Lace up your shoes because it’s time to start walking! We’ve put together photo guides for a wide variety of places to walk and hike in Charlotte, plus a few in other parts of North Carolina.
Each of these guides contains all the logistical information that you’ll need to plan your visit.
Whether you want to get away from it all in a wilderness-like setting, immerse yourself in a garden, or explore a Charlotte neighborhood by foot, we have a guide that will get you started.
We’ll be adding to this list all the time, so keep checking back! And let us know if there’s a location you’d like us to highlight. We definitely have plans to visit more of Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation’s nature preserves.
The state parks and waterfalls that we highlight can get crowded on the weekends, and the gates of some close once they’ve reached capacity, so if it’s possible to visit during the week, that’s a good idea. If you go on the weekend make sure to go early.
Most of the walks and hikes, especially the ones in Charlotte, are easy and are appropriate for kids.
We’ve included the guides to the Mecklenburg County Greenways that we’re putting together, because, although they are focused a little more on bicycling, they still completely apply to walking too. These are some of the most wheelchair-accessible and stroller-friendly paths. We’ve also included some self-guided walks in Charlotte, and some gardens that have nice paths.
Map of Hikes and Walks
Please take a look at this interactive map of the hikes and walks, but then keep reading for the link to the article for each one.
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First Broad River Trail in Shelby
First Broad River Trail in Shelby
Location: 940 W Grover Street, Shelby, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 46 miles
Distance of hike: 1.5 mile each way
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: The 170-suspension bridge over First Broad River.
Riverwalk in Hickory
Riverwalk in City of Hickory
Location: Rotary-Geitner Park, 2024 12 Street Drive NW, Hickory, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 59 miles
Distance of hike: 1 mile each way
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Provides a way for visitors to walk directly above Lake Hickory, which is part of the Catawba River Chain of Lakes.
Torrence Creek Greenway (East Section)
Paved, wheelchair-accessible path from playground to art-filled tunnel
Location: Rosedale Nature Park, 9519 Rosewood Meadow Lane, Huntersville, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 14.4 miles
Distance of hike: .85 mile each way
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Starts at a fun playground, goes on raised walkway through the woods, passes large rock formation, goes through tunnel under I-77 that has projected art on the walls.
Hickory Nut Falls Trail at Chimney Rock State Park
Hickory Nut Falls Trail
Location: 743 Chimney Rock Park Road, Chimney Rock, North Carolina
Distance from Charlotte: 95 miles
Distance of hike: .7 mile each way
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: The majestic Hickory Nut Falls! Also, of course, Chimney Rock is the highlight of the park. This park does charge an admission fee — $17 for adults and $8 for kids.
Hike From a Winery to a Waterfall in Elkin
Hike from a winery to a waterfall in Elkin, passing through an “Enchanted Forest”
Location: Elkin, North Carolina
Distance from Charlotte: 77 miles
Distance of hike: 4.5 mile round trip (can be shortened)
Difficulty: Easy/moderate
Highlights: “Magical sightings” like gnome homes, waterfall, remnants of old power plant. Start and end at Grassy Creek Vineyard.
Bakers Mountain
Hike Bakers Mountain for a panoramic view of the Catawba Valley
Location: Bakers Mountain Park, 6680 Bakers Mountain Road, Hickory, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 60 miles
Distance of hike: 2.6 mile round trip. There are more trails at the park, for a total of approximately 6 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate. There is a substantial incline.
Highlights: Waterfall, remains of a turn-of-the-century cabin, and a panoramic view of the Catawba Valley.
Hike Twelve Mile Creek Greenway, including a suspension bridge to South Carolina
Hike Twelve Mile Creek Greenway, including a suspension bridge to South Carolina
Location: H.C. Nesbit Park, 1304 H.C. Nesbit Park Drive, Waxhaw, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 26 miles
Distance of hike: .25 mile to suspension bridge in to South Carolina. From there you can continue up to 3.5 miles.
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: A suspension bridge between Waxhaw, NC and Lancaster County, SC.
South Fork Trail
South Fork Trail
Location: The Boathouse, 119 Willow Drive, McAdenville. (Some mapping software might say Gastonia.)
Distance from Charlotte: 18 miles
Distance of hike: 4 miles round trip. Can be shortened.
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: View of the ruins of a stone bridge that’s part of Civil War history. Nice walk along the river, where you might see turtles, heron and other wildlife.
Buzzard Rock Overlook and Wash Rock Overlook (Latta Nature Preserve)
Buzzard Rock and Wash Rock, Latta Nature Preserve
Location: Latta Nature Preserve, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville
Distance from Charlotte: 13 miles
Distance of hike: .6 miles to get to both spots, one way. There are also 10+ miles of trails within the nature preserve.
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Massive rock formations and a view of Mountain Island Lake.
Gold Hill Rail Trail
Gold Hill Rail Trail
Location: 770 St. Stephens Church Road, Gold Hill, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 47 miles
Distance of hike: Total of 4 miles, but can be shortened.
Difficulty: Easy/moderate
Highlights: Historical structures, including a mine shaft, a reportedly haunted powder house, an old steam engine, a jail and more. The Historic Village of Gold Hill is also nice visit. It features the E. H. Montgomery General Store, a bakery and more.
