Charlotte’s got a lot. I at least like to think so when it comes to getting outside. If you’re here, hopefully, that’s your goal. In this post, I want to give a rundown of Charlotte outdoor activities and the surrounding area. This is especially useful if you’re moving to Charlotte or just generally new to the area.
Charlotte is based in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. So, we have lots of trees, rolling hills, rivers (and human-made lakes) plus a good variety of wildlife. Within Mecklenburg County, we have the Catawba River with Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake, and Lake Wyile. Crowders Mountain and Kings Mountain are in to the surrounding counties west of Gastonia, NC. These mountains are quite a popular destination for serious hiking. Expanding to your 1-2 hour drives, we have the Uwharries to the east and the Appalachia to the west.
Appalachia, better known as the Appalachian Mountains, steals North Carolina’s limelight outdoors. The vastness and remote feel along with the friendly faces make it a very popular destination. On the other hand, the Uwharries are much less known. These smaller mountains are home to Uwharrie National Forest. A place used by the locals of the rural counties nearby and is also a popular 4X4 destination.
Gear and What to Pack
Gear and supplies are heavily dependent on your needs and activity. But, I’ll do my best to inform you of the environment here so you can make an educated call. Overall, Charlotte outdoor activities are fairly tame in the gear you will need.
Wildlife
Wildlife is fairly tame here. In the immediate Charlotte area, the Copperhead snake is our only venomous reptile to worry about. Other mammals like Coyotes, Raccoons, and Wild Hogs are usually not a threat. To the east, the Timber Rattlesnake is common, be vigilant for them. To the west, Black Bears become more common.
General Climate
Our winters are generally mild but can get cold. Our summers get very hot and humid. Often in the summertime, we get afternoon thunderstorms that can creep up on you. Besides rain and lightning, these can also pose a flash flood risk. I would always prepare with the right outerwear and plenty of water + electrolytes for the summer.
Facilities
Depending on where you go, facilities can range in offerings. Many Mecklenburg County parks, NC state parks, and other local parks have great facilities. This includes bathrooms, water fountains, shelters, and some vendor options. Generally, the bigger the park, the better. Small parks, local trails, and other spots usually have nothing. Sometimes a place to park can even be difficult to find.
My Top Spots
Throughout my time in the area, I’ve come across many places for Charlotte outdoor activities, partly due to the Catawba Lands Conservatory and Carolina Thread Trail. These two organizations have made many of my favorite places possible. I love their smaller trails and hidden features that otherwise may have never been accessible by the public.
Also, many public parks run by local government make the list as well. So, I’m thankful for all the organizations that make getting outdoors possible.
Hiking Locations
Crowders and Kings Mountain State Parks
This is one of the top Charlotte outdoor activities you can do in the Charlotte region. The two parks sit right next to each other. Kings Mountain State Park does have a small fee to enter. Both parks offer numerous hiking trails that are more difficult compared to offerings in Mecklenburg County.
The crown jewel of Crowder Mountain State Park is the Backside Trail that leads to the top. Here, one can see around the eastern side of the mountain to Uptown Charlotte. It’s quite an awesome view, but a hefty climb to the top. This trail gets crowded on the weekends, with parking filling up.
On the Kings Mountain site in South Carolina, you have the Kings Mountain National Recreation Loop. This long trail takes you through the backwoods of the park. A great place if you want a remote hike near the city of Charlotte North Carolina. Kings Mountain State Park is also the site of a Revolutionary War battlefield. The history behind the area genuinely makes the place interesting to visit.
Uwharrie National Forest
About an hour east of Charlotte North Carolina is the Uwharrie National Forest. This area is situated in the Uwharrie Mountains. A very old and weathered mountain range that is unique to this area of North Carolina. The mountains sit adjacent to the Yadkin/Pee Dee River, which made the area a major location for Native American activity.
Today, the national forest is a great place to camp or hike. There are dozens of miles of interesting and remote hiking trails in the area. Compared to the Appalachian mountains, these trails are tame. But, can be strenuous.
I love to hike here. Bear threats are minimal and there are plenty of primitive camping sites people have made over the years. So, it makes a fun and interesting experience out here. Additionally, if you want to try your hand at off-roading. The OHV trails are some of the best in the state and fill up with enthusiasts around the area. If you want to read more about the Uwharrie National Forest, read my comprehensive guide here.
Mountain Creek Park
Mountain Creek Park is a bit of a hidden gem west of Mooresville, North Carolina. This park, recently created in 2021, is home to over 20 miles of trails. While mountain biking is popular here (see more below). Hiking is also possible. The park is mostly pine trees and compact red clay. This makes it a unique scene compared to many other places in the area. Read more here to get the details.
Lake Norman State Park
Lake Norman State Park has a ton of public shoreline compared to other parks on Lake Norman. It’s situated at the top of Lake Norman by Troutman. However, it’s worth the drive for the shoreline. The park has multiple hiking trails that are hilly, but nothing terrible. My favorite hike is the trail that takes you around the shoreline of the park.
The other hiking trails double as mountain biking trails at Lake Norman State Park. Most of these trails are populated well by mountain bikers, so I would be cautious hiking there. Regardless, any trail is a great one at Lake Norman State Park.
Walking Trails
Founders Trail Fort Mill
Down in South Carolina, Founders Trail along the Catawba River is a spectacular walking trail. It’s a flat, natural surface trail that hugs the Catawba River from Mason’s Bend down to the Pump House.
