This is now closed for 4 years for Dam maintenance. Otherwise a great walk on the woodsread more

So fun and beautiful. 2 mile walking trail one way, a if you're into running a scenic route you can…read moreget in 4 miles there and back. There are picnic tables along the way and I think even bike trails.

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.

This beautiful park is still quite natural. Even the parking lot is just gravel and dirt…read more From the parking lot, a mile of natural surface trails for walking and running and mountain biking. I took a short walk to check it out and it is quite nice. At the river side, there is an access area for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and picnicking. Get outside! [Review 14247 overall, 1570 of 2020, number 2682 in North Carolina.]

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!

(From November 2025)…read more I can't remember how I found this but as I'm driving in Charlotte, my dad and I stopped here to check it out. This is one of the most beautiful parks I've had the pleasure of visiting. There are beautiful views, playgrounds and lawn space for children's play, plenty of parking, trails for walking/bike riding, several bridges, and large trees to compliment the fields. The park is well-kept as everyone here ensures cleanliness and top maintenance. As my dad and I sat down on the bench and soaked in our surroundings, we observed a plethora of activity which included some people flying drones, kids competing in the playground's obstacle course, elderly folks walking, dogs running amok, people racing toy cars, and a few people cycling. The positive energy and vibes were radiant. I'm glad we stopped by here. Definitely worth a visit in Charlotte!

What a gorgeous park! Just moved to Charlotte and was looking for a place to walk the dogs. This…read morepark is amazing! It had a great walking path around the water, a greenway, an amaaaaazing playground for kids, sports fields, decent-ish bathrooms, and lots of parking! Would highly recommend!

I have never been to Charlotte NC before, and as I did my research on what to do, the US National…read moreWhitewater Center often came up as 1 of 2 must-visit attractions. Not being a real outdoorsy person, and only having whitewater rafted once, I felt the $89 day pass was very reasonable. I arrived at the USNWC at open time, and paid $13 for parking. Once parked, I lined up at the Outfitters center to sign up for activities. It was already busy, so I was probably in line for about 20 minutes to get my spot for whitewater rafting. They make it sound like you can only do whitewater rafting once, but after speaking to my guide, you can only have one reservation at a time. Once you finish you trip, you can immediately sign up again if there are spots. As I was there relatively early, I was schedule for a 10am rafting start, which gave me plenty of time to walk around the check out the area before getting to rafting. My general thoughts: - Whitewater rafting was terrific. It was the main focus of my visit, and completely made my day pass worth it. My guide was fun and informative. The conveyer belt bringing the raft back up was operational while I did it, but later in the day, it looked like the conveyer was out of service, so everyone had to carry the rafts back up, which is quite a bit of extra work. Between the heat and extra carrying, I decided not to go back, otherwise I would have. - The bin storage service made it easy to rent a bin to store my gear. It often had lines, so I would recommend minimize the number of times you need to access it. You can access as many times as you want. - I did the kayaking at the flatwater area. It was a much more relaxing area that you can go at your own-pace. - The ziplines were a bit disappointing, unless you pay extra for the longer lines. The lines that don't require reservations are very short, and frankly, not worth doing unless it's your first time trying it. - Most of the rock climbing areas were closed off, and the few areas open was packed with small children. So I decided not to try it. - Because by late day, it was getting uncomfortably hot, so i decided not to do the rope courses, but they looked pretty good. - Entry to the area is free, so a good number of visitors hang out just to have picnics and watch. Overall, I enjoyed my visit, only because of the whitewater rafting. It's much more affordable then what I could do back at home. The ziplines are good for first timers. Ropes courses looked good, and flatwater activities are nice to move at a more relaxed pace. I can see why it's a popular place.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a massive 1,300-acre…read morenon-profit outdoor recreation facility and an official U.S. Olympic Training Site. Located along the scenic Catawba River, it stands as the largest multi-sport outdoor adventure center in the world. The Water Features World's Largest Man-Made Whitewater River: Using a massive recirculating pump system holding 12 million gallons of water, the park features two distinct concrete channels providing Class II to IV rapids. Visitors can go whitewater rafting with a guide or tackle the rapids solo via whitewater kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Flatwater Activities: For a calmer pace, the center provides direct access to the adjacent Catawba River for serene flatwater kayaking and paddleboarding. Deep Water Solo: A highly unique 45-foot-high artificial climbing wall with multiple difficulty paths. It features no ropes or harnesses--if you lose your grip, you plunge directly into a 20-foot-deep pool below. Land & Aerial Adventures 40+ Miles of Trails: A massive, interconnected network of single-track trails woven throughout the forested property. It is heavily utilized year-round for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. Ropes & Ziplines: The park features over 20 different aerial ropes challenge courses, suspension bridges, and multiple ziplines stretching up to 1,500 feet long that glide high over the water canyons. Rock Climbing: A comprehensive climbing center that offers traditional bouldering and top-rope climbing walls. Community Lifestyle & Kids FeaturesWildwoods: A multi-acre, tree-canopied challenge and play area specifically engineered for younger kids and families.Festivals & Yoga: The center acts as a major local social hub, hosting massive seasonal festivals, over 400 yoga practices annually across various lawns, and the popular River Jam live music concert series.