Robinson Rock House
Robinson Rock House
Location: Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, 2900 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: 8 miles
Distance of hike: .93 miles each way. There are more than 10 miles of trails in Reedy Creek Nature Center.
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Ruins of Robinson Rock House, which was built around 1790. Also, a huge fallen Osage Orange Tree. The hike starts at the Reedy Creek Nature Center, which is worth a visit, and crosses creeks and passes through a field of wildflowers. There’s a nature playground for kids next to the nature center.
Campbell Creek Greenway
Campbell Creek Greenway
Location: McAlpine Creek Greenway and Campbell Creek Greenway, 2116 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 8 miles
Distance of hike: .38 miles each way, but can be extended. You can go much further on Campbell Creek Greenway and McAlpine Creek Greenway
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Ruins of an old gristmill. Also, you can explore the 114-acre McAlpine Creek Park.
Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail
Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail
Location: Trailhead is at 7911 Malibu Road, Mt. Pleasant, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 32 miles
Distance of hike: 2.1 miles each way.
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Swinging bridge. Very diverse terrain, including a restored oak savanna, a young forest on a high bluff, and fields. There’s even a small sand “beach.”
Seven Oaks Nature Preserve
Seven Oaks Nature Preserve
Location: Trailhead is at 6900 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC. Or park at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC. (You don’t have to pay admission to park and walk the trails.)
Distance from Charlotte: 21 miles
Distance of hike: Approximately 5 miles. Can be shortened.
Difficulty: Easy/moderate
Highlights: Views of Lake Wylie. You might want to visit Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. (Fee applies.)
Evergreen Nature Preserve
Evergreen Nature Preserve
Location: Evergreen Nature Preserve, 1336 Norland Road, Charlotte, NC
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: 5 miles
Distance of hike: The preserve includes 1.7 miles of trails.
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Unspoiled hardwood forest right in Charlotte
Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve
Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve
Location: Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve, 4601 Nevin Road, Charlotte, NC
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: 6 miles
Distance of hike: The preserve includes 3.15 miles of trails in total.
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: 188-acre urban forest in Charlotte that includes wetlands, a hardwood forest, American Beech grove and two ponds.
9 North Carolina Waterfalls
9 North Carolina Waterfalls
Location: Various
Distance from Charlotte: Various
Distance of hike: Various
Difficulty: Various
Highlights: Learn about 9 different waterfalls to hike to in North Carolina.
Big Rock Nature Preserve
Big Rock Nature Preserve
Location: Big Rock Nature Preserve, 6500 Elmstone Drive, Charlotte, NC
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: 19 miles
Distance of hike: Very short!
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Largest exposed boulders in Mecklenburg County. Also, the site has been designated a Historic Landmark by the Charlotte Historic Landmarks Commission.
Three Amazing Hikes
3 Amazing Hikes
Location: Various
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: Various
Distance of hike: Various
Difficulty: Various
Highlights: This guide to three amazing hikes within an hour and a half of Charlotte was put together for us by photographer Jim Ogden. It includes 40 Acre Rock (pictured above), the Peak to Pass section of the Palmetto Trail, and Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area.
Twelve North Carolina State Parks
12 North Carolina State Parks
Location: Various
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: Various
Distance of hike: Various
Difficulty: Various
Highlights: This guide to hiking twelve North Carolina State Parks was put together for us by Harrison Grothoff.
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Location: Several places to park, including Elizabeth Park, 101 N Kings Drive; Metropolitan, 1116 Metropolitan Avenue; Freedom Park, 1910 Freedom Park Service Road, and more.
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: Depends which spot you start at.
Distance of hike: There are over 17 miles among the various sections of Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
Difficulty: Easy.
Highlights: Trail of History and several parks.
Mallard Creek Greenway
Mallard Creek Greenway
Location: You can park at Kirk Farm Soccer Fields, 210 E Mallard Creek Church Road, Charlotte, NC
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: 13 miles
Distance of hike: 7.4 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Highlights: Connects to Toby Creek Greenway, which goes through UNC Charlotte. Nice views of Mallard Creek.
Toby Creek Greenway
Toby Creek Greenway
Location: You can park at Kirk Farm Soccer Fields, 210 E Mallard Creek Church Road, Charlotte, NC, or at Town Center Plaza, 8548 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC.
Distance from (center of) Charlotte: 13 miles
Distance of hike: 2.9 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Highlights: Goes through UNC Charlotte and connects to Mallard Creek Greenway. The Light Rail will also be accessible to you. You can bring your bike onto the train.
8 Must-See Botanical Gardens in the Charlotte area
8 Botanical Gardens
Location: Various
Distance from Charlotte: Various
Distance of hike: Various
Difficulty: Easy.
Highlights: There are several wonderful botanical gardens that are places to walk. Learn about eight of them!
8 Must-See Botanical Gardens in the Charlotte area
8 Self-Guided Walking Tours
Location: Various
Distance from Charlotte: Various
Distance of hike: Various
Difficulty: Easy.
Highlights: These self-guided walking tours, most from History South, will reveal the secrets of some places that you might think you’re familiar with!
Ron says
Absolutely wonderful!! Thank you for posting. After a while one can tire of the same trail(s). PLEASE add anything new, or previously overlooked.
Jody Mace says
Ron,
Thanks so much! If everything works out, we’re trying a new one tomorrow!
-Jody