Five Best Walking Trails in Charlotte, North Carolina

Apr 6, 2017

Spring and summer are great times of year to get out and enjoy the fresh air and nice weather. If you are in the Charlotte area and want to go for a nice walk or even an easy hike, there are plenty of places to choose from. Here are some of the best walking trails in Charlotte.

1. Freedom Park

Freedom Park sits right off of East Boulevard in the heart of the city, and it features more than 98 acres of land. You can take a lap around the duck pond for a walk that is just over a half mile, or you can explore some of the other designated walking trails. The park has paved walkways for an easy stroll, and there is even a nature trail with information about the local wildlife and plant species.

2. Little Sugar Creek Greenway

This 15-mile greenway runs through urban neighborhoods and along restored riverbanks. You can walk as much or as little of it as you want as you take in the natural beauty of the area. Stop along the way to explore uptown or head into the Park Road Shopping Center.

3. Latta Plantation

This old plantation has a 1,300-acre park and more than 16 miles of trails that wind through the forests. This park is open to hikers, walkers, and even equestrians, so you are sure to see a little of everything along the way. Throughout your walk, you can check out the plantation house, which is a living history farm, and enjoy the peacefulness of the hardwood forests. If you want to get a better idea of where to walk, you can use a map to help you find your way around, and you can even bring your dog along on the walk.

4. Reedy Creek Nature Preserve

This lovely park features more than 10 miles of walking and hiking trails. If you want to see some interesting sites, head to the Robinson Rockhouse trail. This is a two-mile trek that leads you out to the ruins of a stone house originally built in the 1700s. This is an easy hike, and the trail clearly leads you in and out. There is also a nature center at the park where you can stop to see the interpretive exhibits and get a trail map if you are not familiar with the area.

5. McAlpine Creek Greenway

The McAlpine Creek Greenway is one of the first greenways built in the western part of North Carolina and first opened in 1978. It has almost nine miles of both paved and dirt trails, and along the way you might even see otters, beavers, or even mink. There are also larkspur in the area, which is a protected flower and the only population of this native plant. You can access the greenway from McAlpine Creek State Park.

Image by Virginia State Parks, Licensed via CC BY 2.0