Check out 8 trails less traveled
There are plenty of wooded spots to get away from the city and out into nature
People pay a lot of attention to trendy spots. They’re new and exciting. But what about tried and true locations — especially ones that don’t attract a lot of buzz? In this brief July 4 week series, The Ledger shares our picks for spots that are largely unheralded but still worthy, in a series we’re calling … Charlotte Under the Radar.
TODAY: Walking trails
TUESDAY: Things to do with kids
WEDNESDAY: Day trips from Charlotte
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You don’t need to go far to find a serene place to hike around Charlotte. Lace up your walking shoes and explore one of these 8 hidden-gem trails.
The winding Twelve Mile Creek Greenway in Waxhaw leads to a graceful suspension bridge at the North Carolina-South Carolina state line.
by Amber Veverka
School’s out and the summer travel season is upon us — but if you’re thinking about a wild-spaces getaway, how about playing tourist in your own town? Mecklenburg County greenways, parks and nature preserves offer an easy escape to the woods. Check out these eight hidden-gem trails.
Stevens Creek Nature Preserve
This is the area’s newest nature preserve and you can combine several trails to make a nearly 3-mile loop. Along the way, admire the stands of stately silvery beech. We can all be grateful this nature oasis was preserved. Located at 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill.
West Branch Nature Preserve
Davidson residents know this spot, but not many others venture here. Park at 18150 Shearer Road and walk a short section of the West Branch Rocky River Greenway — see if you can spot the stands of pawpaw trees — until you get to the preserve’s edge. The forest trail takes you to an overlook above what Mecklenburg County says may be its most ecologically important wetland.
Irwin Creek and Stewart Creek Greenways
Winding through Wesley Heights and other neighborhoods near uptown Charlotte, these urban walkways are lightly used. Irwin Creek, like the other creeks of our heavily urbanized landscape, has a complicated history. Today it provides a welcoming corridor for green ash, tulip poplar and nesting birds. The greenway paths are well-maintained and peaceful.
Evergreen Nature Preserve
Flanked by Winterfield Elementary, Eastway Middle School and Evergreen Cemetery, this 77-acre woods is an island of peace on Charlotte’s east side. While the woods itself is a little scruffy with invasive English ivy, the trails are lovely, with one paved loop section that’s accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. There’s a clean restroom at the preserve entrance, across from Eastway Middle School, 1336 Norland Road.
RibbonWalk Nature Preserve
Located at 4601 Nevin Road in Charlotte, this walk takes you past active beaver ponds and designated “treasure trees” — some of the county’s largest American beeches. You’ll park near the road and walk a graveled path to the trailhead. RibbonWalk was underused for many years, but great news: The county plans to build a nature center here — bringing environmental education and nature experiences to an area that has lacked them. Planning on the center will begin late this year or early 2025. For now, the 187-acre preserve has enough trails to keep you busy on a Saturday.
Twelve Mile Creek Greenway, Waxhaw segment
Want your early-morning stroll to touch two states? Park at 1304 H.C. Nesbit Park Road, Waxhaw. Near the trail’s start, it splits into a Y. The left path is a paved section that skirts the Millbridge neighborhood and is nice for a short stroll. The right trail takes you onto the greenway, which winds 7.4 miles through forest, sometimes perched above a ravine of mature tulip poplar, red oak and beech. At the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, the trail crosses a graceful suspension bridge. Bikers are able to use this trail. The trail is very narrow in places overlooking a steep ravine drop-off, so meeting others could be a squeeze.
Campbell Creek Greenway
Many people walk the trails in southeast Charlotte’s McAlpine Park, but not nearly as many continue along the Upper McAlpine Creek Greenway to where it hits Campbell Creek Greenway. Park at 2116 Margaret Wallace Road and be sure to check out the ruins of the Lucas family grist mill, built in the early 20th century to harness the creek’s power. In the spring, wildflowers abound alongside this trail, which takes you under Independence Boulevard. Learn about the mill’s history and the ecological importance of this area.
Southwest District Park
Not far from Charlotte Douglas Airport at 1720 Vilma St., this park is situated next to the Southview Recreation Center and features short loop trails that bracelet a woodland. Warning: You may be dodging mountain bikers here. However, bikers are told not to ride the trails when they’re wet as it can cause erosion, so consider this as a drizzly-day walking escape.
Keep these tips in mind:
Mecklenburg County has created a mobile-friendly mapping app that shows you most area parks and nature trails (some in the southwest part of the county still to be added).
As a reminder, the county advises people to walk with a friend for safety and to socially distance even outdoors.
Dogs must be leashed and please, for everyone’s sake, pick up your dog’s waste and throw it in a trash can. Biodegradable dog-waste bags sitting alongside the trail do not help the environment. Pet waste is a known major source of E. coli in nearly all Mecklenburg creeks.
Last, if you love your nature preserves, greenways and parks, please tell your county commissioner. It can make a real difference come budget time.
Amber Veverka is contributor to The Ledger. Reach her at askbackyard@gmail.com.
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What suggestions do you have for under-the-radar walking trails? Our community of Ledger members is invited to share suggestions in the comments:
Correction
An article in the June 28 Charlotte Ledger newsletter about the town of Matthews considering new rules for short-term rentals gave the incorrect title for town planning director Jay Camp. Apologies.
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