Greenways and trails in Charlotte

Nature preserve and trails · Outdoors

Anne Springs Close Greenway

2,100-acre preserve with about 40 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, plus Lake Haigler for kayaking and fishing, a children's farm and the 1947 Founders Dairy Barn.

Daily 7am–sunset (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)

2573 Lake Haigler Dr · Fort Mill

Greenway · Outdoors

Caldwell Station Creek Greenway

Greenway of about 2.6 miles connecting Bailey Road Park and Glen Oak Green Park, then running south into Huntersville.

10000 Bailey Road · Cornelius

Greenway · Outdoors

Four Mile Creek Greenway (Matthews)

Two miles of paved walking trail connecting the Matthews Community Center, Fountain Rock Park, Squirrel Lake Park, the Matthews Heritage Trail and the Matthews Sportsplex. Parking is at the Matthews Community Center, Squirrel Lake Park and Council Place Drive/John Street.

Open at all times except during flooding or repairs

100 McDowell Street · Matthews

Greenway · Outdoors

Hector H. Henry II Greenway – Riverwalk

A 2.75-mile section of Concord's Rocky River greenway running from the Weddington Road Bark Park to the Embassy Suites and the Riverwalk neighborhood, with public art panels depicting local birds. The greenway is part of the Carolina Thread Trail.

Dawn to dusk (Weddington Road Bark Park trailhead)

8955 Weddington Road · Concord

Nature preserve and lake access · Outdoors

Lake Davidson Nature Preserve

Town nature preserve behind Davidson Day School with the 0.5-mile Sterling Martin Trail loop, picnic tables, a gazebo and public lake access for personal watercraft. Watercraft rentals and guided tours are offered through Davidson Parks & Recreation; there are no restrooms on site.

750 Jetton St · Davidson

Nature preserve · Outdoors

Latta Nature Preserve

Mecklenburg County's largest nature preserve, 1,460 acres on Mountain Island Lake with 16 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding and two canoe and kayak launches. The Quest nature center has live native animals and a 6,000-gallon aquarium.

Trails daily sunrise–sunset · Quest nature center Mon–Sat 9 AM–5 PM, Sun 1–5 PM

6345 Sample Rd · Huntersville

Greenway · Outdoors

Little Sugar Creek Greenway

Mecklenburg County greenway with more than 17 miles of trail from Brevard Street in NoDa to the South Carolina state line. It is part of the Cross Charlotte Trail.

Many access points from Brevard St southward · NoDa to the South Carolina line

Heritage walking trail · Outdoors

Matthews Heritage Trail: Historic Crestdale

A 1.5-mile trail that begins behind Matthews Town Hall, runs through the historic Crestdale community and connects to the Four Mile Creek Greenway at John Street. Signs along the route share the history of Crestdale, one of the oldest African American communities in North Carolina.

232 Matthews Station Street (trailhead behind Town Hall) · Downtown Matthews

Town park and trails · Outdoors

Mazeppa Park

163-acre town park with about 2 miles of walking trails, 7 miles of mountain bike trails, ballfields, picnic shelters and a playground.

645 Mazeppa Rd · Mooresville

Greenway · Outdoors

McDowell Creek Greenway (Cornelius)

Town greenway of about 3.1 miles running from Birkdale Village through Robbins Park and over Westmoreland Road to near Magnolia Plaza on West Catawba. The town notes a section is closed for construction with a posted detour.

9019 Westmoreland Road · Cornelius

Nature preserve · Outdoors

McDowell Nature Center and Preserve

Mecklenburg County nature preserve on Lake Wylie with a nature center featuring live native animals, a discovery hall and a gift shop. Visitors can bring their own canoe, kayak or paddleboard, and guided programs provide boats.

Preserve: daily, sunup to sundown · Nature center: Mon–Sat 9 AM–5 PM, Sun 1–5 PM · Closed Nov 9–10 and Nov 23–24 for wildlife management

15222 York Road · Steele Creek

Nature preserve · Outdoors

Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve

Mecklenburg County nature preserve whose nature center has live native animals, an exhibit hall, a classroom, a gift shop and the Dr. James F. Matthews Center for Biodiversity Studies. The center offers educational programs for all ages.

Preserve: daily, sunup to sundown · Nature center: Mon–Sat 9 AM–5 PM, Sun 1–5 PM

2986 Rocky River Road · East Charlotte

Trail park · Outdoors

Rocky Branch Park

City trail park with beginner, intermediate and advanced features for mountain biking, running and hiking; the system extends into Cramerton and the Sacco Street trailhead is about a mile from Main Street.

103 Sacco St · Belmont