I really enjoyed how the trail started with a nice view of the river. The trail was a straight shot…read morewith a lot of sitting area to take a break. It was round trip of 4 + miles and to get those steps in.

Peaceful way to spend the afternoon walking along the stream, noticing the birds, the flowers in…read morenature. A great way to relieve stress and get outside. Well maintain trail with lots of space to walk your dog or walk with a stroller.

This place was absolutely amazing I could bit believe how…read morebig it really is. The lake is really nice. It is pricy though. There were plenty of boats on the dock that were cool. The gas on the docks in 2024 is $5.99. I can't wait to come back and fish this area one day

This place is huge! And you can choose from a pretty long list of activities: Camping, hiking,…read morepicnicking, mountain biking, boating, etc etc. We only stopped in for a quick hike on the Lakeshore Trail, which I think only scratches the surface of this park. Nicely laid out, with good roads and clean and tidy pullouts with marked trails, but road signs could be a bit clearer. A beautiful spot - or at least what little we saw.

A beautiful meandering trail through a suburban Greenway. Most of the trail is either asphalt or…read morewooden slat bridge, so easy to traverse for anyone on 2 feet, with a stroller or on a bicycle. The pathways stretch through a nicely forested area, some of which also has a small stream that snakes through a few communities in Matthews. I came in autumn, and it was lovely to see all the leaves falling and changing colors. Highly recommended!

Living in Charlotte it was a little bit of the drive, but I absolutely loved this park. We went on…read morea Saturday afternoon so the parking lot was packed but we didn't run into that many people on the trail because of how many pathways there are. Very family friendly and great vibes

We had an amazing day at McDowell Park and Nature center. Lots of good hikes and countless clean…read morepicnic areas. The nature center building has loads of wonderful educational information and even hiking packs kids can borrow. Fishing poles too. Can't wait to go back on our next visit.

A beautiful nature area with over 7600 acres of forest and grassland with numerous trails…read more You can hike along a lake access trail,campground or play areas. Numerous wooden overlooks with bbq grills are available. Kayak and boating is allowed. Bathrooms are available. plenty of parking. There is a Nature Center but it was not open yet when we arrived. Check the website for hours. The park is open sunrise to sunset. No admission fee to enter.

Nice views. My only complaint, it says it is open 24/7 however that is a LIE. Total scammers and…read moreLIES! I had the unfortunate experience of being approached by a SHERIFF telling me the park was closed and had to leave. No sign posted about these supposed times, and online it says 24/7! This is nature, this is dirt and trees how the hell can you tell me it is closed. Stay out of South Carolina, everything is backwards there. You are not even allowed to go into nature, WE ARE NATURE. Do you think we just spawned in one day? Why can't I go see my sister and brother trees and plants? They want you indoors, obese, high blood pressure, cancer, and porn addiction. Stay safe. I will go back, and no Sheriff can tell me I cannot go in MY NATURE. Do my tax dollars not pay his paycheck anymore? As far as I know they DO. He can stay fat and stay back.

No restrooms, could use more trail markings. Pity that there's so much graffiti on the rocks…read more Rocks were impressive. We went 12 Mar 2025 - rather dry conditions, so footing was not an issue. If it rained recently or raining, I'd imagine that the rocks and trails would be rather slippery.

Such a fun place to explore. Great shade, playground, and walking trails! Great nature.read more

Fantastic experience. Plenty of shade and clear paths. Clean bathrooms as well. That is always a…read moreplus. Overall a great experience. Get out and get some nature.

This is a great find as part of the Carolina Thread Trail system!…read more Easy walking from the parking area and within mins u feel like you're miles away from the Urban Sprawl rather than just feet. Gorgeous well maintained trails along the river and into the woods; some of the best forest-bathing I have found in the Charlotte Metro area! Be sure to use the CTT app to not only navigate & get Trail info, but you can log your miles and find other trails, some that even connect! I did 4mi (2mi out and back) and it was a relatively easy hike. Had the trails to myself for most of the way out, which on a Saturday was a pleasant surprise, and the solitude was welcome.

Loved this trail. It's so much longer than I thought it was. I thought it was 2 miles one way based…read moreon the review, but then I hit a 2 mile marker and there was still about half a mile or so to go.. I'll finish it another day lol. There's a deck to sit on half a mile in, but there are no benches throughout. Here's some pictures

We've been starting to explore Charlotte's greenways a bit more recently…read more Previously, we parked at Pineville-Matthews Rd and walked to the Vista Grande Circle parking lot (2 miles one way). This section is the McMullen Creek Greenway. So this time, we parked at Vista Grande Circle and walked to the Johnson Rd parking lot. This is also 2 miles one way on the McAlpine Creek Greenway right until it meets up with the Four Mile Creek Greenway. The parking lot on this side is only big enough for 3-4 cars, but you could probably park on the street in the neighborhood as well. We really enjoyed this section of the greenway, probably a little more than the previous section. There were boardwalk sections here as well. There was a lot more marshy flood plane area here which was cool. If you're looking for a way to get outside in Charlotte, explore your local greenways.

I absolutely love this trail. It is secluded from busy streets, well maintained, shaded, and family…read moreand dog friendly. This trail is over 4 milked long and perfect for a walk, jog, run, or bike ride. It is accessible from the neighborhoods and has entry points with parking, restrooms, and bike maintenance/air pumps.