Outdoor Adventures in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte is a city on the rise. The Queen City is a perennial place holder on almost every list of fastest growing U.S. cities. Most transplants to the largest city in the Carolinas list its proximity to the mountains (two hours) and the ocean (three hours) among its chief amenities. But once settled in, new residents find they don’t have to go nearly that far for world-class outdoor adventure.

Trail: Thanks to a herculean effort from groups like the Carolina Thread Trail and the Tarheel Trailblazers, the Charlotte area is home to a network of diverse trails that stretch for hundreds of miles. From crushed gravel or paved paths that link key parts of the city to technical and steep trail that challenges the most advanced athlete, the trail system is growing every year. To the west and east respectively, Crowder’s Mountain and Morrow Mountain State Parks offer a rewarding view for hikers and runners.

Water: Sitting alongside the Catawba River, the U.S. National Whitewater Center offers both whitewater sports on the manmade river and access to flatwater paddling on the Catawba. Forming three damned lakes as it flows along the western edge of Charlotte, the Catawba is the source for most watersports in the area. Lake Norman, to the north, is the largest and most developed and home to the biggest sailing clubs in the area. Mountain Island Lake, to the west, is the smallest and least developed, making it a great location for stand-up paddleboarders. To the south, Lake Wylie grows every year as a destination for all manner of water loving people.

Rock: On any given weekend of fair weather, the craggy quartzite walls at Crowders Mountain State Park will be rife with climbers scrambling up its many routes. It’s the diversity of options and close proximity to Charlotte that draws so many people, earning the parks nick name “Crowded Mountain.” A little farther out, and a completely different experience, the 600-foot dome at Stone Mountain State Park erupts from the countryside like a giant granite beacon. And the aptly named Hanging Rock State Park is home to Moore’s Wall, one of the premier classic traditional climbing locations in the area.