Hidden Gems: Charlotte NC and Beyond Series Overview
Some of the most unique outdoors adventures take place at your lesser known spots. This series of articles aims to give you the inside scoop about some of my favorite places to be outside from my personal travels. Whether you’re down to hike, bike, run or just enjoy the fresh air, this series is for you. These locations are based around the Charlotte NC metro region (where I grew up), but I will bring it spots that are more of a day trip or weekend getaway.
I hope you enjoy this series. Please always remember to leave these areas better than you found them. It’s up to us as individuals to conserve these beautiful spots. Thank you!
The South Fork Trail
Nestled under one of the busiest interstates in the US is a unique little ~ 2 mile nature trail. When you arrive, you’ll be distracted by the rush of I-85. But, as you begin your adventure, you’ll slowly walk into a quant riverside walk with remnants of mills operations and even the Civil War.
Right outside of McAdenville, the trailhead started just before the I-85 bridge that crosses the Catawba South Fork River. In the trailhead parking lot, you should notice some signs for the Carolina Thread Trail. This is a larger system of trails put up by the Catawba Lands Conservatory, an awesome non profit focused on making great spots like this possible. In the parking lot itself, you should also notice a little kayak launch. While, you can kayak here, I don’t recommend it. Up the river exists rapids that become impossible to paddle through and to the right is a old mill dam. If you’re looking to kayak the South Fork, Cramerton is a great spot just down the road.
Beginning on the trail, you’ll pass under I-85 and through some woods to an old train bridge. This bridge still hosts an active track the crosses over the trail and the river. Past that, you’ll follow the river bends with the trail. Here is a particularly good place to do some catfishing if you’re into that. As you continue, you’ll start to hear some modest rapids. These continue for most of the trail.
Eventually, you’ll stumble up to the remains of an old bridge, noticeable by the stone structures sticking out of the river. This bridge connected the river to the olds mills that existed on the South Folk. Is was burned down by Union troops who originally sought to burn down the mill during the Civil War (read more here).
Continuing down the trail, a smaller waterway diverging for the river begins here. Keep on the lookup to the left, you’ll find some old remains of those Civil War mills. You’ll also stumble upon a lovely little beach and rock formation to the right. This is one of my favorite parts of this trail. I love to wade the water here and look at all the little details. Sometimes, I’ll set up a hammock on the little island and relax to the sounds of the rapids.
As you continue, you’ll enter the straightaway of the trail. The river gets deeper here (good for more fishing) and you’ll eventually continue until you hit the end of the line. Here, the trial bring you out to a neighborhood near the Lowell Elementary School. Now is you time to turn around and continue back, stopping one last time at all the sights along the way.
Now, go and enjoy your visit! If, you’re looking for more to do after finishing the trail, check out the little town of Belmont, Cramerton or McAdenville. Thank you and enjoy the day!
Leave a Reply