Morgan Creek Trail Trailhead — Attraction in Chapel Hill

The Trailhead provides easy access from NC-54 eastbound and good parking to the beginning of the MC Trail, one of Chapel Hill's Greenways. While I wouldn't score it 5 for quality, it was very nice and ease of access was a solid 5.

It is definitely a far nicer walk than you might think if you looked at it from Google in satellite mode. You are walking parallel to NC-54, cross under electrical lines twice (where there are no trees). But you can neither see nor hear any evidence of traffic (note to self: make appt w/ audiologist?). The areas under the electrical lines had a meadows-like feel, and were short, letting you get back under the cool shade quickly.

Side note: Google scores a hidden win by allowing you to drop and label pins on trail points, and will map and measure along the trail. Makes up for the satellites not being able to hear traffic or comprehend "meadow-like", to some extent.

The paved Greenway is wide enough to allow oncoming couples to pass by each other readily, and is well maintained.

Alternate Access: You can also get to the Morgan Creek Trail from Southern Village via Fan Branch Trail, or a number of other spots. Conversely, you can start at the MCT Trailhead and use it to access other points, specifically Fan Branch Trail.

If you go to Fan Branch Trail: Once you get to its body, it is nicer than MCT - more thickly wooded, cooler, fewer signs of utilities. If you access it from MCT, there are a couple distinctly urban intrusions (Culbreth underpass, short stretch of US 15-501 S nearby) before you get back to your walk-in-the-woods dream state. FBT emerges in Southern Village, but while it is technically still a trail, it's surban sidewalk most of the remainder.

Note 2: My experience is limited to the portion of MCT from the Trailhead to Fan Branch (and Fan Branch Trail) during seasons with...

It's good to have a walking/running trail south of 54, but that is one of the major drawbacks. Until the rest of Morgan Creek Trail is completed and without a pedestrian crossing under or over Highway 54 there is no way to get here easily on foot or safely by bicycle from Carrboro or downtown Chapel Hill.

The trail itself is fine. Mostly well-maintained and surfaced. From this trailhead it links to the Fan Branch trail and onto Southern Community Park for a total length each way of about 2.5 miles. The trail also links to Merritt's pasture which provides an unpaved walking loop through fields. While foot and bike traffic are allowed on Morgan and Fan Branch, bikes are not allowed at Merritt.

The trail undulates through trees and the outer rim of Southern Village. It has a few quiet road crossings, four or five short inclines and one longer hill at the Southern Park end.

Look out for flooding after heavy rain at this trailhead. The creek will overflow here and make parts of the path inaccessible. There have been a few car break-ins at the trailhead too, so be careful with valuables and be aware when parking late in the afternoon or early morning when there are few visitors. Limited parking of only 20 spaces and one disabled parking bay. Expect overflow on weekends when the...

The Morgan Creek Trail is perfect for those looking for a nice dose of nature. It had rained a fair amount on the previous day, and the dirt path was surprisingly not muddy in most places. There is a nice wooden boardwalk ushering you in the direction of Merritt's Pasture, where the path continues out onto a field resembling something out of a Tolkien book. The path eventually meanders into a brief wooded part of the trail. It loops back to the Morgan Creek trail and is such a pleasant walk or hike overall. There are a few benches situated throughout, and you can almost forget you are in the city. All in all, it took us a bit less than an hour to walk. It was our 2nd time, and we will be...