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Hiking and Walking Trails

Searching for a rewarding hike or walking trail in the Rutherford county area? We have made it easier than ever for you to discover, plan, and map out your trail adventure! See below for an ever-growing collection of trails ranging in difficulty from easy to strenuous with 1 being easy and 5 a top strenuous trail. Click on any trail to learn more about it, download maps, and get directions to trailheads.

Rutherford Outdoor Coalition invites you to enjoy the trails available in and around Rutherford County for hiking and walking enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.

Walk or Hike!

You can do it all along our many beautiful trails throughout our mountains. Explore these trails in Rutherford County and many others:

Alexanders Ford

Alexanders Ford

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 2.5 mile loop

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Bearwallow Mountain Trail

Bearwallow Mountain Trail

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 2 mile one-way

Elevation Gain 501-800 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Big Bradley Falls Trail

Big Bradley Falls Trail

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length mile one-way

Elevation Gain 201-500 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Broad River Greenway

Broad River Greenway

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 12.9 miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Buffalo Creek Park

Buffalo Creek Park

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 3.5 mile loop (connects to Weed Patch Trail)

Elevation Gain 501-800 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Catawba Falls Trail

Catawba Falls Trail

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 3.5 (Full Loop); 1.1 (to lower falls) miles

Elevation Gain 801-1000 ft/s

Estimated Time 2.25-3.0 hr/s

Chimney Rock Boulders Trail

Chimney Rock Boulders Trail

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length miles

Elevation Gain 201-500 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Chimney Rock State Park

Chimney Rock State Park

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 4 +miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Cowpens National Battlefield

Cowpens National Battlefield

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 4.5 miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Crestview Park Walking Path

Crestview Park Walking Path

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Dittmer-Watts Nature Trail Park

Dittmer-Watts Nature Trail Park

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 3.5 miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 201-500 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

FENCE Trails

FENCE Trails

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 6 miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Florence Nature Preserve

Florence Nature Preserve

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 5 miles ( Multiple Trails)

Elevation Gain 1001-1200 ft/s

Estimated Time 2.25-3.0 hr/s

Green River Game Lands

Green River Game Lands

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 16 miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

ICC Trails

ICC Trails

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 3.5 miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway

Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 3.1 miles one-way

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Lake James State Park

Lake James State Park

Difficulty

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 25 +miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Lake Lure Town Center Walkway

Lake Lure Town Center Walkway

Difficulty

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 0.5 miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Little Bradley Falls Trail

Little Bradley Falls Trail

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 1.9 mile (one-way)

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Little White Oak Mountain

Little White Oak Mountain

Difficulty

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 3.5 miles

Elevation Gain 201-500 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Missing 40 Trail

Missing 40 Trail

Difficulty

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 1 mile loop

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Morse Park Trails

Morse Park Trails

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 1 mile

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Norman Wilder Forest

Norman Wilder Forest

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length miles one-way

Elevation Gain 501-800 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Old Fort Gateway Trails

Old Fort Gateway Trails

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 6 miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Pearson’s Falls

Pearson’s Falls

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length mile one-way

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Purple Martin Greenway

Purple Martin Greenway

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Rocky Broad Riverwalk

Rocky Broad Riverwalk

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 0.13 miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Rumbling Bald at Chimney Rock State Park Trail

Rumbling Bald at Chimney Rock State Park Trail

Difficulty

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 1.5 miles

Elevation Gain 201-500 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Rutherford County Walking Path

Rutherford County Walking Path

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 0.5 miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

South Mountains Christian Camp

South Mountains Christian Camp

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 3 + Miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

South Mountains Game Lands

South Mountains Game Lands

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Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 20 miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

South Mountains State Park

South Mountains State Park

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 40 miles - multiple trails

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Strawberry Gap

Strawberry Gap

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 5.1 miles

Elevation Gain 1001-1200 ft/s

Estimated Time 2.25-3.0 hr/s

Summey Park Walking Trails

Summey Park Walking Trails

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 0.25 miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Thermal Belt Rail Trail

Thermal Belt Rail Trail

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 13.5 miles

Elevation Gain 201-500 ft/s

Estimated Time 4.25-5.0 hr/s

Trombatore Trail

Trombatore Trail

Difficulty

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 5 miles (one way)

Elevation Gain 1200more ft/s

Estimated Time 2.25-3.0 hr/s

Vaughn Creek Greenway

Vaughn Creek Greenway

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 1.6 miles

Elevation Gain 0-200 ft/s

Estimated Time 1.0-2.0 hr/s

Weed Patch Mountain Trail

Weed Patch Mountain Trail

Difficulty

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 18.5 miles

Elevation Gain 1200more ft/s

Estimated Time 6.25more hr/s

Wildcat Rock/Little Bearwallow

Wildcat Rock/Little Bearwallow

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 4.8 miles (one-way)

Elevation Gain 1200more ft/s

Estimated Time 3.25-4.0 hr/s

Young’s Mountain Trail

Young’s Mountain Trail

Difficulty

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Activities array

Hiking

Walking/Running

Cycling

Equestrian

Paddling

Disc Golf

Length 4.3 miles one-way

Elevation Gain 1001-1200 ft/s

Estimated Time 2.25-3.0 hr/s

TIPS & TRICKS

Hiking Alone

Let someone know where you will be and when you plan to return. On a long-distance hike, leave behind a copy of your itinerary.

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