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    Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area

    4.6 (14 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Hollow Rock Trail
    Jacqueline T.

    We came here to do some day hiking. There aren't a ton of trails, but enough to get a quick hike in. We started on the Vertical Mile Challenge/the Grindstone trail (many of the trails overlap). Once the VMC split from the Grindstone trail it got really intense. It's a steep climb up the side of a rock. The views are pretty here though as you stop to catch your breath. Once you reach the end of the rock, it gets significantly flatter. We then split off to do the Hollow Rock Trail loop to the right. It was easy and had a couple of good views. We took that back down until we got to the Prison Camp Trail. That trail was the most disappointing since there were no signs of a prison camp. This brought us back to the parking lot for a total of about 4-5 miles. We did pretty much all of the trails at the park. There's rock climbing as well. The views don't compare to the mountains in the western part of NC, but considering it's just over an hour away from Charlotte, I thought it was pretty good hiking.

    Linda J.

    Loved this park. It was very unique in that it originally was a rock quarry. They turned this area into a rock climbing area. There are also picnic tables and a picnic shelter. We hiked one of the trails. It was about one mile up and the one mile down. The ones we went on had nice switchbacks to the climb wasn't extreme. I thought the signage was a little confusing at first. There was a very unique play ground. We had no children with us so I don't know how a child would like it but it looked like it would be fun. We had to drive about an hour to get there but I will definitely go back sometime.

    Jon B.

    Awesome free climbing site. We came here for lunch and a quick hike today. We had a great time! The trails were probably the best marked I've ever seen. Wildlife is identified as well. Lots of how caching if you're into that as well.

    Alexis G.

    Rocky Face Mountain Area seemed so out of place as we pulled up to it. Located at a former quarry, this rec area has hiking trails and climbing routes. The climbing routes were just put up in December 2013 (and they're still putting them up). They ranged from short 5.4's to 5.10's. The climbing was literally 15 feet from the parking lot. There is a small picnic pavilion with restrooms that is reservable. Definitely an interesting place to visit.

    Ashley S.

    What an awesome park! I'm from NY-dutchess county to be exact and I'm used to being surrounded by mountains at all times and watching the leaves change during this time is one of my favorite things about my hometown. So needless to say, as much as I love Charlotte, this time of year around here is not really comparable to home. But coming to Rockyface mountain was just what I needed to have that little taste of home! Pulling up to the park was so nice! You just see a wall of rocks and some rock climbers which was neat! We went up to the trail map to check out which one we wanted to do. They had about four different trails to choose from, different difficulty levels for everyone. There was a really nice man in the office that helped us out and gave us a map to bring with is while hiking which is a huge plus because I'm always afraid of getting lost!! We ended up doing a big loop that included 3 different trails and was about 4 miles. A nice hike! Took about an hour and a half and not too hard either! The views were great, really pretty and filled with fall colors! I felt like I was back at home hiking Mt. Beacon or Breakneck Mountain (if you ever go to the area, these are musts for hiking fanatics!). Overall an awesome experience and I can't wait to go back!

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    Review Highlights - Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area

    Super cute playground for the kids, and nice bathrooms.

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    Riverbend Park - Across the river

    Riverbend Park

    4.7(7 reviews)
    10.5 mi

    Wonderful park with well marked trails Feels like a hike…read moremore than a walk which is awesome

    The Photograph Club from Trilogy had scheduled a fall photo shot for today with the goal of taking…read morein Murray's Mill Historical Site and the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, both in the same area. While at the Bridge, I mentioned that I was also considering going over to Riverbend Park which was only about 20 additional minutes from where we were. A couple of the folks decided to join me. I've been here probably a half a dozen times but never checked in and left a review although I did post some photos. Our group leader was familiar with the Park because she had hiked the trails often but was not aware of the Dam for Lake Hickory which is just upstream. The other lady was aware of the Dam but did not realize that there was a Park just downstream. When you pull into the main parking lot, at the back side is a small road with a sign that says "Trailheads" to the right and Picnic Rest Rooms to the Left. Not obvious but if you take the Left Fork, you go down the hill to the River. At the bottom of the hill is another parking lot next to the Catawba River. When you first to into the lot, there is an observation deck that extends out into the edge of the Catawba River. Great view of Fall foliage from here. If you go back past the covered picnic shelter you end up at the Canoe Launch area. Another beautiful area. We missed it but they open up the dam on occasion for the Canoe's and Kayaker's to create whitewater. At that time. all the rocks you see in the photographs are submerged. A little past peak color but the maples with their shades of rea were still beautiful.

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    Riverbend Park - Observation Deck on the Left

    Observation Deck on the Left

    Riverbend Park - Beautiful Fall Color

    Beautiful Fall Color

    Riverbend Park - Maple by the parking lot

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    Maple by the parking lot

    Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area - hiking - Updated June 2026

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