Fort Fisher State Recreation Area: Basin Trail (Blog Hike #1083)

Trail: Basin Trail
Hike Location: Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Geographic Location: south of Wilmington, NC (33.96497, -77.92269)
Length: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: An out-and-back through marsh and dune habitats to a platform overlooking The Basin.
Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/fort-fisher-state-recreation-area
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming September 11, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Wilmington, take US 421 south 20 miles to the signed entrance for Fort Fisher State Recreation Area on the left.  Turn left to enter the area, and park in the large blacktop parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: Occupying a sandy peninsula that juts into the Atlantic Ocean south of Wilmington, 287-acre Fort Fisher State Recreation Area gets its name from Civil War-era Fort Fisher, a Confederate earthen fort built in 1861.  The fort guarded one of two entrances to the Cape Fear River, and its extreme strength earned it the nickname "The Southern Gibraltar."  The Union did not take the fort until their second attempt, which occurred on January 12, 1865 less than 3 months before the end of the war.  The fort's main magazine exploded 4 days later, killing over 200 men.

            The fort's surviving earthworks are protected by Fort Fisher State Historic Site, which is located adjacent to the Recreation Area.  During World War II, an air landing strip was built here, and a concrete bunker was built to house command batteries for German U-boat patrols.  Fort Fisher State Recreation Area was established in 1986, and today it offers one of Wilmington's best and most popular beaches.

            For hikers, the recreation area offers only 1 trail: the 1.1 mile one-way Basin Trail that takes you out the peninsula to a wide spot in the Cape Fear River known as The Basin.  The Basin Trail passes the World War II-era bunker, and it offers great views across the area's salt marshes.  Be warned that over half of this trail is exposed to the sun, so this is not a good hike for a hot summer afternoon.  I came here on a seasonal morning in mid-September and had a pleasant hike.

Trailhead for the Basin Trail

            The Basin Trail starts at the southwest corner of the parking lot, crosses the gated road that heads to the beach, and enters the woods.  Only a small sign marks the trailhead.  The white sandy dirt trail heads into the dense coastal scrub forest that features lots of cedar trees.  Some boardwalks take you over some wet areas, and the hiking is uneventful but pleasant.

Coastal scrub forest

            At 0.2 miles, a spur trail leading to the North Carolina Aquarium exits right.  The Basin Trail turns left and soon exits the cedar scrub in favor of an open, sunny, and sandy savannah-like area.  The sand is somewhat soft, making for slower going than you might expect.  The trick to walking in sand is not to take faster steps or longer steps but to make each step count: step where the sand is already compacted from where other people have stepped recently.  The terrain is flat enough that most people can get across this sand by making their steps count.

Soft sandy trail

            0.4 miles into the hike, the trail curves right to leave the softest sand and enter a sunny salt marsh.  Long boardwalks get you over the water, and looking around lets you see how large this salt marsh is.  This marsh would be a good place for waterfowl viewing in the morning or evening, but I came here in the middle of the day.

Boardwalk over salt marsh

Salt marsh

            At 0.75 miles, you reach the concrete World War II-era bunker.  Interpretive signs describe the command batteries and U-boat patrols that were stationed here during World War II.  After the war, this bunker became home to the famous Fort Fisher Hermit, Robert Harrill.  Harrill survived on what he could gather from the marsh, and he was well-known for sharing his wisdom from "The School of Common Sense" with visitors who came by.  Harrill died in 1972.

Concrete World War II-era bunker

            The rest of the trail passes through a thin cedar forest on a sandy dirt surface.  The area is wet enough that hundreds of fiddler crabs call it home, and each step I took sent countless of the tiny crabs scurrying for holes in the ground.  1.1 miles into the hike, you reach the wooden observation platform at the edge of The Basin.  

The Basin

            The Basin is a broad inlet near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and water-filled views extend in multiple directions.  I saw some egrets, an osprey, and a heron while I was here.  Although benches encourage you to sit and rest, the lack of shade may shorten your rest period.  Only 1 trail leads here, so your only option is to retrace your steps 1.1 miles along the Basin Trail to return to the Visitor Center and complete the hike.

