Explore the best rated trails in Shelby, NC. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Highland Rail Trail and Croft Passage (Palmetto Trail). With more than 52 trails covering 137 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Highland Rail Trail is named for the neighborhood that it runs adjacent to as it travels through Gastonia along the former Carolina and Northwestern (C&NW) Railway. Although short, it offers an...
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The Three Creeks Trail adds about a mile to Spartanburg's growing network of trails, christened the Daniel Morgan Trail System or "The Dan" for short. The 10-ft wide paved trail stretches between...
Take a trip down memory lane by strolling or cycling the Charlotte Rail Trail, which follows a historic trolley route through the heart of the city along a corridor now used by Charlotte's LYNX Blue...
The Irwin Creek and Stewart Creek Greenways cover 2 miles of trail alongside their namesake creeks in Charlotte's city center. The Irwin Creek Greenway begins at Ray's Splash Planet and travels...
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Note: Due to the recent flooding, the Advance America Bridge along the Croft Passage has been washed away. The bridge was located between the southern trailhead and mile marker 1 and crossed over...
On the southern outskirts of Charlotte, a series of connected greeways along creeks form a horseshoe-shaped path of nearly 6 miles. The pathway is primarily paved with wooden boardwalks over creeks...
The paved, 3.62-mile Point Lookout Trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 route through the Royal Gorge, once known at the Central Highway, through the Pisgah National Forest. The trail ascends more...
Antiquity Greenway is a half-mile segment of Cornelius, NC's growing collection of multiuse paths. The paved trail begins on Zion Drive in downtown Cornelius and winds its way northeast towards the...
The Piedmont Medical Center Trail (formerly the Riverwalk Trail) stretches just over 3 miles through Rock Hill near the border between North and South Carolina. The route is part of the Carolina...
The Little Sugar Creek Greenway, part of the Carolina Thread Trail, runs along eastern Charlotte and will one day stretch more than 15 miles down to the Catawba River in neighboring South Carolina....
Constructed in 1981 as the city of Spartanburg's first mixed-use trail, the River Birch Trail was in rough shape, with vegetation overgrowing the route and the surface cracked and failing, until the...
Located in the quiet, rural outskirts of Spartanburg, SC, the Glendale Shoals Trail provides a lovely path for visitors to explore some of the natural beauty of the area. The natural-surface trail...
The Heritage Trail Greenway is a multiuse path in Newton, North Carolina. The first two phases of the trail are complete, stretching 1.5 miles from West 7th Street, winding through the wooded...
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A natural-surface trail that runs through the gorgeous Edwin M. Griffin Preserve just outside the center of Spartanburg, the Cottonwood Trail offers a lovely path into the wooded landscape surrounding...
Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...
In northern South Carolina, only about 30 miles southwest of Charlotte, lies the quaint city of York. A paved bicycle trail runs through the heart of the community from its city park to its recreation...
This trail follows alongside the West Branch of the Rocky River in Davidson, NC and is a part of the Carolina Thread trails complex. The greenway offers a refreshing walk or ride into nature, passing...
The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial...
As its name suggests, this multiuse path travels along the South Prong of the Rocky River in Davidson, Mecklenburg County. There are two complete off-street segments, totaling 1.7 miles, that are...
The Purple Martin Greenway provides a beautiful community amenity in Rutherfordton. The quaint western North Carolina town was established in 1787 and has many buildings on the National Register of...
The Pacolet Nature Trail is a paved trail in the quiet rural community of Pacolet, located along the banks of the Pacolet River. The trail matches the sleepy nature of the town, providing trail users...
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Notice: As at September 2020, River Park has been closed temporarily for capital improvements. There is no entry or exit from the trail from this access point. Please use the Celriver Access point...
Beginning less than half a mile from downtown, the Bessemer City Park Trail offers a quiet natural retreat. The 1.3-mile route begins at the basketball court in Bessemer City Park and quickly dives...
Briar Creek Greenway will one day stretch 6 miles through Charlotte and connect to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Currently, the trail is open in two disconnected segments totaling 1.4 miles. The...
Caldwell Station Creek Greenway is 2.6 miles of walking and biking trails through the woods and wetlands of Cornelius. The trail is a local treasure, popular with locals for a workout in nature, as...
