SPORTS & RECREATION / PARKS & NATURAL AREAS
National Parks & Preserves
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian Trail Conference
Harpers Ferry 304-535-6278
https://www.nps.gov/appa
https://appalachiantrail.org/
Hikers can enjoy more than 2,160 miles of spectacular scenery on this footpath across the ridge crests and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in north Georgia.
Blue Ridge Parkway
199 Hemphill Knob Road
Asheville 828-298-3400
https://www.nps.gov/blri
Often ranked as America’s most scenic drive, the parkway commands stunning views of southern Appalachian Mountains as it travels 469 miles and connects Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks.
Carl Sandburg Home
81 Carl Sandburg Lane
Flat Rock 828-693-4178
https://www.nps.gov/carl
Few icons are more revered than two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Sandburg. This home and farm includes miles of hiking trails.
Great Smokey Mountains
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 865-436-1200
https://www.nps.gov/grsm
Ridge upon ridge of endless forest graces the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in one of the largest protected areas in the East, offering more than 800 miles of trails.
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
2332 New Garden Road
Greensboro 336-288-1776
https://www.nps.gov/guco
The battle fought on this ground in 1781 was the largest and most fiercely contested action of the Southern Campaign in the Revolutionary War.
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
5770 US Highway 52 North
Wadesboro 704-694-4424
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pee_dee
Enjoy trails, auto tour routes, fishing, an observatory, and nature study of amazing wildlife diversity from birds and fish to amphibians and mammals.
Pisgah National Forest
1600 Pisgah Highway
Nebo 828-877-3265
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48114
\Offering spectacular, rugged mountain scenery and some of the best recreational opportunities in the nation, the forest covers large portions of the western mountains in North Carolina. This expanse encompasses the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.
North Carolina State Resources
North Carolina Division of
Environment & Natural Resources
877-623-6748
Parks and Recreation
919-733-4181
Aquariums
919-733-2290
https://www.ncaquariums.com
Environmental Education
919-733-0711
http://deq.nc.gov/
Forest Resources
919-733-2162
http://deq.nc.gov/
Regional State Parks
Crowders Mountain
522 Park Office Lane
Kings Mountain 704-853-5375
https://www.ncparks.gov
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
280 State Park Road
Apex 919-362-0586
https://www.ncparks.gov
Lake James State Park
6883 NC Highway 126
Nebo 828-584-7728
https://www.ncparks.gov
Lake Norman State Park
759 State Park Road
Troutman 704-528-6350
https://www.ncparks.gov
Morrow Mountain State Park
49104 Morrow Mountain Road
Albemarle 704-982-4402
https://www.ncparks.gov
Mount Mitchell State Park
2388 State Highway 128
Burnsville 828-675-4611
https://www.ncparks.gov
South Mountains State Park
3001 S. Mountain State Park Avenue
Connelly Springs 828-433-4772
https://www.ncparks.gov
Popular Recreation Areas
Bakers Mountain Park
6680 Bakers Mountain Road
Hickory 828-324-8461
https://www.catawbacountync.gov
Burke Memorial Park
Burke Memorial Park Road
Morganton 828-437-0624
https://www.morgantonnc.gov
Camp T. N. Spencer Park
3155 Foxford Road
Concord 704-795-4492
https://cabarruscounty.us/
Cane Creek Park
5213 Harkey Road
Waxhaw 704-843-3919
https://www.unioncountync.gov/government/departments-f-p/parks-recreation/cane-creek-park
Cannon Park
600 Park Avenue
Salisbury 704-638-5291
https://salisburync.gov/
Catawba River Greenway Park
Greenlee Ford Road
Morganton 828-438-5350
https://www.morgantonnc.gov
Colonel Francis Beatty Park
4330 Weddington Road
Charlotte 704-643-5725
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Dan Nicholas Park & Nature Center
6800 Bringle Ferry Road
Salisbury 704-216-7803
