Hike Fall Mountain Trail at Morrow Mountain State Park
Primary Route: Hike the Fall Mountain loop
Hiking Distance: 3.96 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 565 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Boathouse Trailhead at the Boathouse parking lot. There is parking space for 60-70 vehicles. Click here to see the exact location of the Boathouse in the park.
Hiking Directions: Click here for a map of the park that includes the parking area and trails. Start at the south end of the Boathouse parking lot. Hike 0.3 miles to a junction with Three Rivers Trail to the left; continue to the right. At 0.9 miles, cross the gravel road to the group camp area. At 0.36 miles, cross the gravel road to another group camp area. Continue along until you cross a small creek at 0.79 miles. At 1.08 miles, pass near Kron House exhibit to your left. At 1.29 miles, you begin the climb to the ridgetop starting at 440′ of elevation and reaching the summit of Fall Mountain at 740′ at mile 1.89. The trail has a steep drop down the north end to the river. Reach the riverbank just below Falls Dam at mile 2.64. Turn off onto the side trail to the left that leads up to some large rock outcroppings to a beautiful view of the dam and lake. After viewing the lake, cross a small creek at mile 3, and continue on to a footbridge at mile 3.79. Complete your hike at the north end of the Boathouse parking lot.
Alternative Routes: You can complete the Fall Mountain Trail starting from the north end of the Boathouse parking lot and ending at the south end of the parking lot. This route, however, has a longer and more difficult climb to the summit, while the primary route has a slightly more gradual ascent.
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Thanks to Don Childrey’s book Uwharrie Lakes Region Trail Guide for detailed information.