Hammocks Beach State Park (Blog Hike #1082)

Trails: Live Oak, Evergreen, Coastal Fringe, and Hickory Bluff Trails
Hike Location: Hammocks Beach State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Swansboro, NC (34.67230, -77.14411)
Length: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A fairly flat lollipop loop through mixed coastal forest.
Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/hammocks-beach-state-park
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 1, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: Between Swansboro and Jacksonville, take SR 24 to Hammocks Beach Road and go south on Hammocks Beach Rd.  Reach the signed park entrance in another 2.1 miles.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the large parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: Located southeast of Jacksonville in an area known as the Crystal Coast, Hammocks Beach State Park protects 1611 acres near the Atlantic Ocean.  The park is best known for its 3 uninhabited barrier islands, the largest of which is 4-mile long Bear Island, which has been designated a National Natural Landmark.  A passenger ferry to Bear Island operates several days per week during the summer, but the other islands are only accessible by private boat or kayak.

            I came to Hammocks Beach State Park on a day when the passenger ferry was not operating, so I had to confine my visit to the park's mainland, which is somewhat less impressive.  The park's mainland features only a Visitor Center with some exhibits and 4 hiking trails totaling 2.3 miles.  This hike makes the most of those trails while minimizing the retracing of steps necessary, and it forms a pleasant and easy semi-loop through the dense lowland forest.

Trailhead at Visitor Center parking lot

            The main trailhead is located at the northwest corner of the parking lot near where the park entrance road enters; an information kiosk with a trail map marks the trailhead.  The trail system at this park consists of 3 loops laid out like links in a chain: you have to hike the first loop to get to the second loop to get to the third loop.  Angle right to begin the first trail, the Live Oak Trail, then turn left to begin heading around the Live Oak Trail's loop clockwise.  The Live Oak Trail is marked with white trail markers, and it is also this park's Storybook Trail: signs bearing pages from a kid's storybook are passed in sequence while you hike.

Hiking the Live Oak Trail

            The Live Oak Trail embarks on a flat course through dense forest consisting of live oak trees and pine trees.  Just past 0.2 miles, you reach a trail intersection.  We will continue straight to finish the Live Oak Trail later, but for now turn left on the blue-blazed Evergreen Trail, which leads to the second loop.

Hiking the Evergreen Trail

            Quickly you reach the start of the red-blazed Coastal Fringe Trail, which is the second loop.  Turn left to begin going clockwise around the Coastal Fringe Trail.  I saw a pileated woodpecker searching for dinner in a tree when I hiked here on a warm mid-September afternoon.  At 0.5 miles, you reach a trail intersection with the white-blazed Hickory Bluff Trail, which is the third loop; a nice bench sits here.  Turn left to begin heading clockwise around the Hickory Bluff Trail.

Start of the Hickory Bluff Trail

            The Hickory Bluff Trail makes a loop around a peninsula that juts west into Queen Creek, but it is a somewhat frustrating trail: wide saltwater Queen Creek can be seen through the trees to the left most of the time, but no clear views of the creek emerge.  Moreover, the trail winds incessantly, and at times it feels like you are hiking in circles.  Faithfully following the white trail markers will bring you back to the Coastal Fringe Trail at 1 mile.  Turn left to continue the Coastal Fringe Trail.

Hiking the Coastal Fringe Trail

            The Coastal Fringe Trail passes through more of the same scenery, and at 1.3 miles it ends at the Evergreen Trail.  Turn right to hike east on the Evergreen Trail.  At 1.5 miles, you get back to the Live Oak Trail on which you started.  Turn left to continue the Live Oak Trail's loop.