Torrence Creek Greenway offers a pleasant route through meadows, woodlands, and wetlands south of Huntersville. Along the paved, 1.4-mile route, the trail offers many points to access the surrounding...
As its name suggests, this multiuse path travels along the South Prong of the Rocky River in Davidson, Mecklenburg County. There are two complete off-street segments, totaling 1.7 miles, that are...
About 12 miles north of Charlotte, the McDowell Creek Greenway links the communities of Huntersville and Cornelius. The paved, mile-and-a-half route is part of the larger Carolina Thread Trail, a...
The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the...
The Wetland Trail is a .4-mile meander through River Park toward the Catawba River. Beginning by the segment of Quality Circle that starts as Keith Drive, the trail continues as an elevated boardwalk...
The Irwin Creek and Stewart Creek Greenways cover 2 miles of trail alongside their namesake creeks in Charlotte's city center. The Irwin Creek Greenway begins at Ray's Splash Planet and travels...
Note: Due to the recent flooding, the Advance America Bridge along the Croft Passage has been washed away. The bridge was located between the southern trailhead and mile marker 1 and crossed over...
This multi-use path follows the south side of Southport Road, from Cedar Springs Road heading west to South Avenue. It passes the 295 Sports Complex, a DMV office and a water treatment plant before...
As you might expect, the South Fork Rail-Trail closely follows the South Fork of the Catawba River on the south end of Lincolnton. The trail rests atop a former rail corridor within land preserved by...
Antiquity Greenway is a half-mile segment of Cornelius, NC's growing collection of multiuse paths. The paved trail begins on Zion Drive in downtown Cornelius and winds its way northeast towards the...
Take a trip down memory lane by strolling or cycling the Charlotte Rail Trail, which follows a historic trolley route through the heart of the city along a corridor now used by Charlotte's LYNX Blue...
The Piedmont Medical Center Trail (formerly the Riverwalk Trail) stretches just over 3 miles through Rock Hill near the border between North and South Carolina. The route is part of the Carolina...
Located in the quiet, rural outskirts of Spartanburg, SC, the Glendale Shoals Trail provides a lovely path for visitors to explore some of the natural beauty of the area. The natural-surface trail...
The Little Sugar Creek Greenway, part of the Carolina Thread Trail, runs along eastern Charlotte and will one day stretch more than 15 miles down to the Catawba River in neighboring South Carolina....
If you enjoy rail-trails that flaunt their railroading past, you're sure to love the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. The trail begins in Gilkey, and a recent extension takes it over 13 miles southeast to...
This trail follows alongside the West Branch of the Rocky River in Davidson, NC and is a part of the Carolina Thread trails complex. The greenway offers a refreshing walk or ride into nature, passing...
This multi-use path follows the south side of Southport Road, from Cedar Springs Road heading west to South Avenue. It passes the 295 Sports Complex, a DMV office and a water treatment plant before...
The City of Lenoir Greenway is a system of several loops and endpoints meandering through an urban landscape of parks and open areas, recreation centers, the library and wooded tracts. For more...
As you might expect, the South Fork Rail-Trail closely follows the South Fork of the Catawba River on the south end of Lincolnton. The trail rests atop a former rail corridor within land preserved by...
As its name suggests, this multiuse path travels along the South Prong of the Rocky River in Davidson, Mecklenburg County. There are two complete off-street segments, totaling 1.7 miles, that are...
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Note: USC Upstate Passage is now open from the Rampey Center Trailhead to where it meets the Hub City Passage. The North Loop is still closed while under restoration. The USC Upstate Passage is...
About 12 miles north of Charlotte, the McDowell Creek Greenway links the communities of Huntersville and Cornelius. The paved, mile-and-a-half route is part of the larger Carolina Thread Trail, a...
Statesville’s greenway system is still a collection of unlinked segments, but there are plans in place to build a truly connected non-motorized path network. Today, the discrete sections offer a...
If you enjoy rail-trails that flaunt their railroading past, you're sure to love the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. The trail begins in Gilkey, and a recent extension takes it over 13 miles southeast to...
