Fall is in the air. We couldn’t be more excited about it so we are lacing up our boots and hitting the great outdoors. If you are looking for a good place to take a hike in Charlotte, you luckily don’t have to look far! There are lots of perfect places to enjoy the cooler days and take in fall foliage for all ages and skill levels. Here are a few of our favorite local spots to immerse yourself in nature…

 

Evergreen Nature Preserve

A stone’s throw from our office and in the heart of the city on Norland Road (near Central Avenue) is Evergreen Nature Preserve. The 77-acre nature preserve with a dense tree canopy feels even more magical because it’s a quick and easy escape from the urban jungle. The 1.8-mile loop is mostly flat so its a great choice for children or less experienced hikers. It’s not too long, not too challenging, and not too off the grid.

 

Latta Nature Preserve

Mecklenburg County’s largest nature preserve has 1,460 acres of land and offers over 16 miles of trails to wander. The Latta Waterfront Trail (1.1 miles), Hill Trail (1.5 miles), and Buzzard Rock Trail (2.6 miles) are among the most popular. You can also string together multiple trails for a longer and more challenging hike. In addition to the beautiful Mountain Island Lake and nature views, you are likely to spot a horse or two as Latta Nature Preserve is the only Charlotte public preserve open to horseback riding.

 

McDowell Nature Preserve

Another popular Charlotte destination, McDowell Nature Preserve has 7 miles of hiking trails within the 1,107-acre preserve. You’ll wander through the woods, wind your way beside creeks, and take in picturesque vistas of Lake Wylie — all of the hallmarks of a perfect hike! There are also several family-friendly trails for those with younger children including the McDowell Chestnut Loop (1.1 miles) and Cove Trail (1.2 miles).

McDowell Nature Preserve

 

Reedy Creek Nature Preserve

Located in Northeast Charlotte, Reedy Creek Nature Preserve has 7 hiking trails totaling 10 miles with something for every outdoor enthusiast. Forests, fields, streams, and wildlife guaranteed! Also, for a particularly unique view, take the short 0.15-mile Robinson Rockhouse trail off of the Sierra Trail (1.5 miles) to see the Rockhouse, circa 1790 ruins now on the National Registry of Historic Places.

 

Buffalo Creek Preserve

Just outside of Charlotte in Mount Pleasant, NC (not to be confused with the well-known SC destination near Charleston with the same name), the Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail is a 2.1-mile hike (4.2 miles out and back) that takes visitors through restored oak-savannah forest, farmland, and along Adams Creek. This rural Cabarrus County land is preserved by the Catawba Lands Conservancy and is home to numerous ground-nesting birds and prairie species.

 

Anne Springs Close Greenway 

Just across the state line in Fort Mill, SC, you’ll find Anne Springs Close Greenway. This 2,100-acre nature preserve is more than twice the size of Central Park. It’s a local mecca for outdoor recreation and home to 40 miles of trails. Be sure to grab a trail map at one of the Greenway entrances to pick your adventure. Yellow paths are exclusively hiking trails, purple hiking trails allow horseback riding, and red trails are designed for both hiking and mountain biking.

Anne Springs Close Greenway

 

Crowders Mountain State Park

You can’t have a local hiking list without including Crowders Mountain State Park in Gaston County, just 32 miles west of Charlotte. It is the living embodiment of what you picture when you think about hiking. It even made the list of 1oo Classic Hikes in North Carolina. With two mountain peaks that offer magnificent views, there are 20 miles of hiking trails at Sparrow Springs, 4 miles at Linwood, and 6 miles at Boulders. Expect challenging hikes and towering cliffs. The views are well worth the climb, but the trails are best suited for more experienced hikers.

 

We can’t highlight these amazing local hiking spots without acknowledging the recent devastation in Western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene. The NC Mountains are home to many of the state’s best hiking trails and, much more importantly, our neighbors and friends — many of whom have lost everything. The recovery efforts will be long and hard. If you are able, please consider helping these amazing communities get back on their feet.

 

Here are a few resources that have compiled ways to help:

Ways To Donate and Help Flood Victims In Western North Carolina After Hurricane Helene

How To Help Western NC + Hurricane Helene Emergency Information

How To Support Western N.C. Communities Devastated by Helene

 

 

Cover Photo: Crowders Mountain State Park