Storybook sign on Live Oak Trail

            The Live Oak Trail follows an old dirt road for a short distance before curving right to leave the road.  At 1.75 miles, you close the Live Oak Trail's loop.  Angle left to return to the trailhead.  For a small add-on, follow the trail going right from the trailhead to quickly reach the park's ferry dock and waterfront.  Some picnic tables overlooking the water make up for the creek views you did not get on the Hickory Bluff Trail.  Walk beside the Visitor Center to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Fort Macon State Park: Elliott Coues Nature Trail (Blog Hike #1081)

Trails: Elliott Coues Nature and Yarrow Trails
Hike Location: Fort Macon State Park
Geographic Location: south of Morehead City, NC (34.69638, -76.67888)
Length: 3.7 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A semi-loop hike featuring an 1800's fort and dunes along the Atlantic Ocean.
Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/fort-macon-state-park
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 11, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Morehead City, take the Atlantic Beach Bridge south across the causeway to SR 58.  Turn left on SR 58.  SR 58 dead-ends at the main parking lot for Fort Macon in 3.6 miles.  Park here.

The hike: Built in 1826 as part of the Third System of United States coastal fortifications, Fort Macon occupies the eastern tip of a barrier island that comprises the southeast corner of North Carolina.  The brick and stone fort was built in the shape of a pentagon, and it saw live action only once: the 1862 Battle of Fort Macon.  At that battle, Major General Ambrose Burnside's Union army besieged and bombarded Confederates manning the fort.  Outnumbered nearly 10 to 1, the Confederates were forced to surrender.

            The fort became obsolete after the Civil War due to advances in ballistics, and in 1923 the fort was offered for sale as surplus military property.  The State of North Carolina purchased the property in 1924 as the second property acquired to form a state park system; Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River, was the first.  The purchase price was $1, but the purchase came with a stipulation: the federal government had the right to reclaim the property if national security demanded it.  Sure enough, less than 2 decades later the federal government exercised that right, and stations were built near the fort to patrol for German U-boats during World War II.  You will pass the ruins of one of those stations on this hike.  After the war, the purchased land reverted to park use, but an active United States Coast Guard station is still located near the historic fort.

            Today Fort Macon State Park is the second most visited state park in North Carolina, and nearly 1.3 million people come to this day-use only park each year to see the fort and enjoy the beach.  A fantastic Visitor Center contains a museum and an interpretive film about the fort as well as a gift shop and restrooms.  For hikers, the park offers only 1 trail, but it is a loop trail of more than 3 miles that thoroughly tours the park's human history and natural scenery.  That trail is the Elliott Coues Nature Trail described here.

Entering Fort Macon

            Before hitting the trail, take a few minutes or longer to tour the fort, which is accessible by walking through the Visitor Center.  A wide wooden bridge takes you over the old moat and into the brick/stone fort.  Passageways are narrow and stairways are steep by present-day standards, but this fort was designed for strength and military use, not safety and tourism use.  My favorite vantage point is from the top of the wall at the fort's south corner: looking north you can see into the fort, the cannons on the fort wall, and the American flag.  Interpretive signs describe the various rooms in the fort.  Take some time to explore the fort, but take care near the unprotected dropoffs and respect the fort's history.

Wall-top view of Fort Macon

            After touring the fort, begin the actual hike by finding the signed start of the Elliott Coues Nature Trail, which is located at the north corner of the large parking lot, to the left as you walk out the front door of the Visitor Center.  This trail is named for Dr. Elliott Coues (pronounced like house), an Army surgeon who was stationed here in 1869 and 1870.  Although Dr. Coues is better known for his later ornithology work in Arizona, he wrote an extensive biological survey of the area's salt marshes entitled "Notes on the Natural History of Fort Macon," which was published in 1871.  The trail is marked with yellow plastic circles, but it is wide and easy to follow.

Trailhead: Elliott Coues Nature Trail

            The gravel trail heads west into dense brushy woods.  Distance markers are passed every 0.1 miles, but they will not match the distances given here because my distances include the fort tour.  At 0.4 miles into the hike (including the fort tour), you reach a trail intersection.  The Elliott Coues Nature Trail turns left, and we will go that way eventually.  First turn right to hike the short Yarrow Trail.

