park swimming pool. After shortly beginning, the trail will split. Either direction can be strenuous, but taking the right path may be slightly more difficult.
The trail is straightforward and easy to follow. It doesn’t intersect with any other trails so you don’t have to worry about missing any turns.
The summit offers views, but much like Sugarloaf Mountain, the views will be better later in the year after the leaves have fallen.
Other Trails of Morrow Mountain State Park
Aside from the four main trails of Morrow Mountain State Park, there are a few small trails worth mentioning.
Mountain Loop Trail
This trail is near the top of Morrow Mountain and goes around just below the summit, offering excellent views of the Pee Dee River below. I highly recommend combining this trail with the Morrow Mountain Trail. This is where you get the best views in the park.
Laurel Trail
This .6 miles of trail travels alongside a nice stream and passes by the rental cabins in the park. I add this trail when I’m wanting to extend my hike.
Backpack Trail
Leading to the primitive camping area of the park, this 2 mile there-and-back trail is joined with the Morrow Mountain Trail until splitting to the left.
Miscellaneous Trails
Additional trails in Morrow Mountain State Park include the Three Rivers Trail, the Quarry Trail, and the Rocks Trail. There are also three bridle trails; the short, middle, and long loops. The bridle trails are available for hiking, as well.
Extended Hike Plans
If the individual trails of Morrow Mountain State Park don’t offer the distance or difficulty you are looking for in a hike, you can plan a hiking route that combines trails to form a longer loop. Here are a couple of ideas.
Morrow Mountain and Hattaway Mountain Trails
Park at the top of Morrow Mountain. Hike down the mountain and turn right when the Morrow Mountain Trail meets the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail. Before you arrive at the park office, turn left on the Laurel Trail and pass by the cabins while enjoying the sounds of the stream. After rejoining the Morrow Mountain Trail, you will have reached the park office parking lot.
Walk down to the road and turn right to head to the park pool, then find the Hattaway Mountain Trail. Choose either direction and complete the loop before re-crossing the road to the park office and heading back the way you came on the Morrow Mountain Trail.
Don’t miss your left turn to stay on the Morrow Mountain Trail!
When you reach the Mountain Loop Trail, turn left. Eventually you will end up at the top of Morrow Mountain and can head back to the parking lot.
Total Distance: 8.4 miles
Sugarloaf Mountain, Hattaway Mountain, and Morrow Mountain Trails
Park at the trailhead for the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail. Take the left fork and summit Sugarloaf Mountain before descending and joining the Morrow Mountain Trail. Turn left to head towards the park office.
Before reaching the park office, turn left on the Laurel Trail, which will rejoin the Morrow Mountain Trail just before the park office parking lot. Head down the driveway and down the road toward the park swimming pool and find the Hattaway Mountain Trail.
Go either direction of the Hattaway Mountain Trail and complete the loop. Head back to the Morrow Mountain Trail and remember to turn left where the trail splits from the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail.
Towards the top of Morrow Mountain, take the Mountain Loop Trail. After enjoying the views at the top of the mountain, head back down the Morrow Mountain Trail to where it joins the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail and turn left to head back and finish the hike.
Total Distance: 10.25 miles
Enjoy Hiking in Morrow Mountain State Park
As detailed above, Morrow Mountain State Park provides excellent trails that you can tailor to your hiking level. Whether a novice or an experienced hiker, you are sure to find a challenge here at this gem of a state park in central North Carolina.