When I hurt my foot and we couldn't hike for a while, we went in search of a place to kayak. Since…read morewe don't have our own, this is a bit of a challenge in Charlotte. It's especially challenging before Memorial Day. Luckily, we were able to find this place. I can't remember the exact price, but it wasn't cheap from what I remember and I think it was a 2 hour minimum. Pricing aside, we had a good time. The Catawba River isn't the most scenic place to kayak, but there are some nice branches off it it where you can spot lots of turtles. The employee that helped us was very friendly and gave us some pointers on the best areas to explore. If you want to kayak close to Charlotte, check them out!

Good service but some other folks at the put in were acting dangerously and the owner of riverside…read morewasn't able to do much.

One of my FAVORITE running spots in North Carolina. Hidden gem. Particularly nice on a summer…read moremorning. Extensive trails that go for miles and pretty water too!

I was visiting the area and looking for a place to get in a run. There was ample parking,…read morewell-marked trail signage, and scenic, peaceful views. There were other people out on the trails too, but they weren't crowded. I would go back if in the area again.

Boat launches onto Lake Wylie and lots of parking for trailers, this campground is quite "back to…read morenature". There is a building with a restroom but I didn't spot a playground or any other "active" features. There are good spots for fishing too. Yes, there is actually an island and they have several docks. Plenty of trails to walk and you can bring your leashed dog. Great park, free entry. Lots of nature. [Review 16875 overall - 3204 in North Carolina - 388 of 2022.]

This island is adjacent to the McDowell Nature Preserve on Lake Wylie, and is very wooded. There…read moreare paved and dirt walking trails throughout with platforms and overlooks along the way. There are six large campsites with fire rings and grills, but there were other camping areas as well. We had enough people for this weekend of camping (about 200) that we rented the entire island. OMG! It was such a nice venue. There is a pavilion with an enclosed area for preparing food with kitchen, sinks, etc., along with many (I didn't count!) picnic tables on the cement slab under the covered area for serving dinner and for gatherings. There are also four actual large bathrooms which I wasn't expecting. We rented addtnl port-o-potties but we really didn't need them. Better safe than sorry! We had a DJ setup under the shelter and it became a stage with spectator area at night for entertainment. There is a nice sand volleyball court next to the pavilion if the island and lake don't offer enough entertainment and exercise. Don't miss out on the floating dock that goes out into the lake. We brought floats and hung out there during the day. There are two large parking areas at the head of the island, but plan to walk alot and carry your stuff a good distance. Beautiful spot for a picnic or family gathering. If it's like SC parks, you can probably get a yearly pass. It would be worth it if you live in the area. Only 10 minutes away from Fort Mill/Rock Hill too.