Beach on Intracoastal Waterway

            Quickly you reach the white sand beach that borders Fort Macon Creek and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.  Most of this hike stays along the Atlantic Ocean side of this barrier island, and this is your only real view from the inland side.  After taking in this view, retrace your steps to the Elliott Coues Nature Trail, and continue straight to begin heading south with the active coast guard station on your right.  Some swamp rose mallow was in full bloom when I hiked here on a wet mid-September morning.

Swamp rose mallow

            At 0.8 miles, the trail curves right and crosses the entrance road for the coast guard station.  After re-entering the woods, the next segment of trail passes through the area's best salt marshes.  Some wooden bridges get you over the wetland, and some side trails exit right to wetland wildlife viewing areas.  A light rain starting soaking me when I got to this area, but still I saw a flock of herons, an egret, and some cardinals in the salt marsh.

Salt marsh

            2 miles into the hike, the trail curves left to cross busy SR 58.  Ignore the Atlantic Beach Connector Path as it exits right, and at 2.2 miles you pass beside the park's beach parking lot.  While you can also access the beach from the fort parking lot where this hike started, the picnic shelters near this parking lot make nice places to sit, rest, and rehydrate near the midpoint of this hike.  In my case, they also made nice shelters from the rain.

Hiking the loop's south arm

            The return/south arm of the loop takes you on a rolling course over sand dunes and into sand swales that alternates between open sandy areas and dense groves of cedar trees.  The gravel trail surface provides mostly good footing, but the traffic noise from nearby SR 58 on the left becomes annoying.  At 2.7 miles, the ocean first comes into view ahead and to the right as you top a dune, and soon the flag at Fort Macon comes into view across the dunes to the left.

Battery Commander Fire Control Station ruins

Ocean view from the ruins

            At 3.2 miles, you reach a short spur trail that exits right.  Following this trail steeply uphill leads to the ruins of one of the concrete World War II-era Battery Commander Fire Control Stations that was used to patrol for German U-boats off the coast.  Interpretive signs describe the history of the station, and the dune-top location provides the best Atlantic Ocean view on this hike.

Looking up at Fort Macon

            Back on the main loop, the balance of the hike passes through the strip of grassy sand dunes between the ocean on the right and the park road on the left.  As Fort Macon gets closer, the fort's construction becomes obvious based on how much you have to elevate your sight lines to see the fort and its cannons.  Just past 3.6 miles, the trail deposits you at the south end of the main fort parking lot, and only a walk across the large lot remains to finish this hike.

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park: Lake/Old Wagon Path Loop (Blog Hike #1080)

Trails: Lake Trail, Old Wagon Path, and connecting trails
Hike Location: Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
Geographic Location: southeast of Goldsboro, NC (35.23736, -77.88713)
Length: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A loop hike first around the park's swimming lake and then to the park's signature overlook.
Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/cliffs-neuse-state-park
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 70 and SR 111 on the east side of Goldsboro, take SR 111 south 8.4 miles to Park Entrance Road and turn left on Park Entrance Rd.  Aptly-named Park Entrance Rd. dead-ends at the park entrance.  Turn right at the first park road intersection to head for the Lake Area, and park in the large paved parking lot for the Lake Area.  The hike starts at the far end of this parking lot.

The hike: You might expect that a North Carolina state park with "Cliffs" in its name would be located in the rugged mountains of the state's west, but such is not the case with Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.  Cliffs of the Neuse State Park protects 1097 acres on the south/west side of the Neuse River, which begins near Durham and flows southeast for 275 miles before flowing into Pamlico Sound.  Near the midpoint of its course, the river passes under some interesting 90-foot limestone and sandstone cliffs, which were formed by erosion of an ancient fault.

            The riverside cliffs form the centerpiece of Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, which came to be due to a land donation from Lionel Weil via the Wayne Foundation in 1945.  The park features a small lake for fishing and swimming, a cozy 30-site campground, and 7 hiking trails totaling 5 miles.  The hike described here uses 2 of those trails plus some connector trails.  While it is not the longest possible hike at this park, it passes the lake and the cliffs, thus taking you to the park's 2 most popular attractions.

