Trail Tips
Slippery When Wet
Some trails will be slippery after a rain or if they are covered in fallen leaves. Watch your step!
Trailhead
Parking Address: 5500 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214. MAP.
Trailhead Location:MAP
This trail can only be accessed via the USNWC existing trail system and parking area.
If 5000 Whitewater Parkway does not appear on your GPS or mobile device, please use this address instead:1825 Belmeade Drive, Charlotte, NC 28214. MAP.
Description
The Long Creek trail is an out-and-back trail with a distance of 2.1 miles. This natural surface trail is great for hiking and mountain biking.
*Special Notes: The trail can only be accessed via the United States National Whitewater Center (USNWC) Figure 8 Trail at this time, which is considered a "black diamond trail" and recommended for experienced mountain bike riders. The trail connection for the Figure 8 and Long Creek trails occurs in the general vicinity of First Aid Marker "F-4". From that point the Long Creek Trail continues 2.1 miles northward. Be aware that the USNWC trails permit only one-way traffic, however, the Long Creek Trail permits users to travel both directions.
This segment of the Carolina Thread Trail is adjacent to the USNWC. The 16-acre Long Creek Bluff owned and preserved by the Catawba Lands Conservancy supports one of Mecklenburg County’s most significant Natural Heritage Sites, with mature forests, steep slopes, and a diversity of plant species and habitats. Donated by Clariant Corporation, it represents the Conservancy’s first corporate conservation project. The USNWC is the training center for many US Olympic paddlers, and is the first fully artificial whitewater course. Visitors to the USNWC will find that the center is a great place for hiking, biking, white water rafting or kayaking, climbing, and much more.
Other Information
On-site parking is $5 for a day pass, or $40 for an annual pass. You can purchase your parking pass on-site at the USNWC or online. In order to keep the trail system healthy, the USNWC applies all parking revenue directly to the expenses associated with trail maintenance and upkeep.
An Imprint is an Impact. Please protect the trails. Don’t ride if the ground is muddy and be mindful when you hike in wet conditions.
Trail Manager
Visit the Catawba Lands Conservancy's website for more information or contact:
Catawba Lands Conservancy
Land Stewardship Director
4530 Park Road, Suite 420
Charlotte, NC 28209
Phone: 704-342-3330 x209
sharon@catawbalands.org