https://www.rowancountync.gov
Ellis Park
3541 Old Mocksville Road
Salisbury 704-216-7783
https://www.rowancountync.gov
Frank Liske Park & Soccer Complex
4001 Stough Road
Concord 704-920-2701
https://cabarruscounty.us/
Freedom Park
1900 East Boulevard
Charlotte 704-432-4280
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Henry Fork River Regional Recreation Park
5655 Sweet Bay Lane
Hickory 828-322-7046
Hornets Nest Park
6301 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte 980-314-1000
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Hurley Park
Annandale Avenue
Salisbury 704-638-4481
https://www.rowancountync.gov
Independence Park
300 Hawthorne Lane
Charlotte 704-432-4280
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Jetton Park
19000 Jetton Road
Cornelius 704-896-9808
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Kelsey-Scott Park
1920 Old Wilkesboro Road
Salisbury 704-638-5291
https://salisburync.gov/
McAlpine Creek Park
8711 Monroe Road
Charlotte 704-568-4044
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
McGalliard Falls Park
1400 Falls Road
Valdese 828-879-2132
https://www.townofvaldese.com
Nevin Community Park
6000 Statesville Road
Charlotte 980-314-1001
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
North Cabarrus Park
760 Orphanage Road
Concord 704-782-5603
https://cabarruscounty.us/
Ramsey Creek Park on Lake Norman
18441 Nantz Road
Cornelius 704-892-7852
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Renaissance Park
1200 West Tyvola Road
Charlotte 704-529-3273
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Riverbend Park
6700 NC Highway 16 North
Conover 828-256-9157
https://www.catawbacountync.gov
Salisbury Community Park & Athletic Complex
935 Hurley School Road
Salisbury 704-636-2089
https://salisburync.gov/
Shelby City Park
901 West Sumter Street
Shelby 704-484-6821
https://www.cityofshelby.com
Sloan Park
550 Sloan Road
Mt. Ulla 704-637-7776
https://www.rowancountync.gov
Sugaw Creek Park
943 West Sugar Creek Road
Charlotte 980-314-1001
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
Charlotte 703-391-3900
https://whitewater.org/
William R. Davie Park
4635 Pineville-Matthews Road
Charlotte 704-554-0402
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Gardens & Nature Centers
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road
Huntersville 704-875-6521
https://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org
Catawba College Ecological Preserve
2300 W. Innes Street
Salisbury 800-CATAWBA
https://catawba.edu/academics/programs/undergraduate/environment-and-sustainability/
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road
Belmont 704-825-4490
https://www.dsbg.org
Eagle Point Nature Preserve
665 Black Road
Salisbury 704-636-2089
https://www.rowancountync.gov
Latta Plantation Nature Center & Preserve
6211 Sample Road
Charlotte 704-875-1391
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Linville Caverns
19929 US 221 North
Marion 800-419-0540
https://www.linvillecaverns.com
McDowell Nature Center & Preserve
15222 York Road
Charlotte 704-588-5224
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Memorial Garden
50 Spring Street
Concord 704-782-6106
https://www.visitcabarrus.com/listings/memorial-gardens/
Reedy Creek Park & Nature Preserve
2900 Rocky River Road
Charlotte 980-314-1119
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Ribbonwalk, Charlotte’s Botanical Forest
4601 Nevin Road
Charlotte 704-432-6459
https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks
Rowan Nature & Learning Center
6800 Bringle Ferry Road
Salisbury 704-216-7803
https://www.rowancountync.gov
The Tropics Exotic Bird Refuge
2401 Woodsdale Street
Kannapolis 704-280-5112
https://www.parrotrefuge.com
UNC-Charlotte Botanical Gardens
University of North Carolina
9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte 704-687-2364
https://gardens.charlotte.edu/
Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary
248 Ridgewood Avenue
Charlotte 704-331-0664
https://winghavengardens.org/