Main trailhead at Lake Area parking lot

            From the far/east side of the large parking area, follow the sign that says "trails" as the wide dirt/gravel trail heads into the woods with the park's swimming lake out of sight through the trees downhill and to the right.  Ignore a side trail that exits left as the main trail makes a sweeping right curve and heads moderately downhill.  At the bottom of the hill, you reach a trail intersection.  Angle softly left to walk across the dam that forms the swimming lake.  Enjoy the lake view to the right: it is the only clear view of the lake you will get on this hike.

Swim Lake

            At 0.25 miles, you cross a bridge at the south end of the dam and reach another trail intersection.  This trail intersection is the official start of the Lake Trail, and all of the trails you have hiked so far are officially connector trails.  Angle right to begin following the Lake Trail's yellow diamond plastic markers.

Hiking the Lake Trail

            The Lake Trail embarks on a gently undulating southwest course on a wide singletrack sandy dirt treadway.  The lake to the right can barely be seen through the trees.  The forest is a nice mix of broadleaf and pine trees, and some large beautiful beech trees live in this forest.

Still hiking the Lake Trail

            0.7 miles into the hike, you pass through a swale that contains a feeder stream of Swim Lake.  More gentle undulations and meandering come next, and at times the trail seems to be going in random directions and randomly up-and-down; keep following the yellow plastic diamonds.  At 1.3 miles, you cross an old road as the trail traces around numerous small and gradual ravines.

Lake Trail's end at Visitor Center

            At 1.7 miles, you come out at the Visitor Center parking lot, where the Lake Trail ends.  To continue this hike, turn left and cross the park entrance road, following signs for the Longleaf Trail and the Old Wagon Path.  Just after crossing the road, turn right to begin the Old Wagon Path.  Note that the Longleaf Trail offers a longer route to the main clifftop overlook we are heading to, but I did this hike on a warm Sunday afternoon when I was feeling sick and thus opted for the shorter and easier route.

Old Wagon Path

            The Old Wagon Path is a nearly straight, nearly flat wide sandy dirt trail that parallels the park entrance road for its entire distance.  While this trail does not make for the most inspiring hiking, it is far better than walking along the park road.  At 2.2 miles, you reach the Old Wagon Path's east end at the overlook parking lot.  Walk across the parking lot to reach the main clifftop overlook.

Clifftop overlook

            This overlook may offer the best non-ocean view in the entire North Carolina coastal plain.  The wide Neuse River curves to the base of the cliff below, and wooded land extends as far as the eye can see.  The narrow sandy beach on the other side of the river looks inviting, but there is no way to access it from here.  Some benches atop the cliff invite you to sit, rest, and admire the view.

Hiking the final connector trail

            All that remains of this hike is to get back to the lake parking area, but there is no direct trail that takes you there.  To begin the journey, walk back to the overlook parking lot, then start walking out the park road that accesses this parking lot; do not retrace your steps on the Old Wagon Path.  Turn left on the second trail that exits left; the first trail going left is a two-track dirt road that leads to the river bank.  Hike the unmarked connector past a picnic shelter and through a shallow ravine to return to the lake parking area and complete the hike.

Raven Rock State Park: Raven Rock Loop Trail (Blog Hike #1079; Golden Staff Hike)

Trail: Raven Rock Loop Trail
Hike Location: Raven Rock State Park
Geographic Location: west of Lillington, NC (35.46188, -78.91150)
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A loop hike, mostly easy but with 1 long set of wooden stairs. 
Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/raven-rock-state-park
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: From Lillington, take US 421 west 6.2 miles to Raven Rock Road and turn right on Raven Rock Rd.  Raven Rock Rd. deadends at the park entrance in 3.3 miles.  Park in the large parking lot for the Raven Rock Loop Trail on the right just after you enter the park or in any of the lots near the Visitor Center.

