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North Carolina's central region is home to our state's biggest cities and plenty of hustle and bustle. But beyond the interstates and business parks, you can explore this area's history and natural wonders on a variety of hiking trails, from urban and paved to remote and strenuous.
1 Crowders Mountain State Park
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1 Crowders Mountain State Park
Kings MountainSee on map
About a half hour west of Charlotte, you can hike more than 20 miles of trails that pass sheer cliffs and sheer rock at Crowders Mountain State Park. The 6-mile Ridgeline Trail takes you to the state line then on to the Kings Mountain National Recreation Trail. The other trails, some of which are rated strenuous, take you to the summit of both Kings Pinnacle and Crowders Mountain. If you’re a flatlander, try the easy 0.8-mile Lake Trail.
2 Pilot Mountain State Park
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2 Pilot Mountain State Park
PinnacleSee on mapA short drive northwest of Winston-Salem, Pilot Mountain State Park is home to Big Pinnacle, an ancient rock outcropping that towers 1,400 feet above the valley floor. From the top of Little Pinnacle, you’ll have a panoramic view of the Piedmont. The park has more than a dozen trails, from easy to strenuous. Some offer views of the Yadkin River and access to Horne Creek Farm, a state historic site that gives visitors a look at life in 1900. Equestrians are welcome, but you’ll need to bring your own ride. Horse rentals are not available at the park.
3 Uwharrie National Forest
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3 Uwharrie National Forest
TroySee on mapThe Uwharries are the shortest of North Carolina’s mountains – the highest peak is just 950 feet – and one of the oldest in North America. And because no major highways have been cut through them, much of their original rolling landscape remains. Densons Creek Nature Trail in the Uwharrie National Forest has 17 designated stops keyed to an interpretive brochure available at the ranger station, about 2 miles east of Troy. To get the fullest sense of the area’s ecology, however, add the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge to your visit. The headquarters for the refuge is located on U.S. 52, 3 miles south of Ansonville. Wildlife Drive is a 3-mile vehicle or hiking trail that begins at the refuge office. You’ll find interpretive signs located along the route.
4 Piedmont Environmental Center
4 Piedmont Environmental Center
High PointSee on mapYou have your choice of 11 miles of foot trails through hardwood forests at Piedmont Environmental Center, located on the shore of High Point City Lake. The trails are well marked and maintained. Restrooms and trail maps are available at the center’s main building. There you can sign up for one of the center’s educational classes for all ages.
5 Eno River State Park
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5 Eno River State Park
DurhamSee on mapEno River State Park encompasses 4,500-plus acres in Durham and Orange counties and protects portions of the Eno River, which is popular with canoeists. Nearly 28 miles of signed trails follow the river and climb Cox Mountain through hardwood forests. The Bobbitt Hole Trail will take you to spots along the river. All trails are signed and blazed. At nearby Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, which is administered by the state park, several more trails are available, including one that will take you to highest point in Orange County.
6 American Tobacco Trail
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6 American Tobacco Trail
DurhamSee on mapThe American Tobacco Trail winds along more than 22 miles of abandoned railroad bed that once funneled the crop from farmlands to the American Tobacco Company plants in Durham. The existing railroad bed has been converted into a multiuse trail that starts near the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in the north and ends in the southern reaches of Wake County, passing Jordan Lake along the way. Heading south from downtown Durham, almost 8 miles of paved trail is handicap accessible and open to inline skating, bicycling, running or walking. Crushed stone sections in Wake and southern Durham counties allow horseback riding too. Parking lots and restrooms are available on several sections of the trail.
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