Part of an expansive revitalization effort that the city of Spartanburg has undertaken to improve the economic and ecological well-being of the Northside neighborhood, the Butterfly Branch Greenway...
Torrence Creek Greenway offers a pleasant route through meadows, woodlands, and wetlands south of Huntersville. Along the paved, 1.4-mile route, the trail offers many points to access the surrounding...
Highland Rail Trail is named for the neighborhood that it runs adjacent to as it travels through Gastonia along the former Carolina and Northwestern (C&NW) Railway. Although short, it offers an...
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This unique trail runs through the campus of the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind and features interpretive signs in Braille that teach trail-goers about the types of trees along the route. The...
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The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass...
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The Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail is just a short segment of what will eventually become the 12-mile Hub City Connector, which itself will be part of the larger Palmetto Trail, a proposed 425-mile...
The Waterford Trail is a 1.5-mile segment of the Carolina Thread Trail, a system of trails and greenways in the Carolinas. Beginning by the River Park kayak/canoe launch, the wooded trail meanders...
The first phase of this rail trail opened in April 2017 and provides safe and convenient pedestrian access to Lyman’s commercial center. While it is new, it is already fairly well-used. The trail...
A natural-surface trail that runs through the gorgeous Edwin M. Griffin Preserve just outside the center of Spartanburg, the Cottonwood Trail offers a lovely path into the wooded landscape surrounding...
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Note: Lower Drayton Mills Trail is currently closed for construction, but Upper Drayton Mills Trail is open. Meandering around and through the City of Spartanburg's eastside, the Drayton Mills...
The Wetland Trail is a .4-mile meander through River Park toward the Catawba River. Beginning by the segment of Quality Circle that starts as Keith Drive, the trail continues as an elevated boardwalk...
The River Birch trail is a welcome addition to the Daniel Morgan trail system. Currently about a mile long from the bridge on Sydnor to the bridge on East Main Street. Will eventually connect to a section currently under construction through Whites Mill neighborhood. This will connect the River Birch trail to Drayton, essentially tripling the amount of trail and greatly increasing pedestrian and bike access.
Is Spindale a great name for a trailhead town or what? We started there, went south to Forest City, then all the way north to Gilkey, finishing back in Spindale. This gave us the shady north section coming and going in the hottest part of the day. The nicest things about this trail were all the people who were using it, and the variety of people enjoying it. One of the smoothest trails I have ever ridden.
The trail has been extended a little and is now four (4) miles round trip. It’s pretty level so it’s easy to walk, and wide enough for people to pass each other going the opposite direction. It runs along the South Fork River and has a couple of small dams along the way for possible photo opportunities. Definitely relaxing as the trail is mostly surrounded by trees and nature, and there are several benches along the trail if you need to take a break. It is a natural trail, but has some gravel in a few spots to prevent it from washing out. I’ve seen some people riding mountain bikes on it too. I would definitely recommend this trail to get some exercise, walk your dog (best friend), and enjoy nature.
I’m just getting back into bike riding and this was the first place I rode. Beautifully paved trails with only slight inclines. Definitely recommend checking this place out.
Great smooth wide trail. 5 big stars for trail condition. This is definitely more of an "urban trail", so those seeking nature will not be very pleased. Although the south end and north end is wooded, most of the trail is along a highway and then through a couple small towns. Very easy pleasant ride, with only a couple "dangerous" road crossings....(a couple of them are a bit blind).
Drove up to Spindale, NC from Greenville, SC to ride the Thermal Belt Trail. Well worth the drive! Rode from mile 9 up to mile 0, then back. Nice combination of urban and rural. Especially enjoyed the Bechtler Mint park around mile 2. Will definitely be back, and will ride all of it.
First trail run of my NC citizenship and it was awesome. All paved, beautiful day and beautiful scenery. Will definitely be back. All uphill followed by all downhill. 7.1 round trip.
Their is a wide concrete side walk to and down Bailey Road to the high school. At that point there is a cross walk that connects to the Greenway to Davidson and Antiquity.
This is a nice ride through the woods. I rode it mid day on a week day lots of walkers .
Real scenic. Steady rise. Just the right distance to and from.
The new extension from Westmoreland to Magnolia Ridge (By Publix) is a great addition.
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