Morrow Mountain State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Morrow Mountain State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Morrow Mountain Overlook
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 Morrow Mountain State Park
Location in North Carolina
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| Location | Stanly County, North Carolina, United States |
| Area | 5,881 acres (23.80 km2) |
| Elevation | 936 ft (285 m) |
| Established | 1939 |
| Named for | Morrow Mountain |
| Governing body | North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation |
Morrow Mountain State Park is a cool state park in Stanly County, North Carolina, U.S. It's located near Albemarle and covers about 5,881 acres (23.80 km2) of land. This park is a big part of the Uwharrie Mountains.
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Exploring Morrow Mountain's Geography
Morrow Mountain is one of the tallest spots in the Uwharrie Mountains. These mountains used to be super tall, almost 20,000 feet (6,100 m) high! But over a very long time, wind and rain wore them down. Now, they are more like big hills, usually less than 1,000 feet tall. These hills are actually some of the oldest mountains in the eastern United States. Morrow Mountain itself reaches 936 feet (285 m) high.
The mountain stands about 400 feet (120 m) above the land around it. On a clear day, you can see amazing views of the countryside from the top. The park also has the Yadkin-Pee Dee River. This is one of the biggest rivers in central North Carolina. You can even see the river from the top of Morrow Mountain!
A Look Back: Morrow Mountain's History
People have lived in the Morrow Mountain area for a very long time. We know this because tools and other items from Native Americans have been found here. They were living here at least 12,000 years before Europeans arrived. Morrow Mountain was home to one of the biggest stone quarries in the Piedmont region. This area is now parts of North and South Carolina.
Just east of Badin, there's a special place called the Hardaway Site. It's an important spot for learning about ancient times. Thousands of stone tools and weapon points have been found there. These tools show us how skilled Native Americans were at working with stone. Many of these tools were made from a type of rock called rhyolite, which came mostly from the top of Morrow Mountain. Tools made from this rock were traded far and wide, from Maine to Florida!
European settlers started arriving in the 1700s, setting up homes along the Pee Dee River. In 1780, a man named John Kirk started a ferry. This ferry helped people cross the river and connect to a main road. There are old stories about famous people like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison using this ferry.
The idea for Morrow Mountain State Park began in the 1930s. Local people worked hard to create a park here. By 1937, over 3,000 acres of land were bought for the park. Much of this land was given by the people of Stanly County. The park is named after James McKnight Morrow, who donated more than 1,000 acres in 1920. Morrow Mountain State Park officially opened in the summer of 1939.
Early on, the park was built with help from both state and federal governments. Workers from groups like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Work Projects Administration (WPA) built many of the park's buildings and features. They worked from 1937 to 1942. More facilities were added in the 1950s and 1960s using state money.
Fun Things to Do at Morrow Mountain
At the top of Morrow Mountain, there's a scenic overlook. It gives you an amazing view of the whole area. You'll find a big parking lot there, plus picnic spots, grills, and a shelter.
You can go boating and fishing on Lake Tillery. There's also a large swimming pool that's open during the summer months. Swimming from the lake shore is not allowed because of currents and things hidden underwater.
Lake Tillery Adventures
Lake Tillery is part of the Uwharrie River and Pee Dee River system. It was created when the Tillery Dam was built in 1928. Morrow Mountain State Park has a boat launch, a picnic area by the water, and a fishing pier. A boardwalk connects the parking area to the boat launch. You can rent canoes from The Boathouse during the summer. In spring and fall, you can rent them on weekends. The Boathouse also sells drinks, snacks, ice, and bait.
The Historic Kron House
You can visit a rebuilt version of the old Kron House at the foot of Fall Mountain. A Scottish preacher first built this house. Then, Dr. Francis Kron bought it in 1839. Dr. Kron and his family lived here for the rest of their lives. They grew their small farm into a huge property of over 6,000 acres.
Dr. Kron was born in Prussia and came to America in 1823. He became one of the most famous doctors in the Southern Piedmont area. He was known for traveling for days to visit sick people. Dr. Kron practiced medicine until he was over 80 years old! He was also very interested in plants and education. A Japanese Chestnut tree he planted is still growing strong today. His home, doctor's office, and greenhouse look much like they did in 1870. Morrow Mountain State Park rebuilt his house in the 1960s and now offers tours.
After Dr. Kron passed away in 1883, his two daughters, Elizabeth and Adele, took over the property. They started selling parts of the land in 1850. Both sisters are buried in the family graveyard behind the house.
Camping at Morrow Mountain
Morrow Mountain has four different places to camp.
- The Family Camping area has three loops for tents, RVs, and trailers. Some spots have electricity, and six electric sites are wheelchair accessible.
- The Group Campsites are on the east side of the park, near Lake Tillery. Each site can hold up to 35 campers.
- Remote primitive campsites are for backpackers. You have to hike about two miles to get to them. There's a latrine but no running water. Remember to pack out everything you pack in, including trash! Fire rings were recently added for campfires.
