Must go: More state parks in the Piedmont region – Salisbury Post

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The overlook of the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area. Photo by David Freeze

The rapids and large rocks of the Eno River near the visitor center. Photo by David Freeze

The Buckwater Trail along the Eno River. Photo by David Freeze

The early 19th century Piper-Cox Cabin in Eno River State Park is located near Fews Ford, a popular river crossing at the time. Photo by David Freeze

A summit view from Morrow Mountain. Photo by David Freeze

The suspension bridge over the Eno in Eno River State Park. Photo by David Freeze

Where the Yadkin River becomes the Pee Dee River and Lake Tillery in Morrow Mountain State Park. Photo by David Freeze

The reconstructed 1630s home of Dr. Francis Kron, the first trained physician in the Piedmont, in Morrow Mountain State Park. Photo by David Freeze

Editor’s note: David Freeze visits all 42 state parks in North Carolina. Contact him at [email protected].

Back on the road, I had a wonderful visit to Morrow Mountain State Park on Monday, August 12th. The 5,881 acre park is closest to Badin and was established in 1939. At the other end of the parking lot across from the visitor center, I found a wonderful local history museum that included many facts about the history of the area and the early years of the park. With interactive displays, the museum is unmanned but still top notch.

There is a lot to see and do in the park, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool and 30 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. The Quarry Trail features an old quarry where Civilian Conservation Corps workers extracted claystone for the park’s buildings, walls and bridges. My favorite trail was the Fall Mountain Trail. It is moderately difficult and 4.1 miles long. Much of the trail runs along a beautiful section where the Yadkin River flows into the Pee Dee River and then into Lake Tillery. The river is wide and reminds me of the large rivers I have cycled past. With plenty of deciduous trees along the trail, this would be a phenomenal hike in the colorful fall colors.

With 54 miles of 11 hiking trails and 33 miles of horseback riding trails, I was very impressed. The Mountain Loop Trail around the summit of Morrow Mountain offers fantastic views of the river and surrounding forest below. Also particularly noteworthy was the reconstructed home, office and greenhouse of Dr. Francis Kron. Dr. Kron was the first trained physician in the Piedmont and offered veterinary services in addition to making his own medicines. He purchased his land in 1834, opened his practice and then played a large role in the formation of Stanly County, where the park is located.

My first visit early in the morning of Wednesday, August 14th was to Eno River State Park. The river is the star of this 4,319 acre park. Since there was a lot to see and I do a lot of it, I lingered on a morning where I was short on time to learn more. I first stopped at the old visitor center, found a map and immediately walked most of the 1.5 mile Buckwater Creek Trail following the river upstream. I met a local who told me what to see as he walks the same river path every morning. Although it was challenging in some areas walking over rock steps and stairs, I enjoyed the river path and a nice section of rapids behind some large rocks. Just before I left, I noticed a large group of children loudly enjoying the water around the rocks and the rapids.

Next I found the new visitor center near Few’s Ford and spoke to a very interesting employee who gave me the park stamp and asked if I had seen the suspension bridge. I had not seen it and immediately headed over to where I found this impressive feat of engineering. I saw a man walking quickly across it and the thing bouncing up and down, but when I walked across it was stable and only moved slightly. Very cool!

Another unusual find not far from the visitor center was a cabin that dates back to the early 1800s, but it is very well made and unusual! Typically cabins from this historic era were very small and rustic. The large Piper-Cox cabin is located near the popular Few’s Ford long-distance crossing and is still in good condition after 200 years. Before bridges were common, travelers usually crossed rivers at places where the water level was low and the ground was rocky to reduce the risk of wagons getting stuck.

Water-powered mills were popular on rivers at the time and 32 mills were in operation along the Eno. Several mills, including grist mills, flour mills and sawmills, once operated in the Few’s Ford area. The park is steeped in history and offers canoeing, kayaking and rafting in addition to fishing from its banks. Camping is only available in remote sites and requires a permit. Other river access points in the park include Pleasant Green, Cabe Lands, Pump Station and Cole Mill. The park has an extensive and varied list of 18 hiking trails with lengths ranging from 0.5 to 7.5 miles.

My last visit last Wednesday was to Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, but it is still on the list of 42 state parks. It is administered by the nearby Eno River State Park, where I got the stamp in my passport. The mountain peak rises more than 350 feet above the Eno River and is said to be the highest point between nearby Hillsborough and the Atlantic Ocean. The park is the smallest I have ever seen, at 190 acres, and is named for the Occoneechee Indians who lived along the Eno in the early 17th century. Many of their descendants still live in the area. The park does not have its own office, but does have two metal boxes with trail maps and other information.

The park has four hiking trails ranging from 10 to 2.2 miles. All are rated moderate to easy and most have some mountaintop-related aspect to them. There is lush flora and fauna, many of which are normally found on higher mountains. Rhododendron and mountain laurel, for example, are usually found at much higher elevations, as are brown fairy butterflies. There are two well-stocked fishing ponds on site.

Nineteen state parks are complete, with 23 more pending.