Find the top rated horseback riding trails in Gastonia, whether you're looking for an easy short horseback riding trail or a long horseback riding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a horseback riding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Road 10 miles of this trail from the Gilky trailhead down into Forest City. Thoroughly enjoyed it – what a well done project especially the upper half where you can ride for miles without stopping. It was a cool overcast Sunday afternoon so not many people out and about, but frequent benches and areas to rest, especially in the lower half. Would highly recommend.
Very nice paved railway with several different places to enter / exit. Lots of walkers, joggers and bikers with families and dogs. Unfortunately several parts are still closed off due to the damage from Hurricane Helene flooding with repairs underway. Would still highly recommend!
We visited Biltmore yesterday, stayed the night in Asheville, then drove nearly an hour to this trail and glad we did. The trail is well maintained with clear markings. Only a few small areas were raised or bumpy and those were clearly marked with bright red spray paint. We wish all paved trails were in this good of condition! Rene’ and Greg
The ride was okay
I tried three different locations to park and get on this trail. The very end as mentioned on this ABP gas station which shows an access trail which is very overgrown and the James Ross wildlife rehab which this app states there’s parking. None of which worked I do not recommend attempting to access this trail from York, South Carolina Carolina.
While I do not have firsthand knowledge of this trail, I learned from conversations with local residents that, except for portions of the trail in York, SC, much of the corridor is currently overgrown and undeveloped. A review of Google Maps satellite imagery appears to support those observations.
That is unfortunate, as the region would greatly benefit from a longer rail trail connecting communities and providing additional recreational opportunities. Hopefully, future development efforts will bring more of this historic rail corridor back into public use.
The suspension bridge is now fully repaired. The trail is in good condition. Wish there were trees around the parking lot for shade.
The *Emerald Necklace* is an effort to link greenways and local streets into a continuous loop through the northern part of Mecklenburg County, primarily around Cornelius and Davidson. The concept is excellent—creating a connected network for cyclists and walkers—but the current experience is a mix of enjoyable greenway riding and more challenging on-road navigation. Your enjoyment will largely depend on your comfort level riding on streets. At some point in the future, the western portion of the system is expected to connect with a greenway extending to Huntersville.
Riders should be prepared for sections that transition onto streets, some of which are busy or narrow. There are also several crossings at high-traffic intersections that require caution. Currently, connecting the eastern and western portions of the Necklace requires riding along very busy Catawba Avenue or Sam Furr Road, which may be uncomfortable for some cyclists.
To make the experience more enjoyable, we’ve found it best to ride the Necklace in sections rather than attempting the full loop at once, thereby avoiding some of the more difficult road segments. Signage and naming can also be confusing—for example, the trail beginning at Shearer Road is referred to by different names on various maps, making navigation less intuitive. And the signs on the street along this route and small and easy to miss.
On our most recent outing, we completed an out-and-back ride on the South Prong Rocky River Greenway, traveling from Shearer Road to the River Run Athletic Field. Much of this segment follows neighborhood streets rather than a dedicated greenway. While the River Run area is quite lovely, the bike lanes are in need of repainting, and signage directing riders from one street to another is minimal or nonexistent.
Parking is available at various points along the route, but locating access points can be challenging. It is helpful to download a trail map in advance:
[https://www.carolinathreadtrailmap.org/trails/trail/south-prong-rocky-river-greenway]
The terrain in this section is notably hilly, adding an extra level of challenge to the ride.
**Overall:**
A promising and scenic concept that still needs improved signage, clearer mapping, and safer, more consistent bike infrastructure to fully realize its potential.
The 5-star reviews likely refer to the paved section at the Kings Mountain trailhead, which is an easy to moderate ride with a couple of hills and excellent amenities (restrooms, water, picnic tables). The town of Kings Mountain has done a great job maintaining this portion of the trail
The Foote Trail, however, is very challenging and I would not recommend it for biking. The surface is large, loose gravel, and diagonal railroad ties on the slopped portions make maintaining momentum difficult. The steep, rocky section along I-85 was especially tough—we had to walk our e-bikes both downhill and uphill.
Once you reach the bridge over the interstate, the trail improves significantly, becoming level with finely crushed gravel and very enjoyable to ride. The trail ends at Gilead Church Road, where there are no amenities.
Recommendation: Stick to the paved trail and the section south of I-85; skip the Foote Trail for biking.
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