We hiked this trail early in the morning back in February and really enjoyed it. It wasn't very…read morecrowded which is always a plus for me. I'm sure the time of year and time of day played a role in that. We parked at New Hope Road to start the trail there. The trail goes through the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden property (not the part you have to pay to get into), so you could park and start there as well. It's a 4.6 mile loop which is a decent length for a Charlotte trail. It's pretty flat and easy. There are some nice views of Lake Wylie along the way. I definitely recommend coming in the morning. It was really calm and peaceful on the lake with no one else around.

Me and my dog LOVE THIS TRAIL!!!…read more So I came here twice and was highly impressed with this hiking trail! There is plenty of shade on this trail with small hills in between and beautiful trails along the lake. The trail is marked and it's a pretty clear path so you know where your going. I came across this trail through the "AllTrails" app that had all the details correct except you cannot go all the way around the trial. On the app it is a circle - whereas when you actually go - you hike all the way to one end and then come back the same way. There are plenty water holes for dogs to cool off in the lake from the heat. There are also places along the lake to put out a chair and enjoy the view. Most if not all the patrons on trail were very friendly; there is also a small parking lot that offered enough space for cars to park (we came on a Saturday; this trail was never full). Great place - I highly recommend!

This is a really nice trail in the Charlotte area that not many people know about…read more We first did the South Fork Catawba River Greenway which is about a mile round trip. It's starts at Goat Island Park south of 85. Another weekend we came back and did the South Fork Catawba Trail which is north of 85. That was about 4 miles round trip. I really hope they connect the two because they're so close together, but there is a small gap between the two, so you can't hike straight through. I saw some signs that made it look like there were plans to extend it, so hopefully that happens. If you're looking for an easy walk that's not crowded, check out either of these two trails!

While not quite "over the river and through the wood" type of trail, getting into the heart of it…read moretakes some maneuvering, especially from the parking area nearest I-85. Once you have crossed under the overpass (which some might find intimidating), walk another 200 yards until the trail quiets down. Ahhh . . . you are on your way. South Fork Trail is one of the few Carolina Thread Trails that has a legitimate natural surface with two parking areas, each at either end of it. At about 2 miles in length (or 4 miles to go out/back from whichever end you parked), it's a lazy stroll along the south fork of the Catawba river. I've seen deer, turkey, turtles, snakes, along with various birds and foliage. Mostly, I feel alone on the trail (depending on the day), sometimes meeting the occasional hiker or bike enthusiast. OK, that works. When I want to want hike to clear my head, avoid the crowds, and sometimes walk barefooted, this trail scores. Beware, however, of the height and roll of the river. Too much rain can turn this little trail into a deadly torrent. Otherwise, I say "give it a whirl."

One of the tallest waterfall in NC. Route is not that long from parking lot so it is popular site…read more Park center consider the trail as difficult because of the stairs and rocks. It is a steep climb but thanks for the park rangers and contractors that build the trail, you can hike it with sneakers even when the ground is wet. You can't swim in the pools but the water is very clear and we should keep it that way At the viewing platform, there are trash everywhere like a Walmart parking lot. Nasty people can't keep the place clean. Water bottles, socks, and plenty of cookie wrappers . Probably same people who hike with Crocs or with a cup of coffee on hand.

Awesome water falls. It isn't for people with very bad knees because there's like 700 steeps and…read moresome of it is straight up!!

we had a wondrous time at Bakers Mountain (more like BAKED mountain - see photo). It was foggy but…read moreit was still a good hike. The leaves made it slick which made it more fun. Anyway we had a great time, saw a bird and a turtle!

Whoever said hiking was fun, they lied !!!…read more I would recommend this trail to everyone! Beginners trail, but might be hard because of rain. The trail was well marked so you won't get lost. Make sure you grab a map before you start. The bathroom was nice and clean! There are walking sticks available if you want to use one. At the top was a awesome view and a gazebo to rest. You could see various mountain tops from there. Through out the trail there are benches and picnic tables to rest at. So if you're in the area, stop bye and take a hike!!!!

