Morrow Mountain State Park: Short Bridle Loop

A new-to-Charlotte friend asked me for ideas for a nearby hike she could take with her husband on her birthday. Something with a view. A little bit of a challenge, covering at least several miles. Dog-friendly.

Fortunately, we'd just done taken a hike that checked all the boxes. If you're looking for a trail along the same lines, here's what I would recommend.

Morrow Mountain State Park is about an hour east of Charlotte, just past Albemarle. There are around a dozen trails and lots of other fun things to do at Morrow Mountain. Though the park is east of town, it encompasses four mountains, the tallest of which has some elevation (936 feet) and offers a pretty impressive 360-degree view of the surrounding area.

To take an invigorating 5-mile hike, beginning and ending with a view and traversing some gorgeous land in between, I recommend a combination of segments of the Morrow Mountain Trail and Bridle Trail. Here's a park map. 

To do this hike, park in the Morrow Mountain picnic area parking lot (take a right at the intersection where the main entrance road splits). This puts you at the pinnacle of the the mountain to start. Here, you'll find scenic overlooks, a picnic shelter, and some informational signs about the area's historical significance. 

Take the Morrow Mountain Trail (blue triangle blazes; look for the trailhead just over the stone wall by the parking spaces at the front end of the parking lot) a little over half-mile downhill. (Note: This section is steep and strenuous.)

When Morrow Mountain Trail intersects with the Bride Trail: Short Loop (white circle blazes), take a left or right to hop on a pleasant, rolling, 3.9-mile loop. This section of trail is wide and quiet. As the name suggests, you might encounter horseback riders (and almost certainly need to watch for equine droppings). This seems to be one of the less popular (read: "less crowded") trails in the park, which makes it dog-friendly and perfect for a little solitude.

When you complete the Bridle Loop, retrace your steps up the Morrow Mountain Trail and plan to catch your breath -- and maybe have a picnic lunch or snack -- perched along the stone wall overlooks.

We loved this hike -- and so did my birthday-celebrating friend -- but if it's been a while since you've hit the trails, you might consider some other options at Morrow Mountain State Park first. Here are a few we've enjoyed: 

• Four short hiking options
• Hattaway Mountain Trail 
• Fall Mountain Trail 

Happy trails! 

How to get there: 

Morrow Mountain State Park is located at 49104 Morrow Mountain Rd., Albemarle, NC, 28001. To do this hike, park in the Morrow Mountain picnic area parking lot (take a right at the intersection where the main entrance road splits). The Morrow Mountain Trail trailhead is just over the stone wall by the parking spaces at the front end of the parking lot.