Morgan County is home to Frozen Head State Park. The park encompasses more than 24,000 acres of wilderness and is named after a 3,324-foot peak in the Cumberland Mountains. The trails also offer different profiles: two sections of the Cumberland Trail lie in the county and differ in both length and difficulty.
Hiking at Different Scales
The Frozen Head State Park section of the Cumberland Trail is a challenging 7.9-mile route. The Emory Tract is shorter at 3.1 miles and is rated moderate. This offers two distinctly different combinations of trail length and difficulty. Check current trail conditions and access information before setting out, as both can change.
The Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail runs for 36.5 miles through Morgan County and is more than 300 miles long overall. Wartburg is the only town the trail passes directly through. The county section can therefore be considered in the context of a much longer long-distance trail, while Wartburg has a special connection to its route.
At the Obed: Trails, Water and an Old Bridge
Rock climbing is possible at the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Six public river access points are designed for canoes, kayaks and rafts, and serve trips on both calm water and whitewater. The Lilly Overlook and Nemo areas have 18 miles of trails, including 15.3 miles of the Cumberland Trail. This brings together water access, climbing and hiking as different ways to enjoy the Obed.
At Nemo Access, visitors can walk across a bridge dating from the 1930s. Beside it stands the modern concrete bridge that replaced the older structure. Abandoned Railroad Tunnel No. 24 is also located near Nemo Access. Jeeps and trucks can drive through the passage; it is frequently flooded. Check current conditions before driving through.
Construction History and Historic Sites
Wartburg Presbyterian Church was built in 1883 and is a fine example of the Folk Victorian style. Historic Rugby was founded in 1880 as a Rugby Colony by British author Thomas Hughes; the site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972. The church and the colony represent different historical themes: a clearly dated building history on the one hand, and the founding of a settlement on the other.
The oldest surviving residence in Morgan County was built in 1814–1815 by Ezra Stonecipher. He was a gunsmith and furniture maker from a family of German immigrants. A description from May 2025 mentions information panels on the grounds and the opportunity to explore the history of the site using augmented reality on a smartphone.
Brushy Mountain was Tennessee’s first maximum-security prison; inmates were housed there for more than a century. A self-guided audiovisual experience about the prison and its grounds tells 22 stories about people who lived or worked there as guards, inmates or employees. Check current visitor information before your trip.
Events and Seasonal Offerings
Wartburg hosts the Barkley Marathons in Frozen Head State Park every year. The racecourse covers more than 100 miles and five loops; course details can change. The Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival offers live music, local vendors, food, arts and crafts, and family activities in Morgan County. If you’re planning to attend the festival, check the current event dates.
The seasonal Morgan County Farmers Market brings together fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods and arts and crafts. Since the season and schedule can change, it’s a good idea to check the current market dates before visiting. Together with the historic sites and variety of outdoor activities, the market offers another glimpse of what the county has to offer.
Discover more destinations: Oakdale, Wartburg, Gibson, Williamson, Johnson County, Jackson County, Hickman County, Tipton
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