I hiked the hanging rock trail, window falls and hidden falls…read more The window waterfall was so fun! I almost missed the window; even though there was a sign that pointed in that direction. From the sign/arrow that points at window rock, climb down and you will see the window in the rock to your right. Through the window, you can see a waterfall! Visitor center has nice and clean restrooms. Their water refill station was not working when I went.

Hanging rock is absolutely beautiful for a day trip or even a weekend camping trip. They have many…read moredifferent hiking trails and waterfalls and in the summertime they have a lake you can go swimming in. Such a fun place!!

Renovated and much nicer than it was in my previous review. Wish there was a trail along the river.read more

This is a cute park on the border of the county. They only have a porta potty since.it is so small…read more They have a nice ramp to access the river. There are also a few picnic tables and a small climbing area for kids. Unless I was parking to the use the river or go biking a probably would not come back to this park.

Such a GORGEOUS park in the middle of small town North Carolina just outside of Charlotte. Lake…read moresports, fishing, children's parks and events, the place is HUGE. Camping hours locks you in after closing with private access should you need to exit. Ranger is a friendly bloke that was so helpful. Peaceful, full hookups and onsite black tank disposal. Note, it's a public park - so you're not going to have control over whom your neighbours are, but we got lucky and the possible problem guests were leaving as we arrived (yay!).

Nice, spacious park!!! The playground areas, alone, is worth the drive, it's huge and great for all…read moreages!! There's also a carousel, a barnyard to pet farm animals, an aquarium/exhibit with live animals inside of it in the nature center, a splash pad, mini golf, trails for walking, and some wildlife habitats outside that have wild animals as well. We didn't get to do the train, as it was closed; but there was still so much to enjoy at the park. Me and my bestie brought our kids and they had a blast! We spent a solid 2-3 hrs there and had a great time. It's also very inexpensive!! Some things that I will say is that the bathrooms are not very clean and don't even work but it's an old place, so that's to be expected and we're not there to use the restroom, we're there to play! Bring cash for extra things, like carousel, barnyard, animal exhibits, etc...sometimes their card reader doesn't work and they can only accept cash. There's even a cute place to shop where you purchase tickets for everything with toys and snacks inside! All in all, we had a great time! Keep in mind this place is old, but it definitely still has charm, and stands out against the other parks around. The animal exhibits, including the barnyard petting activity is a hit or miss, because this place is not a zoo. The animals have plenty of room to hide and/or roam to get space, which is a great thing!!! But some people might be upset after paying and not really being able to see the animals. Highly recommend!!! Go if you haven't!!!!

Found this hidden gem very close to Winston-Salem downtown and loved every but of it!…read more We headed there on a chilly Sunday morning (would have been nicer ifnit was a bit warmer though) and were very impressed with what this place had to offer. They had ample amount of parking space, from there it was a short walk to the kids play area, the giant man made cliff at the edge of the quarry and what seemed to be vast hiking trails. The kids park was supposed to be closed for renovations, but people were enjoying it nonetheless with the sign thrown to the side. The cliff was really nice too, you get a glimpse of the downtown skyline, the clean water filled in the quarry alongwith the giant flower (curious to know the purpose of that)! We walked around a bit and it was great place to fly a drone as well if you have it. Its a great place spend your weekend morning or evening and hangout.

Beautiful spot - hidden gem in W-S! One of the best to watch sunset or go on a date! More upkeep is…read moreneeded and wouldn't recommend being here after sunset.

A neat park, open until dark (8:30) at this posting. Plenty…read moreof paved parking. Maintained restroom station. Picnic benches in several areas. Nice wide paved trails with minimal incline, goes around the little lake (pond) with maintained trails beyond that. Fishing is allowed with limits and restrictions posted. It was a pleasant walk around the lake, with very few people actually on the afternoon of our visit. It was a bright warm sunny day so the weather made our trek even more enjoyable. 4 Stars a cool community park and worth a visit 01178

Of all the parks in the Triad, this one might be my personal favorite! It's a simple layout, but it…read morehas everything you could want in a park. There's the upper loop walking path which is quiet, peaceful, and scenic. You can get your exercise in or find a bench and soak up some rays. It's especially beautiful during the fall foliage! I also love the pond with the fountain and ducks, and they allow for fishing as well. And of course there's the historic tree! They were renovating the deck this most recent time we went, but normally you can stand inside the hollow of the tree. Such an amazing sight to behold! There's also picnic tables and a nice playground structure for the kids. My only complaint is the playground is fully baked in the sun. It could benefit from a canopy overhead for some shade so the equipment doesn't get blazing hot.

