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Morrow Mountain State Park provides a wide range of outdoor activities – very close to Charlotte.
Distance
Morrow Mountain is 50 miles east of Charlotte, about a one-hour drive.
To see and do
Morrow Mountain State Park covers nearly 4,700 acres of the Uwharrie Mountains, which run north-south across Randolph, Montgomery and Stanly counties. Since the entire eastern edge of the park is bounded by water – the Pee Dee River and Lake Tillery – it is only natural that many of the activities it offers are water-related. Fishing is a popular pastime along the riverbanks or on the lake, with perch, catfish, bluegill and bass the common catches. Boating is another favorite activity. Rowboats and canoes are available for rent at the boathouse at the northern end of the park on spring and fall Saturdays-Sundays (daily in summer). For those with their own craft, a boat ramp is located in the same area.
Got a horse? The Bridle Trail gives equestrians a 16-mile route that circles the park under a canopy of towering oaks, pines and poplars.
A variety of hiking trails, covering more than 15 miles, range in length from .06 mile to four miles. The majority of trails are easy walks, some are moderate, and two are deemed strenuous. All are well-marked. If you’re not interested in hiking the three-mile Morrow Mountain Trail to the summit, a quick drive will take you to the top, where overlooks provide views to the east, west and south.
Campsites for tents and RVs are available for overnighters; each site in the family campground features a picnic table and grill. Restrooms and showers are conveniently located. The park has six vacation cabins available for rent for two-night weekend stays in the spring and fall (weekly in summer). Each cabin has two bedrooms, a kitchen with dining space, a living room with fireplace and a bathroom. For more rugged individuals, the park also has a primitive campground in a secluded area about a two-mile hike from the park office. Drinking water and supplies must be carried to the site, and no fires are permitted.
Gary McCullough
