Awesome hiking!!! Be prepared for mountains, as described 'Crowders Mnt' Weekends are high traffic. Lots of people getting exercise. They have bathrooms at the visitors center and do sell refreshments inside. read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Map - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

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Wow, people LOVE this mountain. It was packed when we went for a hike! We couldn't even find a spot on the main lot. But good thing they have overflow parking. The facilities and visitor center were clean and nice. The trails were well marked and maintained. Very very dog friendly, I felt left out without my dog . Overall, love seeing people out and active, and what a great place to be! read more

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This trailer can be rough at some parts but still enjoy it nonetheless. They have shapes nailed to the trees to keep you on the correct path. After coming through the main entrance you'll see a sign showing the 2 trail options. Going left is easier with a more "walkable" path and a staircase at the end. Going right is the harder walk since it has steeper inclines and you'll scale over some large rocks. I prefer the right path due to the views coming up and the extra push it gives you. Total time up and down for us was right over 3hrs. read more

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Located between Kings Mountain and Gastonia or about 25 miles west of Charlotte. We were on our way to Asheville so we decided to make a stop. We did the 1 mile loop trail around the lake. Crushed gravel makes it a very easy walk. Saw lots of birds and butterflies. Fishing available off the shore or a wooden pier. Plenty of parking. Restrooms are available . No entrance fee. read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

This park is pleasant for both intensive and less-intensive individuals to visit. I have frequently visited this park and enjoy the climb to the top of the mountain; although, it can be rough if you're out of shape. Regardless, I would recommend visiting this park for a day trip nonetheless. read more

If you park at Linwood trailhead. Hike is to the top of the TV tower and overlook is much shorter and easier. Just giving you a heads up. There are two trails from this point to the top. Tower trail is basically a gravel road for the tower crew to drive up there. Backside trail has a lot of stairs at the end and more challenging and exciting. About 15-20mins to get up there if you don't stop or rest. Keep your trash at home. I saw some doggy bags and wrappers along side the trail. Dirty ass people If you park at visitor center then it is a 6-7 mi loop to the overlook. There is pond near the visitor center. Because it been so dry, the water level is low. Fern trail, there are basically no ferns from dry weather I guess. Either way is exciting. read more

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At the right angle you can see the Charlotte skyline. Crowders Mountain has multiple trails that differ in difficulty. It is one of our favorite Saturday morning hikes. Pack snacks and a book or camera, but leave no trace (cleanup and don't litter). Enjoy the peaceful views, this is a very family friendly space, be careful of the ledges. read more

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Fun family friendly experience! Some of the trails can be a bit difficult, but the recommended difficulty levels are true to the claims!

Overcrowded. They should call it Overcrowders mountain. Bunch of 'people' blasting music you're trying to get away from. Have fun! Oh and also ppl in the parking lot threatening to shoot others over a parking space. read more

Crowders Mountain is always such a great hiking trip! It's definitely a Charlotte staple and well known, but for good reason. There's a few different hiking trails and so much beauty. I went with a friend of mine this past week and we semi got lost LOL. But it was a fun lost, not a scary woods lost. We were just talking and walking and we kept realizing we were just kinda walking and not paying attention to which trail went this way or that way. It was great! But that's why I love Crowders so much, there are just so many options and so much to see. We ended up hiking 5.52 miles and it took us about 2.5 hours! Not too shabby for an out of shape gal. The trails we hiked weren't too intense. There were some spots with long inclines so I was a little winded a few times lol. But it was easy to take a quick breath break. I always park at the visitors center because there is ample parking and a clean bathroom. This park is also really well kept and I appreciate that! It's not hard to see why so many folks visit again and again. read more

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Great place for a hike. Highly recommend using the all trails app to help navigate you through. Our group took about 3 hours. Places are a little slick and I would consider this trail intermediate to advanced. This is not a beginner trail. read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Beautiful park just 32 miles west of Charlotte to enjoy a hike. We chose to walk the lake trail which was an easy .8 mile loop and a great place for birding. There are many more strenuous trails available to challenge you. read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

First hike ever and I was breath taken at the nature and scenery! Such great weather , there are different hikes you can take . we did the beginner but you can take the more advanced one if you wish. We were not experienced or equipped for such a hike. Just grab some good old hiking/walking shoes and be on your way. I can say for our first hike we felt very comfortable on this trail as it was well marked, also used the app: Alltrails which tracked us all the way up. read more

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Great hiking spot especially from Charlotte. Easily marked off the highway and has overflow parking available by the visitors center as well. Crowders mountain trail involves lots of steps at the end, and the Pinnacle trail is shorter, but the last .5 miles is steep. Pinnacle trail offers some rock scrambling, but there's a trail around the hardest scramble and I noticed light blue and pink chalk guiding me along the steps/rocks in the "trail around" the scramble. It does get busy as others have noticed, so go early! read more

