Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail takes you through forest, savanna, farmland, and across a swinging bridge

We’ve been exploring many hiking trails in the Charlotte area and beyond. Read about 50+ hikes and walks in the Charlotte area.

Cabarrus County is home to one of the most interesting hiking trails in the area, Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail, which goes through Buffalo Creek Preserve, land owned by Catawba Lands Conservancy.

Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail is part of Carolina Thread Trail, a network of trails in 15 counties in North and South Carolina.

This trail is clean, quiet, peaceful and geologically diverse.

Logistics of Hiking the trail in Buffalo Creek Preserve

The trailhead is at 7911 Malibu Road, Mt. Pleasant. It’s about 40 minutes from the center of Charlotte, and very convenient to those in Harrisburg, Concord, and Kannapolis. There are about 22 parking spaces in the parking lot at the trailhead.

There are no permanent restroom facilities, but there is a port-a-pot at the trailhead.

Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail. The only trashcans are at the trailhead, so be prepared to carry your dog’s bagged waste back with you. Also, the swinging bridge might not be suitable for some dogs, especially dogs with little feet, because of the little gaps between the planks.

There are several benches along the trail in case you need a rest.

Bicycles are permitted on the trail.

Basics about Buffalo Creek Preserve

What’s unusual about this hike is the diversity of the terrain. You’ll walk through a restored oak savanna, along the fields of a working farm and through a young forest along a bluff high above a creek. You’ll cross the creek on a swinging bridge.

There are spots along the creek where you can enjoy a small sand “beach” and even dip your toes in the water.

Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail is an out and back, natural surface trail, 2.1 miles each way.

Sometimes a few spots get muddy. Use caution, and, if you have hiking boots, wear them.

It’s not hard to follow the trail. There aren’t really many choices to make since there’s just the one trail. Any time you might have a question, there’s a Carolina Thread Trail sign to point you the right way. The AllTrails app is very helpful too.

Read on for more information and for some pictures from our hike!

Sections of the Trail

Oak Savanna

Make sure to take a look at the sign at the trailhead. The trails aren’t complicated at all, but the sign has some interesting information about the preserve. One of the most unusual feature of the preserve is the Piedmont oak savanna.

A savanna is a mixed woodland and grassy area where the trees are widely spaced from each other. Savannas are not typical in the Piedmont, but they used to be common, and provide a habitat for many bird species. Catawba Lands Conservancy is working to restore the Piedmont oak savanna at the trailhead.

Farmland

After the savanna you’ll walk along the fields of a local farm.

Young Forest on Bluff

Then the terrain changes again as you enter a young forest.

The trail goes along a bluff above Adams Creek, a tributary of Dutch Buffalo Creek, providing endless stunning views of the water.

Swinging Bridge and Beyond

After a slight decline, you’ll cross over Adams Creek on a swinging bridge. The bridge is very secure, but it moves quite a bit, especially if you’re walking with someone trying to bounce on it!

The views of Adams Creek from the bridge, in both directions, are dramatic and beautiful.

After you cross the bridge, the path changes again. Now it’s sand. You can follow the trail to the end. You’ll enter a mostly evergreen forest and, on the way back, have access to a small beach area adjacent to the creek.