Thursday, May 2, 2024

The allure of greenways, throughout the region UNC Charlotte Urban Institute

greenway charlotte

Park at Best Buy to access the trailhead for Walker Branch Greenway. Located north of Charlotte, McDowell Creek Greenway is a fully paved 2.8-mile out-and-back that offers some gentle hills to prepare for hiking elevation. This greenway connects Cornelius neighborhoods to Birkdale Village in Huntersville.

Outdoor activities in and around Charlotte - Axios

Outdoor activities in and around Charlotte.

Posted: Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

larks Creek Greenway

Short sections of the greenway feature boardwalks meandering through wetlands, and the trail can get muddy after heavy rainfall. Parallel parking spaces along Innovation Drive get you closest to the north end of the trailhead for Taggart Creek Greenway. Or, park at Southview Recreation Center and access the trail via a short walk along Burnett Avenue.

eedy Creek Nature Center

It’s worth noting that different resources may list different mileage for Mecklenburg County’s greenway trails. However, the majority should land within a few tenths of a mile of each other. Because Six Mile Creek Greenway is truly an out-and-back that doesn’t connect to other trails, your only option is to park in the lot at the trailhead off Patterson Road. They offer a natural space to decompress, enjoy nature and engage in physical activities. Locals might use a greenway to commute to work by foot or bike, reducing road congestion.

Popular road trips from Charlotte

The county holds 52 miles of developed greenway trails, many of which fit under the greater Carolina Thread Trail, a regional network of trails reaching across 15 counties. This is just the beginning of local greenway development – there’s so much more to come. Charlotte is situated in Mecklenburg County, featuring an elaborate system of linear parks, or greenways. They not only support wildlife and water quality but connect visitors and locals to destinations across the area.

Cross Charlotte Trail Segments

At the northernmost end, park in Elizabeth Park near Second Ward. At the southern terminus, park at the Carolina Pavilion shopping mall and hop on the South Boulevard Connector to get to Little Sugar Creek Greenway. We love the greenways in Mecklenburg County because they’re plentiful, free to access and offer a peaceful place to take a break in a busy metropolitan area. Runners, walkers, cyclists, inline skaters, skateboarders and those with jogging strollers find Clarks Creek and Mallard Creek Greenways a great place to get outdoors.

Walker Branch and Hoover Creek Greenways

greenway charlotte

These trails also serve as vegetated natural buffers that promote water quality, help reduce the impacts of flooding and provide wildlife habitat. In addition to the County's greenway system, there are numerous miles of mountain bike trails managed by the Tarheel Trailblazers. As a heads up one of the Google Maps locations will take you to an apartment complex without parking options, so I’d recommend the parking lot AllTrails directs you to. Unfortunately this parking lot is not at the exact beginning/end of the trail, it is right on Margaret Wallace and intersects the trail. If you follow the path from this parking lot on the same side of the road as the parking lot you will hit McAlpine Creek Greenway in about a half mile.

atta Nature Preserve

greenway charlotte

This 3 mile trail is right off Independence Boulevard making it convenient, but you will hear some road noise throughout your walk. It follows the creek throughout and is more nature filled than some of the other options aside from the noise. The trail starts in nature and then gets much more urban as you continue on, going right to Uptown.

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The Mecklenburg County Greenway System is quickly becoming one of the finest in the nation. Greenways are vegetated  natural buffers that promote water quality, help reduce the impacts of flooding, and provide wildlife habitat. Greenway trails provide recreation, transportation, fitness, and economic benefits for all to enjoy. There are currently 56 miles of developed greenway trails in Mecklenburg County, with more being built every year.

These greenways are dog friendly and visitors are treated to wooden bridges, boardwalks and paved surfaces. Mecklenburg County is home to 15 greenways offering more than 60 miles (and growing!) of developed trails for Charlotte-area residents and visitors to explore. The trails vary in length and are a mix of pavement, gravel and dirt making them ideal for all fitness levels. Each greenway below is linked to a trail map and trailhead parking is linked to addresses or pinned locations on Google Maps.

As you increase your fitness and endurance, it helps to have a clear picture of the total mileage you could get on any of Mecklenburg County’s greenway trails. Phase 1 of this project connects pedestrians to Long Creek Club Drive, Reames Road, Secretariat Drive, Northlake Center Parkway, Bayview Parkway and Treyburn Drive. Two additional phases are in the works to extend the trail an additional 4.8 miles.

That is also true in regards for areas to park—all of the greenways have a designated parking lot but you can park in most neighborhoods along the trail as well. The Irwin Creek and Stewart Creek Greenways offer 3.2 miles out-and back and are connected to other trails in uptown Charlotte making it easy to extend your mileage when you’re ready. Surfaces are gravel/crushed stone, sidewalk and pavement and are shared by walkers, hikers and cyclists looking to enjoy views of the creek and wildlife. For Hoover Creek Greenway we recommend parking in front of the shopping center and walking around the building to access the trail.

Parking is available in Abersham Park at the north end of the West Branch Rocky River Greenway. To hop on South Prong Rocky River Greenway, park at Davidson Elementary School or River Run Athletic Park. The map below shows the entire alignment of the trail from the South Carolina state line to Kempsford Drive near the Cabarrus County line. Whether you’re new to the city or a native, you can find an adventure around every turn.

Little Sugar Creek Greenway is made up of five distinct sections and will feature more than 19 miles of trails when complete. Enjoy paved trails through forested areas and along Little Sugar Creek for a gentle or brisk walk, and bring your dog for company! Picking up at Four Mile Creek Greenway, Lower McAlpine and McMullen Creek Greenways connect to offer just over four miles one way or 8.3 miles out-and-back. Located in south Charlotte, the trail is composed of asphalt and gravel and is popular with walkers, trail runners and cyclists, but users can find peace during quieter times of the day. Nestled amid secluded streams and winding trails, The Little Sugar Creek Greenway provides a wide-open space for countless activities – walking, biking, running and more.

Hop on at the west end of Four Mile Creek Greenway where it meets Lower McAlpine Greenway. There’s a parking lot on Johnston Road where you can take a connector to the main trail. Or, at the eastern end of the trail, there is a parking long at the corner of Rea Road and Bevington Place. For locals living nearby, neighborhood access to the trail can be found at the end of Radner Lane and near Stanton Green Court.

Provide recreation, transportation, fitness, and economic benefits for all to enjoy.

Mallard Creek Greenway is part of the Cross-Charlotte Trail, a partnership between Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte that strives to develop a 26 mile contiguous trail. This greenway will eventually connect the SC/NC State line to Cabarrus County." MeckNC.gov More than 5.7-miles between these two greenways are part of the Carolina Thread Trail. A more urban section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway winds through Midtown and Myers Park. This section is mostly just sidewalks through the city, but some sections are more scenic. You could also hop on near the Target and Harris Teeter in Midtown and go in the opposite direction.

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