About

The City of Morganton is the county seat of Burke County and sits on the Catawba River in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Morganton and Burke County are blessed with scenic rural landscapes, abundant outdoor adventure opportunities, and people who love our community. The Blue Ridge Parkway, perhaps the most famous highway in America, winds its way through the northwestern part of the county, and Charlotte and Asheville are just over an hour’s drive away.

Morganton is called "Nature's Playground" for a reason. The Pisgah National Forest, comprised of more than 500,000 acres, covers the northwest section of Burke County; Linville Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of North Carolina, is just a short drive from the city; and Burke County is home to two North Carolina State Parks - Lake James State Park and South Mountains State Park. Lake James State Park, located in the western part of the county, sits astride a pristine, 6,812-acre reservoir that offers all the activities one might expect including boating, swimming, fishing, camping, 15 miles of mountain bike trails, and remote paddle-in campsites. Trails vary from the short, educational Holly Discovery Trail with child-friendly activities to the more adventurous segment of the historic Overmountain Victory Trail. South Mountains State Park, covers 18,000 acres of Burke County, and is one of the state’s most rugged areas featuring elevations to 3,000 feet, an 80-foot waterfall, mountain streams and more than 40 miles of trails for hikers, equestrians, and outdoor adventurers. Mountain bikers enjoy a 17-mile loop, and drive-to campsites sit beside the Jacob Fork River.

Morganton also is home to some spectacular municipal parks including Catawba Meadows Park, the Catawba River Soccer Complex, and the Morganton Greenway System. These local amenities cover more than 300 acres in the city and provide abundant recreational opportunities that are used daily by local residents and visitors from the region.