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To the summit, it’s much more strenuous, leading up to a narrow ridge with great views from the highest point in Gaston County. With the first bald only .5 miles from the parking lot, Black Balsam Knob gives you huge bang for you buck. Thanks to the networks of balds, there are consistently stunning views of the area as you hike as little or as much as you’d like along this trail. It easy to make your own custom route based on whatever distance you’d like to achieve. If you’re looking for an accessible hike for younger children or older adults, this is one of the least challenging but most rewarding around.
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The forest is also perfect for wildlife exploration, home to various birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. We’ll be adding to this list all the time, so keep checking back! And let us know if there’s a location you’d like us to highlight. We definitely have plans to visit more of Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation’s nature preserves. Natasha moved to North Carolina for college years ago (but she's not trying to age herself here).
Freedom Park Pond Loop
There are pretty views of the lake throughout, which can make the hike more pleasurable. You won't have to leave the city of Charlotte to find a good stretch of untouched wilderness, with Reedy Creek serving up trails, streams and lakes. The park's center, popular for field trips, hosts talks and displays with live animals.
Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area
For wow-worthy views of the iconic falls, take the moderate Erwins View Trail or the strenuous Linville Gorge Trail. The wide footpaths here are great for families with kids. Spend a few hours along the area’s 39 miles of trails and you’ll find that there’s more to explore on your next visit.
Vertical Mile Challenge to Hollow Rock Loop
To date, 106 herbaceous plant species, 78 species of woody plants, 53 species of birds and 24 species of butterflies have been documented at the preserve. You won’t get a good aerobic workout here, but with so much to see that’s not really a priority. As for natural history, 46 acres of the park are designated as a Natural Heritage Site and support wildflowers typically found farther west in the southern Appalachians. The Stalling Park Trail is a 0.7-mile trail loops around the Stallings Municipal Park.
3 Picturesque Winter Hikes in Burke County, N.C. - Charlotte magazine
3 Picturesque Winter Hikes in Burke County, N.C..
Posted: Thu, 03 Dec 2020 08:00:00 GMT [source]
You should find various accessible handicap parking spaces. It's recommended that hikers download a map or grab a paper one as the intersections aren't always clearly marked. There are some rocky portions and some minor hills, so be prepared to do some scrambling and work those quads. The trail is popular with mountain bikers, so try to keep an ear out for them. Tree cover provides some much-needed shade that gives hikers relief from the sun's rays. There is a science center on the property with public bathrooms and a place to fill up water bottles.
Anne Springs Close Greenway
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Walk on Campbell Creek Greenway and see the ruins of an abandoned gristmill (8 miles SW of center of Charlotte)
Among the various hiking spots at Morrow Mountain in Albemarle (just over 40 miles from Charlotte), there are a few horse trails, and the Bridle is one of them. Nature-lovers will appreciate the McDowell Nature Preserve (18 miles southwest of Charlotte) for its abundant wildlife and unspoiled scenery around Lake Wylie. Loons, ospreys, salamanders and snakes – this hike will keep you busy with all there is to observe and identify in its natural environment. Combining your hike with a visit to this sprawling recreational facility (about a half-hour drive from Charlotte) is loads of fun – even more so if you’re with a group. Parking is $6 for the whole day, but all of the trails are free.
Difficult Hikes Near Charlotte
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The 4-mile trail serves as the spine for a more extensive trail network in the area, connecting with about 20 miles of additional trail. The vast network is open to equestrians and mountain bikers, making it an especially popular destination. Enhancing the greenway’s popularity even more are a fishing pier, canoe access and a playground. Rankin Lake Park is a community landmark in Gaston County near Charlotte, NC, home to the 1.9-mile Rankin Lake Trail.
Many visitors join the Cove, Cedar Ridge, Creekside, and Chestnut Trail to form a 4.47-mile loop, a moderately challenging route that will take roughly 2 hours to cover. You can also cut your hike much shorter by sticking to any one of the trails. At the heart of Colonel Francis Beatty Park lies the Main Loop Trail, also called the Colonel Francis Beatty Park Loop. It runs for 4.3 miles and is considered a moderately difficult trail. The trail features scenic views of the 12-acre manmade lake the park houses amidst passing fields and a crossing creek. The trail is open year-round and welcomes leashed dogs as well.
The walk down from the rock to the waterfall (and back up) is steep. Watch your step, because there are plenty of roots and rocks that could trip you up. Arkansas is known for its stunning natural beauty, friendly folks, and a cost of living that's hard to beat. Whether you're drawn to the hustle and bustle of city life or the peace and quiet of the countryside, Arkansas has got something for everyone. From the stunning White Mountains to the serene lakes, there's a spot for everyone in this charming New England state. Whether you're after the hustle and bustle of city life or the peacefulness of the countryside, New Hampshire offers a unique blend of both.
The hike is relatively easy to traverse, making it perfect for beginners. You will also love the natural and scenic environment the park provides year-round. Besides hiking, the park is a popular hotspot for biking, fishing, and horseback riding. The McDowell Nature Preserve is a 1,100-acre park on the banks of Lake Wylie, one of the most beautiful and frequented lakes in Charlotte NC.
The Reedy Creek Trail, nestled within the 737-acre Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, offers diverse terrains and picturesque views of small lakes, fields, streams, and wildlife. The trail is a relatively easy 2.9-mile loop that falls through the preserve’s pine and hardwood forest. Renaissance Park has a 4.3-mile looped trail, perfect for visiting if you want to get some walking done. It is a moderately challenging route that takes 1.5 hours to complete. Mountain bikers more popularly frequent the trail but are still well-known among hiking enthusiasts in and around Charlotte. The trail welcomes visitors year-round, along with leashed dogs on its premises.
Crowders Mountain State Park is kind of the hiking spot for the Charlotte region — for good reason. The park’s about an hour west of Charlotte in Gaston County, close to Interstate 85, and it has actual mountains in the metro area. The park has two small peaks (Crowders Mountain at roughly 1,600 feet and The Pinnacle at roughly 1,700). It has a variety of trails, including one that links to Kings Mountain State Park in South Carolina if you’re feeling ambitious.
It is generally an easy looped trail you can cover in around 15 minutes. During your hike, observe many raptors the facility houses, including eagles, owls, vultures, falcons, and more. The Kings Mountain National Recreation Trail covers 16 miles in a loop that winds through the hardwood forest past its rolling hills and granite outcrops. Moreover, it will offer you some gorgeous Kings Mountain State Park sights. It is near the eastern foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. If you are looking for a nature walk in the heart of Charlotte City, hike along the three-mile-long RibbonWalk that winds its way through a small 188-acre nature preserve.