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One of my fav places to vista I when I'm in Charlotte! Super easy hike..well there are patches where it's super hand so just kidding...but because it's so short it's doable! I've taken my non hiking family and friends here ...and they survived! They might complain In route but they will thank you for the view. It's worth every sweat and complaint lol! Go here even if you are not a hiker. Take your time and enjoy the view. The actual hike we did is a little hard to find but there is a visitor center that's super helpful. So stop by and grab a map. read more

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Such a pretty view! They have multiple hiking trails so it's great for all levels but make sure you pay attention to that when it comes to parking and directions once you start and there are road splits. The parking lot I went to was really light and I easily found parking even despite going on Memorial Day. Really cool hike, I recommend! read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Oh, I did not make it to the top of the mountain. Not even close. I started from the Linwood Road entrance, where there is a massive parking lot that was almost completely filled today. At the base, a structure with information, water and restrooms. Lots of people climbing on this Saturday morning. And while it is outside, there are way too many people passing face-to-face for me to be comfortable in the COVID age. I walked a little bit until the trail narrowed and I couldn't keep distance. That's when I turned around. When all of this corona is done, I'll come back. It's beautiful here. [Review 13726 overall, 1046 of 2020, number 2503 in North Carolina.] read more

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I love the trails. Just wish it was easier to find them while driving. Had to take not the one we were looking for after stopping and the wrong place twice. But beautiful place to get lost read more

Like most (all?) NC state parks, this one is free to enter. It isn't too far of a drive from Charlotte, but it offers a majestic view of miles of surrounding greenery. Trails leading up the ridge offer moderate difficulty and a good workout. The rocky point I went to had numerous signs warning of the dangers of sharp dropoffs. Being no fan of heights, I stayed back from the edge, but still got some nice pictures. There are multiple separate parking areas, and the central one I visited had an abundance of overflow space. It's also close enough to an urban area that I was able to get at least some modest cell reception most of the way through. And let me tell you, this is the place to be doing a zoom meeting on wellness. read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

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Did a weekend road trip to NC from Florida. Crowders Mountain is without a doubt one of the highlights of this trip! :) I went for sunrise and it was absolutely breathtaking! Parking was open prior to sunrise but not the visitor center. The hike (trail to crowders mountain) is approximately 4 miles round trip and there's a moderate incline! Easy hike with beautiful views!! Highly recommend it if your adventurous soul is seeking some connection with nature! The weather this past weekend was amazing too! Cool and crisp air and it warmed up quick after sunrise! Restrooms were open after we finished the hike. Plenty of parking as well. read more

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Beautiful vistas, SUPER-close to Charlotte, lots of parking and well-maintained WIDE gravel trails to the top!!! I would recommend the trails and this park to the beginner and early intermediate hiker... or someone that just wants to get a good strong walk in, WITHOUT the dangers of un-groomed trails. On my first-visit, I was surprised how many FAMILIES with young teen and pre-teen kids were coming down and going up. The trail map says 'strenuous' and I would agree it gets the heart racing for the couple hundred feet elevation you ascend.. but they might be a bit overly-cautious in the rating system here. On my way down, I met several locals and had a good chat with them, without getting winded or worrying about footing or falling. And so I see many young couples chatting and snuggling as they make the ascent and some of them darting back down the hills and trails as well. There are several entry points, so look out if you want to be near the hill with the look-out, or more near the little lake... and get the parking right the first time. There is plenty of parking... And DOG FRIENDLY... lots and lots of dogs and good nature loving dog-friendly people! Bring a friend, a loved one and a bottle of water! read more

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The wife and I came here looking for a good hiking somewhat close to Charlotte and we're not disappointed! We ventured onto the Pinnacle Trail, which ends up being about 4 miles round trip. Don't let the sign fool you, if you walk at a moderate pace, you'll definitely finish in less than 2 hours. The trail itself is very well defined, and about as smooth as an uphill dirt path can be. The scenery is quite beautiful, the green leaves were completely out, and providing great shelter from direct sunlight. The view from the top is outstanding, you can see for miles, and would be the perfect place to have a break with a little snack or lunch. I would rate the trail as moderate, for the most part it has a gentle grade, but towards the end you definitely will feel the incline increase. We came on a early afternoon Saturday, and it was lightly trafficked...you won't be alone, but you won't be fighting anyone off the path either. read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

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Great hike. Not crowded at all on a Friday morning (9:30am). Plenty of parking. Restrooms were open. I'm a novice and found this to be a good hike and great workout. Took the pinnacle route and tracked 6 miles in 2 hours start to finish. read more

