Area, State, Country Linkto Googlemaps
Reviewer's name: Casey Elder 49104 Morrow Mountain Road, Albemarle, NC 28001
Date(s) of visit: Oct 2011 (704) 982-4402
Information about the campground’s location and business:
Getting there (proximity to a major road, signage, etc.)
The park is between I85 and I73/I74 so you will take secondary roads to get there.
Attractions (what's nearby for a daytrip?)
I just hiked the trails in the park, but the Uwharrie National Forest is on the other side of the Yadkin / Pee Dee river.
Campground Staff (helpful, non-existent, mean?)
There is a campground host in the C section. He rides around in a golf cart and delivers firewood.
Other (cell phone reception, etc.)
I had one bar on Verizon, enough to to make a quick call.
Information about the campground as a place
Facilities (bathrooms, store, etc.)
Bathrooms were very clean. Sites include a place to park, a picnic table, a lantern post, a firepit and flat spot for tents. the sites use a fine gravel that can get into the tent if it's at all wet.
Water (lake, creek, swimming, fishing, etc.)
There is a nice lake (Tillary) and river (Yadkin / Pee Dee). They are currently building a boat hose on Lake Tillary.
Hiking Trails (variety, length, difficulty, etc.)
Most of the trails are pretty easy. We did both the Three Rivers trail and the River trail in about two or three hours. The Fall Mountain loop is longer and scenic, ending and beginning at Lake Tillary.
Views (what can you see here that is amazing?)
The view from the edge of lake Tillary is very nice, but the top of Morrow Mountain is better. It is not tall by any standard (1500ft?), but it looks the CCCs built the parking lot and simple cabins at the top. It was nice enough that there three wedding going on the day we were there!
Information about the campground’s tent sites
Beauty (if you sit at your site all day)
All sites are wooded, but I wouldn't want to stay there all day.
Privacy (how close do you feel to other sites)
Sites are pretty close, but not all evenly spaced. I'd recommend scouting out the camp ground and then doubling back to the office to claim you site.
Facilities (table, fire ring, tent pad, water, etc.)
All sites have table, lantern post, fire pit and space for a very large tent or two smaller tents. Bathhouses are in the center of each of three loops.
Convenience (ease of setting up, close to bathrooms?, etc.)
Since all sites are drive up, so set up is easy. You can back in and use the tailgate for extra seating in some sites.
Reviewer’s narrative
Morrow Mountain State Park is a typically nice, well maintained state park. So you get all the pluses and minuses that go with that. It's very convenient, bathrooms are clean, signage is excellent, but it gets crowded on weekends and unless you score one of very few secluded sites you will be stuck with your neighbor. The hiking is not going to appeal to the extreme outdoorsy types, but the Fall Mountain trail had a few nice spots, like an old logging road near the top, and the decent to Lake Tillary. The top of Morrow Mountain does give a great view of the other foothills, especially in fall. We were there in late October and the Fall foliage was great. The firewood was cheap, $4 a bundle, but very green. Combined with a muddy firepit I had trouble getting a hot, clean burning fire. The guys next to us brought a trailer full of old shipping pallets to burn. The website, like all the NC state parks, is great.
No comments:
Post a Comment