I drove past the visitor center to the scenic overlook! And then I hiked the short 0.8 mi loop…read morearound pilot mountain. Clearly marked trails, nicely maintained. Visitor center has clean bathrooms.

Stopped by on a drive back home and was slightly detour, the drive up toon about 6 min, make sure…read moreyou go slow because it has tight turns, so careful driving required. Once at the top, it was pretty good views, you can see a lot of surrounding nature. If you have time, it's a nice place to see. There is also bathrooms at the top.

Didn't see a page for this place yet, so decided to make one so I can recommend it to everybody!…read moreIf you're looking to get outside, get some activity, fresh air, something good for the kids, or even just a place to catch some zen either alone or with a partner, this is the perfect place! It's about 2 miles total in hiking, so not very grueling, but the terrain does vary quite a bit throughout. The trails are chock full of inclines, declines, and roots to navigate. There is also an "easier" trail (which is considered moderate by trail standards around these parts) and a red marked trail. We stayed on the regular trail with the kids and had a fine time enjoying our stroll through nature. Some areas of the trail are rather narrow, and the entire place is well shaded during the summertime, making this a great place to come even on the hottest and most humid of days. No sunscreen needed! While I do have to admit that the "cascade" was a little underwhelming compared to what I had pictured in my mind's eye, the trickling sound of water always makes for the most tranquil of moments. This place is another deserving mention on the list of absolutely beautiful nature places to check out in the Triad!

It was so calm and peaceful! Took my basset hound on the walk and he did wonderful! It is dog…read morefriendly!

(4.5 stars) How have I never reviewed this place? It's been…read moreone of my regular walking spots for years. Despite the name, High Point City Lake Park is located in Jamestown. It offers a ton of parking, a pool, gazebos and kayaks for rent, and activities for kids. City Lake hosts community events from time to time, and it can get quite crowded on those days, but go during an off-hour and its fairly serene. For walkers, there's a view of the lake and some interesting wildlife (Muscovy ducks, anyone?). The trails also connect to the Piedmont Environmental Center, which is worth remembering should PEC parking ever fill up. Whether you want to swim, fish, paddle, or stroll, City Lake Park has what you need to be able to enjoy the outdoors.

Just make sure you upkeep and don't let the integrity fade or die. I remember when city park in New…read moreOrleans was just like this (except for the water attraction) and now you wouldn't recognize it. People need to realize that they play a part in it also. Pick up your trash, don't vandalize, and treat nature with respect and kindness.

The park is pretty remote, with only occasional cell service (a good thing or a bad thing depending…read moreon one's needs). The parking really close to the mountain is handicap only, so the intention is for most people to walk a 4.5 mile loop that goes around the mountain and then up it on the way back. It is a substantial climb, both down into a gully with an impressive waterfall and up the mountain itself. The rock does offer wide-spanning views. The infrastructure was not in ideal shape at the time of my visit, with some water fountains down and other limitations in amenities. I also found the trail setup a bit confusing as following marks led me once to a dead end and in another case, I had to hike on a gravel road a bit to get back to the trail and that wasn't marked clearly as the right way to go. While these things could be improved, the park is an excellent resource and as is standard practice in NC (but not in SC or VA), is free to enter.

Great place to come hike. Lots to see & do. Downside is that kids are allowed to come here & make…read morenonstop noise.

had a lovely picnic by the water at the northern outlook. The restrooms are very well kept.read more

It's a pretty park BUT if you are a serious bank fisherman, the bank fishing area at the marina is…read morenot the move. Boats can get out on the water away from the overpressurized Marina area, where there's a lot of people, and a lot of noise. No, this is just my opinion, but I've talked to several anglers who have said the same thing and the difficulty of catching fish at the bank area at Oak Hollow. If you wanted to have maybe just a picnic and casually fish, maybe this is the move. But if you're trying to catch serious fish, this is not the move. Lovely area though.