Start It, Stanly! Hike It!
Four free Saturday-morning group hikes on Morrow Mountain State Park trails, hosted by Atrium Health Stanly with the park.
Photo: Stuart Borrett / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (view from Morrow Mountain, not the event)
Source: RunSignup: Start It, Stanly! Hike It! Fall 2026 ↗. Details below are summarized from the organizer’s registration page; confirm before you go.
If you’ve been meaning to get out on the trails this fall, here’s an easy reason. Start It, Stanly! Hike It! is a series of free group hikes at Morrow Mountain State Park, part of Atrium Health Stanly’s Start It, Stanly! health and wellness series and run in partnership with the park. Organizers pitch it as a way to get moving outdoors and step away from screens for a morning. Come alone, with friends or family, or as a group.
The schedule
| Date | Trail | Meet at |
|---|---|---|
| Sat. Oct. 17, 8 a.m. | Sugarloaf Trail | Bridle Trail / Sugar Loaf Trail / horse trailer parking area, about half a mile on the right after entering the park |
| Sat. Oct. 31, 8 a.m. | Falls Trail | Parking area near the Morrow Mountain boat launch and boat rental |
| Sat. Nov. 14, 8 a.m. | Hattaway Mountain Trail | Bridle Trail / Sugar Loaf Trail / horse trailer parking area |
| Sat. Nov. 28, 8 a.m. | Morrow Mountain Trail (final hike) | Bridle Trail / Sugar Loaf Trail / horse trailer parking area |
What to know before you go
- Where: Morrow Mountain State Park, 49104 Morrow Mountain Rd., Albemarle, NC 28001. Parking changes with the trail, so check the table above.
- Cost: Free. Sign up on RunSignup ↗; registration stays open through Nov. 28.
- What to wear: Dress for the weather and wear trail-appropriate shoes. Organizers say flip-flops, sandals and open-toed shoes aren’t appropriate.
- Weather: Hikes may be canceled in bad weather. For updates, check the event’s Facebook page or call Daniel Harkey at 704-984-8997.
- Not posted: The listing doesn’t give distances, difficulty or age limits. Grab the park’s trail map from NC Parks if you want to preview the route.
Make a morning of it
The Oct. 17 hike falls on the same weekend as the free Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow on Newt Road, and the Albemarle Downtown Farmers Market runs Saturdays 8 a.m.–noon. See everything else in this week’s things to do.