Took some additional photos today on our walk. More and more residents are learning about the…read moretrails. If you are looking for a great place to get some fresh air and exercise, these trails are for you! The updates to the Riverwalk sections are beautiful.

The entire park is very beautiful, but the highlight was the Broyhill Trail, there are a number of…read moreEasy to Hard trails you can WALK, or BIKE on. 4 to 6 miles (Broyhill Trail to the Car Lot) of pure beauty, you get shade and a cool breeze deep in the woods. My kids enjoyed it. Gonna miss NC when we head back to Texas.

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

Incorrect...Not the correct trail. This is a map of the highway 200 route!!!…read moreCome to Great Falls. Go to the old train depot( now apartments) at Mount Dearborn dam and walk behind the twin towards Fort Lawn. About 4 miles of the most beautiful scenery on the Catawba River. While here view the famous "paper clip" entry into the rapids which is one of only two in the world. Viewed from the Tom Mamgus Bridge on highway 200 looking south.

We love this trails system. It's a huge network of trails in North and South Carolina. When we…read moredon't feel like driving to the mountains, we usually end up on a portion of the Carolina Thread Trail near Charlotte. Recently, we've done the portions near Baxter Village, Waxhaw, and South Fork Trail. I know we've done way more than that, but those are the ones that come to mind recently. The trails are well maintained and typically well marked. If you're looking to get outside in the Carolinas, check out their website to find a trail near you.

Incredible! How have I not known about this beautiful wooded single track meandering through a very…read morecentral part of Charlotte? I came across this trail by chance on an aimless run through Park Road Park and I'm truly glad I did. Seeing a group of deer down in the woods beside the park I caught sight of some red arrows pinned to trees. I found my way onto this part of the trail and quickly felt a smile forming as my run turned into a proper trail run. In no time I was slipping in muddy corners, climbing embankments and narrowly catching my falls over tree roots. The trail felt like a whirlpool spiraling down and back up the hillside. But it ended almost too abruptly back at the far end of the park. I took the path in front of me and found myself on a greenway. It doesn't end there; that's where it actually gets even better. Turn right onto the greenway and take a run less than a mile down the pavement until you see another trail dashing off through the treeline. Without a second thought I took off on this trail and began grinning from ear to ear. Roots and muddy embankments turned into drop offs, full-on ramps, hills, concrete chunks and up to car-sized boulders. You will hug hairpin turns and quickly lose sense of direction. This feels like being lost in nature. Go wild! I'm thinking "What on Earth is this trail?!" After finding myself back on the flat tops near Tyvola Rd. the sun was heading down and I headed back home. After a quick search I found that this is actually a mountain biking tract ranked from Intermediate to Difficult. The entire system stretches nearly 17 miles snaking partly through two large parks and skirting the greenway between them. It's most easily accessed from the parking lot opposite Marion Diehl Park on Tyvola Rd. And yeah, this will be my new trail running grind. I'll just have to keep an ear out for the MTBers.

Greatest trails ever for not having much in elevation…read more This trail kicks my ass! I'm not the only one as there a some Narley dudes that confess 5 of 50. I've been riding these trails every-time I hit Charlotte. Each time I ride a part of this trail. Today I hit the tough 1/3 of the trail. Lots of hops and downs, twists and turns, and cool drops. Don't forget the rock gardens and rocky climbs. And that's only in one third of the trail system. The other sections are so fun too. But the end of section 2 is built for the high flyers. Yes, free riders! Along both sides of the creek are a bunch of table tops, double rollers, and jumps. Even one that flys over the creek. One of my work buddies use to be a motocross rider and his third day on the mountain bike he is jumping everything in sight at the Backyard except the creek jump. But its vexing the kid. It's out of my skill set. He needs a free style mentor. Grab your helmet, gloves, pack, and water. Your in for a cool ride.