To the north, the trail starts at Mason’s Bend, a natural bend in the river the neighborhood is named after. This bend also features a beautiful rocky formation across the trail. But, don’t fret! The trail is very tame here. To learn more, read about the trail here.
Greenways
Charlotte and the surrounding area are full of paved and natural surface greenways. Here are a few of my recommendations here:
- Little Sugar Creek Greenway – The top greenway for center-city Charlotte outdoor activities! This greenway stretches from Uptown to the border of South Carolina. There are multiple places to park and access the greenway. This is my favorite place to do a long bike ride.
- Mallard Creek Greenway – This is about 6-7 miles of greenway. It starts by UNC Charlotte (where you can also branch off to Toby Creek Greenway) and follows Mallard Creek for many miles. Once you pass I-85, the greenway becomes very peaceful for a long walk.
- Rock Hill Greenway – This greenway begins right where the Founders Trail ends. Next to the Pump House, you will find the start of the greenway. It follows about 3 miles next to the Catawba River. A notable part of the greenway is where it passes Nation’s Ford. A historical shallow river crossing. Now a trail bridge passes through here.
- Davidson’s Greenways – North of Charlotte is the town of Davidson. There’s a handful of greenways around the town limits of Davidson. None of them directly connect to the other. But, you can walk through neighborhoods to access them. Antiquity Greenway to South Prong Rocky River Greenway is my favorite spot here. If you follow it through the neighborhood, you can walk a fair distance.
Latta Nature Preserve
I was debating on adding this to the hiking or walking section. Given that most of the trails are tame here, I considered this a walking location. There are still “hiking” trails, but most trails are flat, wide, and covered with gravel.
Latta Nature Preserve is the biggest park on Mountain Island Lake. This makes it perfect for a variety of activities including walking. Numerous trails follow the water’s edge. Plus, the park features some interesting rock formations across the lakeshore.
Water Activities
Whitewater Center
The Whitewater Center is a common spot for Charlotte outdoor activities involving water. The Whitewater Center features artificial rapids for rafting and whitewater kayaking. If you raft here, everything is included and you join a broader group, making it perfect for newbies.
If you want more tame water activities, you can rent a kayak as the Whitewater Center is situated on the Catawba River. This makes the place perfect to get the feel of kayaking without going out and purchasing one yourself.
Mountain Island Lake
For almost anything water-related near Charlotte, I always recommend the Mountain Island Lake. This lake is smaller and has a more natural shoreline than the other two human-made lakes. Additionally, there are small coves and spots that kayakers can enjoy without many motorboats.
Regardless, you can do all sorts of water activities on this lake. There are three boat ramps for launching vessels and Latta Nature Preserve has multiple spots to put in kayaks. If you want to learn more, read my post about the lake here.
Catawba River in Fort Mill
As I mentioned earlier, the Catawba River runs through the Fort Mill and Rock Hill area. In the summertime, this river is very popular for water tubing and kayaking. From the beginning of the Lake Wyile dam, you can launch river tubes into the water and float about two miles down to the Pump House.
Over the years, this activity has grown exponentially popular, with parking going fast on a weekend. You don’t just have to tube. The launch accommodates kayaks and even some very small motorboats. However, this section of the Catawba River is very rocky!
Biking and Mountain Biking
Whitewater Center
For mountain biking, the Whitewater Center is a comprehensive spot. They have numerous trails of varying difficulty. So, any skill level could be comfortable here. Additionally, they rent bikes out if you just want to try out the hobby.
Mountain biking is free if you bring your bike (given you still have to pay to park). I always enjoy a trail towards the back of the Whitewater Center that follows a small pond. It’s relatively tame, but there are still some sections that make it fun.
Mountain Creek Park
Mountain Creek Park is by far one of the best destinations for mountain biking in the Charlotte area. I mentioned it as a hiking spot, but it was designed for mountain biking. The trails are mostly compact mud with various terrain types throughout the park. You have windy and hill trails, rocky trails, and even some steep sections with jumps.
If you have the endurance, you could spend the entire day in this park exploring new trails. The park also features a small pump track at the main entrance. This park does get very crowded in the summertime with bikers. So, expect traffic on the trails.
Lake Norman State Park
Another hiking spot that’s also popular with mountain biking. As I mentioned previously, this park is mostly mountain biking trails. There are some beginner sections and more advanced sections. While this park features a lot of trail in terms of length. It bundles into a few long trails compared to Mountain Creek Park.
Fisher Farm Park
Fisher Farm is a small spot for mountain biking. But, if you are looking for seriously advanced trails, Fisher Farm has it. The mountain biking trails towards the front of the park are some of the most advanced I’ve seen. Though, I’ve never been on them.
There is one main loop that is tame and a good place for a quick ride. Additionally, there is a paved greenway down at the creek. It does not connect anywhere. But, I have biked on the two-lane roads through Davidson to get here in the past. You can read more about the park here.
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
This greenway mentioned above is your spot for road biking without the cars. As I mentioned before, it stretches from Uptown Charlotte to South Carolina. You can easily do 30ish miles on the greenway. I make the drive down to Charlotte just to bike here and get away from cars. However, foot and other bike traffic can be heavy on the greenway.
In Conclusion
There is a ton to offer when it comes to Charlotte outdoor activities. The places I named are just the top spots that come to mind. There are numerous other places that I would never have time to mention. Beyond my spots, I hope you can find a unique place of your own. Charlotte is never thought of as an outdoors city, but I hope this changes the perspective here. Now, get out there and enjoy the outdoors!
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