- Six cabins are located near the park office. One cabin is wheelchair accessible. The cabins have modern comforts like stoves, microwaves, refrigerators, and cooking supplies. They also have fireplaces and screened porches with rocking chairs. You'll need to bring your own bedding, towels, and coffee filters. Each cabin has two bedrooms with two twin beds each. The living room couch can fold out into a double bed.
The Park Museum
There's a small museum at the end of the Camp Office parking lot. It tells the story of the Uwharrie Mountains. You can see exhibits about Native Americans, the plants and animals of the area, early explorers, and different rocks and minerals. It's open six days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM, and you can explore it on your own.
Hiking Trails to Explore
Morrow Mountain has about 32 miles (51 km) of trails, making it one of the most popular state parks for hiking in North Carolina. All hiking trails have special markers called blazes. If you see two blazes close together, it means the trail is about to make a sharp turn.
- Backpack Trail: This 1-mile (1.6 km) trail leads to the primitive campsites. It's an easy hike.
- Bridle Trail: This park has 16 miles (26 km) of horse trails that you can also hike. There are three different loops:
* The Short Loop is about 3.5-mile (5.6 km). * The Middle Loop is 5.2 miles (8.4 km). * The Long Loop is the full 16-mile (26 km) trail. There's also a short 0.35-mile (0.56 km) section called Duck Blind Cove Spur Trail.
- Campground and Pool Trail: This 0.8-mile (1.3 km) trail connects the pool, camp office, and family campgrounds. It goes through woods and some bushy areas.
- Hattaway Mountain Trail: This 2-mile (3.2 km) loop is a tough hike. It climbs steeply up Hattaway Mountain. From the top, you'll go downhill and then along a ridge. In the fall, you can see beautiful views of the deep woods. You might even spot some quartz rocks along the way.
- Fall Mountain Trail: This 4.1-mile (6.6 km) trail goes around Fall Mountain. It's a moderate climb up and then a steep path down to Lake Tillery. From there, you walk along the lake's edge.
- Laurel Trail: This short 0.6 miles (0.97 km) loop trail goes through the deep forest around the camping area. It's a popular trail for kids.
- Morrow Mountain Trail: This 3-mile (4.8 km) trail is one of the most popular in the park. It goes from the camp office all the way to the Mountain Loop Trail at the Overlook. It's a good climb up Morrow Mountain. Part of the trail, called "The Jungle," goes through tall Mountain Laurel plants.
- Mountain Loop Trail: This 0.8-mile (1.3 km) loop circles the very top of Morrow Mountain. It offers some of the best views in the park. You can look down into the park for almost a mile! This loop also includes the Overlook Picnic Area.
- Quarry Trail: This 0.6-mile (0.97 km) trail takes you around the picnic area and into an old quarry. For many years, rocks were mined here. You can see the paths and old buildings from the mining days. There's a short path to the quarry itself where you can see how the rock was cut.
- Rocks Trail: Many people think this is the most beautiful trail in the park. This 1.25-mile (2.01 km) trail goes through rolling hills and ends at a huge rock formation by the lake. The rocks are stable, but a sign reminds hikers to be careful. The view of Lake Tillery from here is very famous!
- Sugarloaf Mountain Trail: This is the toughest trail in the park! It's a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) loop with lots of winding hills. From the top, the trail drops about 500 feet (150 m) very quickly. On a clear day, the view from Sugarloaf's top is one of the most scenic in the park.
- Three Rivers Trail: This 0.6-mile (0.97 km) trail is considered the park's nature trail. It starts at the Tillery/Boathouse parking lot and goes through marshes and woods. It connects all the different types of environments in the park. You'll see marshland, coastline, and then climb a small hill into deep woods with wildflowers.
Park Growth and Nature
Morrow Mountain State Park has grown bigger over the years! In 2018, it added 45 acres (0.18 km2), and in 2019, another 25 acres (0.10 km2). These new areas are along Mountain Creek in a special forest called Stony Hill Church Hardwoods. This area is important because it has old hardwood trees and some endangered animals. For example, you might find rare Carolina creekshell mussels and even timber rattlesnakes here!
Weather Challenges
Morrow Mountain State Park has faced some tough weather over the years.
- In 1989, the leftover storms from Hurricane Hugo caused so much damage that the park had to close for two weeks.
- In September 1996, Hurricane Fran brought down many trees and caused other damage. Parts of the park were closed until January 1997.
- A big snowstorm in January 2000 closed the park for three months!
- An ice storm in December 2002 also closed parts of the park.
- On June 13, 2013, a strong storm called a derecho hit the park. A very strong burst of wind, called a microburst, caused a lot of damage. The park was closed for two months. The park office was damaged by a fallen tree, and one cabin was crushed. Hundreds of trees fell. Even though there was a lot of damage, luckily, no one was hurt. Parts of the park reopened on August 5.
Images for kids
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Morrow Mountain Overlook
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Morrow Mountain State Park (in the distance) with Lake Tillery and other mountains.
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A plaque honoring James McKnight Morrow.
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A view of Lake Tillery from the Fall Mountain Trail.