The hike: Originally named Patterson's Rock after an early settler who found refuge here when his canoe capsized, Raven Rock stretches for a mile and towers up to 150 feet above the Cape Fear River.  The rock is located 40 miles southwest of Raleigh on the geological boundary between the Piedmont to the west and the coastal plain to the east.  Raven Rock is part of the Piedmont's erosion-resistant rocks, and it became exposed when the softer rock and sediment of the coastal plain eroded away.  The rock became the centerpiece of 4667-acre Raven Rock State Park in 1969 due to an act of the North Carolina General Assembly.

            Raven Rock State Park is light on amenities, but it does feature a cozy 24-site developed campground, some picnic areas, and paddling on the Cape Fear River.  This park's main attraction is its trails, of which it has many that total 26 miles of hiking, 13.5 miles of mountain biking, and 8 miles of horseback riding.  The park's signature hiking trail is the popular Raven Rock Loop Trail, which is the trail described here.  Not only does this trail take you to Raven Rock, but it also passes a scenic river overlook and takes you through some nice Piedmont forest.

Start of Raven Rock Loop Trail

            The Raven Rock Loop Trail forms a true loop, and this description goes clockwise around the loop by heading north from the northwest corner of the large trailhead parking lot.  The Raven Rock Loop Trail is marked with orange plastic circles, and the abundant trail markings combined with the wide, well-worn path makes it difficult to lose your way.  The initial segment of trail seems to follow an old road as it gradually descends through the usual Piedmont mixture of pine and broadleaf trees.

Descending gradually on Raven Rock Loop Trail

            Just shy of 0.4 miles, you reach a trail intersection.  The Fish Traps and Northington Ferry Trails continue straight, and both of those trails head for the Cape Fear River.  Our trail turns right to stay atop the bluff; watch for the orange circles.

Cape Fear River overlook

            At 0.85 miles, you reach the point the trail map calls "Overlook."  This point indeed stands atop a cliff roughly 100 feet above the Cape Fear River, but the trees have sufficiently grown up so that only a sliver of the river can be seen.  Past the overlook, the trail continues east, and soon you reach the first noticeable elevation change: a downgrade that uses some wooden steps built into the ground.

Stairs at base of Raven Rock

            1.2 miles into the hike, you reach the trail intersection at the top of Raven Rock.  The loop trail continues to the right, and we will go that way eventually.  First turn left and descend a long wooden staircase to reach the base of Raven Rock.  You should go both left and right on the short exploratory trail at the bottom of the stairs, as interesting sights can be seen each direction.  To the left is a large rock shelter, and to the right is where Raven Rock meets the Cape Fear River.  This area was popular when I came here on a Saturday morning in mid-September.  Take your time and see all there is to see.

Raven Rock and Cape Fear River

Rock shelter in Raven Rock

            Climb back up the stairs, then continue straight to continue the Raven Rock Loop Trail.  The two ends of the Little Creek Trail exit left in quick order, and you could add that 1.5 mile loop if you wanted to extend the hike.  I had a football game to attend that afternoon, so I stayed on the Raven Rock Loop Trail.

Hiking near Little Creek

            The next segment of trail stays near Little Creek.  A decent amount of rhododendron grows here, and I heard a woodpecker searching for lunch in a tree.  A gradual climb that gains 100 feet over 0.25 miles returns you to the trailhead elevation at 2.3 miles.  Ignore the short American Beech Trail that exits left, and return to the parking lot at 2.5 miles.

Stevens Creek Nature Center and Preserve in Charlotte, NC (Blog Hike #1009)

Trails: Stevens Creek, Heelsplitter, Quartz, and Sawmill Trails
Hike Location: Stevens Creek Nature Center and Preserve
Geographic Location: east side of Charlotte, NC (35.14244, -80.64475)
Length: 3.9 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2024
Overview: A figure-eight route featuring restored wetlands along Stevens Creek.
Park Information: https://parkandrec.mecknc.gov/Places-to-Visit/Nature/stevens-creek-nature-center-and-preserve
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=957890
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: On the east side of Charlotte, take I-485 to Lawyers Road (exit 47).  Exit and go north on Lawyers Rd.  At 0.8 miles, take the second exit from the traffic circle to continue on Lawyers Rd., then almost immediately turn left on Thomson Road.  Drive Thomson Rd. south 0.8 miles to the signed Nature Center entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the preserve, and park in the large parking lot in front of the Nature Center building.

