North Carolina offers a great variety of State and County Hiking Trails. Whatever your level of hiking expertise, be it the experienced hiker or an amateur going hiking for the first time, North Carolina has a trail for you! Best of all, many of these trails are less than an hour's drive from Charlotte.
Best Hiking Trails Near Charlotte
Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area – Located in northern Alexander County near Hiddenite. Rocky Face tops out 600 feet above the surrounding countryside, offering great views. Living up to its name it offers lots of rocky exposure, some suitable for top-rope climbing. Five miles of trail help you cover a good representation of Rocky Face.
Buffalo Creek Preserve – Located in Cabarrus County, Buffalo Creek Preserves offers a view of the Piedmont – Oak Savannah Forest which is home to numerous ground-nesting birds and prairie species. The trail features a natural surface trail and gravel road overland connector used for walking, hiking, running, and mountain biking.
South Mountains State Park: High Shoals Falls Loop Trail – Located in Catawba County, South Mountains State Park is a scenic 18,000 acres beauty. It offers an 80-foot drop on the Jacob River consists of a classic straight drop, then passage through a boulder field, which the trail passes through. A bridge and observation deck offer vantage points for photos and the hiking trail is 2.7 miles long.
Lake Norman State Park: Lake Shore Trail – Located in Iredell county in the city of quaint town of Troutman, Lake Norman State Park borders Lake Norman, the largest man-made lake in North Carolina. It is one of the region’s more popular mountain biking network, offering 30.5 miles of single-track trail. Nearby are a 125-yard-long swim beach and bathhouse complex as well as a boat ramp and opportunities for fishing from spots along park trails.
Bakers Mountain Park – Located in Cleveland County in the city of Hickory offers a 1.780 foot summit and a chestnut oak forest below. Sitting on 189 acres, the park has nearly 6 miles of trail. Visitors will experience a variety of wildlife and plants native to the NC Mountains.
More information on these and other hiking trails can be found HERE. Contact me for other fun activities in and around Charlotte!
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