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LOVE CROWDERS!!! So one of the things that I was most looking forward to moving here was the hiking and Crowders mountains for sure did not disappoint!! There a few trails that you can take although I've only taken 2- one of them being Pinnacle. The trail itself that I took was about 4 miles- which could be a bit strenuous however there are all levels of skill (experienced/inexperienced- everyone just enjoying the hike) that I seen on the trail. There is a bathroom facility, plenty of parking and dogs that I seen on the trail. If you decide to take the Pinnacle trail - there is a small stream of water further into the hike which was pretty cool. I've hiked this mountain about 3-4 times either by myself, with my dog and with friends and felt safe every time. Not really much more to say accept this is a great place to hike!! The people also are super friendly!! read more

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Beautiful park with several trails to try and camping spots. It's a great place to go for a field trip, with family or friends, to get fresh air, and or even work out. It's a struggle to get up the mountain but a relief to get down. It's a decent time from Charlotte depending on where you live in the city. It's nice to read the information about the history of the park. There is plenty of parking a picnic areas too. I recommend and will return! read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

My friend and I went hiking here a few weeks ago. This was my first time here. I was surprised at how large this state park was. It is kept in great shape. We did the 4 mile Pinnacle Trail. I was say that I am not in great shape and mile 2 was almost all up hill. I had to stop a few times because whew! Lol BUT! my friend pushed me to keep going and I'm so glad she did because the views at the top were so worth it! I would definitely come back here the next time I am in Charlotte! read more

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I've been to this park a few times and have enjoyed it every time. Parking is not an issue, the restrooms and visitor center are located centrally near the parking lot, and the trails are easy to access. We usually do the pinnacle Trail and that's definitely a good work out. You want to make sure that you have plenty of water and snacks and if possible a good meal before the hike so that you can make it up the mountain and back down. But the views at the top are amazing, and even though you have to climb over a few rocks to get there, it is well worth it. read more

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It's been awhile but we finished strong. Crowder Mountain is a great place for all levels they a variety of different routes. They do have mile marker a long the journey. If you are looking for something to challenge you call on Crowder Mountain read more

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If you're looking for hiking close to Charlotte, Crowder's is the place to come. I've been to Crowder's many times now and at this point it's starting to get a little old. I've done a good number of the trails: Crowder's Mountain, Rocktop, Pinnacle, Tower, Turnback, and Backside Trail to name a few. My favorite by far is the Rocktop Trail. It is full if huge rocks to climb on that make the trail much more interesting. None of the trails are that difficult. Some have a bit of a climb though. I recently came in the fall when the leaves were changing for the first time and it was definitely the best views I had seen at the park. The parking lots and trails get extremely crowded on nice days, so get there early if you want a place to park. Overall, this isn't my favorite place to go hiking. I'd much rather go to the mountains, but if you want something close to Charlotte, this is your best bet. read more

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Can you really go wrong when you're surrounded by nature? Possibly, but not here. Multiple trails (though I prefer the Linwood entrance) with different difficulties. My dogs love coming on hikes with us and getting to smell everything there. You can't control nature but when the weather is good (no fog specifically) you can see soooo much! Amazing sight, amazing trails, I love this place. One downfall: parking when it's busy read more

There are so many benefits to spending time in nature, it's great that we have so many options in this country, especially free ones like Crowders Mountain State Park. We hit up this park while vacationing in the area and appreciated it's wide trails, free parking and lack of entrance fee. Pretty much everyone we interacted with was friendly--including a veteran of the trails that gave us some suggestions before we headed in (in a light rain) for the climb. I wouldn't recommend the trails here to anyone that isn't in good shape, as you get higher you need a fair amount of dexterity and flexibility to reach the summit, though the view is quite nice. A couple minor issues kept me from going the full five stars: The Visitor Center hours are minimal, odd (9 to Noon, and then 130 to 4), and they don't sell water or appear to have a water fountain available to fill your jugs--despite a dire warning sign in the joint that tells you how much water you should have for you and your dog. All in all, a solid, free park! read more

Beautiful place. I'd suggest to go up and stay a bit enjoying the view from both sides, the city and the forrest. There are not markings to say which trail to follow, i believe Isaw just the one on the entrance then after that nothing else. So surely needs maintenance. Also there's a couple who marked every single 911 sign with their initials, so annoying. read more

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5 stars for the Park itself... I would give a different rating to those that visit the park (specifically the ones that don't clean up after their four-legged friends). Not to distract from the great state park that is 40min away from the greater Charlotte area, this State Park is great. They are currently building out the parking lots since it does get crowded, but it's great to see that people really want to utilize the park and various hiking trails. The number of times I've been, the Linwood Rd Access Parking had been completely full and now I just drive to the main park parking. Probably because you can get to Linwood Rd faster from Charlotte, the lot fills up rather fast on Sunday mornings. Lately my friends and I have been carpooling and going to the main parking access. There's are great and clean bathrooms to use and some picnic areas. A lot of times in the mornings while we are going to the top, we will see a lot of campers hiking there stuff down from the campground. If you are going to meet people, make sure to specify the meeting point since there are two parking lots and also different trails to traverse. read more