The hike: Purchased by Mecklenburg County in 2001, Stevens Creek Nature Center and Preserve is the newest of the 4 nature preserves owned and operated by Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.  The preserve protects 2 miles of Stevens Creek, which features an extensive wetland that was rebuilt a few years ago in an expensive and time-consuming restoration.  Most of this land was logged and/or farmed before 2001, and this preserve still has its youthful rough-around-the-edges feel.  It will be fun to watch this forest and wetland mature over the next few decades.

            In terms of amenities, the preserve features only a nature center and 4 hiking trails.  The 4 trails form a figure-eight route with the nature center at the north end of the northern lobe.  Thus, it makes sense to combine all 4 trails into a single figure-eight hike, and such is the hike described here.

Trailhead at nature center

            From the nature center, head south on the concrete trail that passes the main information board.  This ADA-accessible path leads to Stevens Creek, and it serves as an entrance trail for the entire trail system.  After about 1000 feet, the concrete turns to elevated boardwalk as you enter the Stevens Creek wetland.  The trees and grasses planted here during the restoration are not yet fully established, and therefore it still looks and feels like a young wetland.  Also, wildlife was not particularly plentiful when I came here, so hopefully more fauna will call this wetland home in the future.

Restored wetland

            On the south side of the wetland, the trail surface turns to dirt, which it will remain for the rest of the trail system.  You are now on the Heelsplitter Trail, which is marked with orange squares painted on trees.  This trail is named for the Carolina Heelsplitter, an endangered freshwater mussel naturalists hope to introduce to this park's wetland in the future.

Hiking the Heelsplitter Trail

            The next 1.6 miles is a very gradual and rolling climb: the trail has a net gain of about 100 feet of elevation over that span.  Where the Sawmill Trail exits left or the Quartz Trail exits right, stay with the orange squares to remain on the Heelsplitter Trail; we will use the other two trails on our return route.  The forest here has the typical Piedmont mix of beech, pine, hickory, and sweet gum.  I-485 forms this park's southern boundary, and while the forest and hills filter out some of the noise, highway sounds are your near constant companion on this hike.

Starting the Quartz Trail

            1.9 miles into the hike, you reach the Heelsplitter Trail's south end at a junction with the Quartz Trail, which goes right and left.  The trail going left leads to a secondary parking area on Hooks Road, so you want to turn right to begin your return route.  The initial segment of the Quartz Trail follows a power line corridor, and I had to navigate a few muddy areas when I hiked here on a warm afternoon in early March.

            After curving right to leave the power line corridor, the trail passes some small exposed quartz veins that give this trail its name.  At 2.4 miles, you reach a stack of bricks, all that remains of an old homesite.  Some daffodils growing here were just getting ready to bloom on my visit.

Old homesite

            Just past 2.5 miles, you reach the north end of the Quartz Trail at an intersection with the Heelsplitter Trail.  You walked through this intersection about a half hour ago: this intersection closes the south lobe of the figure eight.  Turn left to begin retracing your steps on the Heelsplitter Trail, then at the next intersection angle right to begin the Sawmill Trail.  One of several nice benches sits at this intersection, providing ample opportunity to rest, rehydrate, and have a trail snack.

Hiking the Sawmill Trail

            The Sawmill Trail travels through a stand of young forest with skinny dense trees.  This land was cleared not too long ago, and while there is no evidence of a sawmill on this property, the adjacent town of Mint Hill had many sawmills in the 1900's.  At 3.3 miles, you reach the north end of the Sawmill Trail at yet another intersection with the Heelsplitter Trail you passed through before.  This intersection closes the north lobe of the figure eight.  Turn right to retrace your steps to and across the wetland to return to the nature center and complete the hike.