This is a 5-foot wide paved path with several exercise stations and a demonstration garden maintained by Cooperative Extension. It is great for an easy stroll
or run.
The track is a half-mile loop, plus the extension to Withrow Rd.
NEW: The loop has recently been resurfaced and both bridges rebuilt!
Great trail to explore the boulders and rock faces at the base of Rumbling Bald Mountain. The trail is wide with a mostly gravel surface.
This is an extremely popular area for rock climbing. The parking lot is often full on every nice weekend between October and April. The parking lot has been expanded and now includes over 100 spaces.
The path is a 1/3-mile path and is paved and lighted. It is connected to the Purple Martin Greenway via a wide sidewalk.
The park also includes three Little League baseball fields, one tee ball field, one senior league baseball field, one multi-purpose field, four lighted tennis courts, two lighted basketball courts, horseshoe pits, 2 playgrounds (one for 2-5 year olds and another for 6-12 year olds), and a picnic shelter. Bathrooms and water fountains are also available at the park.
The Nature Preserve is mostly owned by Conserving Carolina. They partnered with Henderson County Parks and Recreation for a parking area and
connector trail. The perverse consists of an interconnecting series of trails with a beautiful mountain creek and several scenic overlooks. Look for the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trailhead, the same parking area for the Wildcat Rock trail.
For more details visit Conserving Carolina’s website at:
https://conservingcarolina.org/florence-nature-preserve/
The preserve is part of the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System. That system is envisioned to be more than 100 miles of trails throughout
Hickory Nut Gorge. To read more about the plans and see a map of the current and proposed trails see the link below:
Owned by the state, the primary purpose of NC Game Lands is wildlife conservation and management — hunting, fishing, and trapping are allowed in Game
Lands. The trails in this unique area are maintained to encourage and facilitate foot travel but are open to mountain bikers.
The named public trails of the game lands are shown on our map. They offer a range of experiences including woodland hikes, riverside treks, and access
to the world famous Green River Narrows.
Trail users should be cautious during hunting season, which is generally from mid-September to mid-May. Deer hunting season, for example, begins in mid-
September and continues through mid-December. Seasons for other types of game run through mid-May. Hunters are most active on Fridays and Saturdays
and at the beginning of individual game seasons. The gamelands also offer public access to the Green River for paddling and tubing.
The ICC trail system was built entirely by ROC volunteers. Most of the system goes through a variety of wooded areas. Open field areas and sidewalk
sections join some of the loops. An interesting feature is passage through a bamboo grove with 3-5 inch wide and 50 foot tall canes. It is a great system
for a quick hike or run or exploring with the family. Parking is readily available and kiosks with trail guides at several trailheads.
**TRAIL IS CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES UNTIL SPRING 2024**
The trail is primarily used for hiking, is accessible year-round, and is both a family and dog friendly trail.
The trail is an easy forest walk along the headwaters of the Catawba River to a beautiful and popular waterfall.
Foothills Conservancy was instrumental in acquiring this property and transferring it to the National Forest Service for public access. Improvements have
been made to the parking and the bridge over the river.
A path of brick pavers extends approximately 0.5 miles along US64/74A through the Town Center from Jack London Road near the ABC Store to the Lake Lure
Beach and Water Park area. A connecting boardwalk extends along the side of Lake Lure and then becomes a walkway with brick pavers past the Municipal
Center and across the old historic Rocky Broad River Bridge, which is now the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge.
The park is a great place for an easy walk or run. Combine it with the Lake Lure Town Center Walkway to see the Flowering Bridge and the beach.
This park features beautiful vistas of the mountains of Hickory Nut Gorge and is a popular choice for an impromptu picnic, sunbathing, reading, bird watching
and catching an afternoon nap in a lawn chair by the lake.
This is a great place to bring kids and pets. There are multiple places to dip your toes in a beautiful mountain river, large rocks, and a natural walkway
including stone bridges. Several picnic sites are available.