This park is really great...went hiking with friends and absolutely loved it! There are an abundance of trails for all types of hikers (beginners, novice, experienced) and plenty of resting areas if you need a break. Along the trails, you will see waterfalls and amazing sights at the top of the mountain that are simply breathtaking. It's a great way to get out and see the nature side of NC. Planning a trip back for another hike with friends! Additionally, there is a park area with benches, where you can have a picnic and eat. Get out and do some hiking at beautiful Crowders Mountain State Park! read more

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I love to hike here! I've done all the trails. I highly recommend that if you are new-- come to the main entrance rather than the other one (you'll know the difference if you happen to find yourself at the other one). The maps are cute but not incredibly useful in my opinion-- but the trails are well marked and the people are friendly. I love how well maintained the park/mountain is-- so that it is safe to hike without taking away from the natural beauty. read more

Crowders Mountain State Park separates itself from other NC state parks in a few ways (I've seen them all). 1)It is so sprawled that it has three parking lots/entrances: Linwood, Sparrow Springs, Boulders. These aren't connected within the park so you have to exit to get to each. 2)It isn't as rural in my opinion, particularly the Linwoood entrance, as it is close to Charlotte and I85. You also have excellent cell service throughout. 3)It gets more crowded on the weekends and a hell of a lot quicker. I got to the Linwood gate 15 minutes before open (7:45) and there were already about 10 cars ahead of me waiting to enter. I did my hike and left around 10:15 and it was completely full. The trails were hopping by that point too. This review is for the Linwood access section of the park. Has a small bathroom station right before the trails. The trails here are the Backside (strenuous), Rocktop (strenuous), Tower (strenuous). You start where the Backside and Tower split. Backside Trail: This seems to be the most popular trail because it leads to the overlook and radio towers. It then continues to where the Tower/Rocktop trail split. This trail is .8 miles of you-better-be-ready-from-the-get-go. In other words, from the parking lot, it is immediately difficult. No buildup. It is extremely strenuous even though it is mostly stairs and a wide, well formed trail. It reaches a cliff overlook complete with dangerous rock formations. Yes, this part is potentially fatal but the views are amazing. The trail continues to the radio towers and then to the Tower/Rocktop split. Tower Trail: This is a wide trail, wide enough for vehicles, mostly gravel and a gradual ascent/descent depending which direction you are going. Rocktop Trail: Longer trail at 1.5 miles, strenuous, but doesn't seem as strenuous as Backside. It will meet up at Sparrow Springs Road and switchback to Crowders Trail. Crowders Trail will return you to the Backside Trail and toward the Linwood parking lot. I have always done Backside-Rocktop-Crowders in that order as this loops you back to the Linwood access lot. It is killer and not for everyone. But the overlook with rock formations are pretty darn neat. read more

Today, I completed the 4 mile round trip trail. The pinnacle has a beautiful view of the valley below. Many of the hikers on this beautiful Sunday morning sat at the top, took photos, snacked, and interacted with each other (and the dogs) before heading back down the trail. The only trail I see on the web site is the Rumbling Bald Trail, but it is listed at 3 miles round trip. The trail is slightly strenuous. Two children (ages 9 and 10) climbed with us and neither had a problem. There were a few benches along the route for a quick rest stop. Note there are no trash cans at the peak so be prepared to return with it for proper disposal. I recommend a comfortably small backpack to carry your phone/camera, snacks, and water bottle. The park store accepts cash or checks only as many of the items are donated. This allows them to make a small sum that allows us to visit for free. T-shirts can be paid for with a card. Overall, this is a great free service by the North Carolina Parks system! read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Beautiful view at the peak of the 2+2 mile hike. - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Pinnacle trail was a great hike. Rewarding view at the top. Trail was in good condition, and depending on your level of fitness, trekking poles might be a good idea with some of the elevation/descent. Dress comfortably and wear decent shoes (not flip flops). Some rocks and roots present on the trail. Pinnacle was a nice place for a quick snack/lunch with a good view of the surrounding area. Cloudy day, but able to see Charlotte off in the distance.. Dog friendly park. Come early, because it gets crowded. There were 3-4x as many cars in the lot when we returned after our hike. Free entrance. read more

Crowders Mountain State Park - Parks Near Me - Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Relatively steep but short hike but worth the views. Can easily complete ascendent and descent within an hour. Definitely recommend if you're short on time read more

Amazing state park where you deal with your inner self to push through and make it to the top of the mountain so many options and routes take them all enjoy the park enjoy outside while still practicing social distancing you train hard and you see the benefits of the rewards climbing to the top of the mountain all of the steps the inclines the rocks the ravines makes it all worth it. read more

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