Morrow Mountain State Forest occupies 1,290 acres in the towns of Georgetown and Nelson in Madison County. Morrow Mountain rises to an elevation of 2,142 feet and is the highest elevation in Madison County.  There is a truck trail that leads to the tree summit with radio towers.  You can also hike up the 0.9 mile truck trail to the highest point in Madison County.  There a some views through the trees.

At one time there was a 67 foot fire tower at the summit of Morrow Mountain and if you look closely you'll see remnants of the old base of the fire tower.  We were unable to find the parking area and yellow loop trail on the DEC map below when we went to visit.  There are nice views from Fire Tower Road of Morrow Mountain.  See below for pictures and a topo map for the "summit" hike.

On a brisk autumn day the landscape here is ablaze in reds and yellows from the changing leaves of sugar maple. Maples have long been valued for their sweet sap, blonde wood and spreading shade on streets, parks and village greens throughout New York State. But their brilliant fall color has earned them a distinction as one of the most beautiful trees in North America. In Native American legend, spirit hunters in the sky slew the constellation Great Bear in autumn and the bear's blood, dripping on the forest, changed many leaves to red. Some leaves turned yellow by the fat that splattered out of the kettle as the hunters cooked the meat.

Science has revealed that color change is caused by chemical changes in the tree as summer turns to winter. Sugar maple is one of the most common trees on Morrow Mountain State Forest, and you can enjoy its brilliance on any day of the year. But to experience sugar maple at its most spectacular, consider a visit in October when the sun is bright, the temperature is brisk and autumn colors are at their peak.

Directions to Morrow Mountain State Forest

The forest is located north of NY 80 and is easily assessed from Fire Tower, Parker Hill , Morrow and Mollie Roads.  The start of the Morrow Mountain Summit Hike is located at the DEC sign off Fire Tower Road.  Park here and simply ascend the truck trail 0.9 miles to the summit.  There is only a 266 foot elevation change, so this is a easy to moderate hike.

Pictures from Morrow Mountain State Forest

DEC sign off Fire Tower Road.	Truck Trail leading up to the summit of Morrow Mountain.	The summit of Morrow Mountain.	Remains of old fire tower.	Truck Trail leading up to the summit of Morrow Mountain.
Truck Trail leading up to the summit of Morrow Mountain.	Truck Trail leading up to the summit of Morrow Mountain.	View of Morrow Mountain from Fire Tower Road.	View of Morrow Mountain from Fire Tower Road.	View of Morrow Mountain from Fire Tower Road.