Trail Tips
Beat the Heat
Wear lightweight, breathable clothes and consider exercising in the morning or evening, when it is cooler. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after activity.
Trailhead
Parking Address: 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214. MAP
Trailhead Location: USNWC North Main & Figure 8 Trailhead 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.
The trail can only be accessed via the U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) Figure 8 Trail and Tortuga. Be aware that the USNWC trails permit only one-way traffic so this trail connects to Needle and Academy Loop to provide options to return to the beginning of the trail. View the USNWC's trail map.
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
You will be required to pay a $6.00 parking fee unless you have an annual pass which costs $50.00.
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
4530 Park Road, Suite 420
Charlotte, NC 28209
Phone: 704-342-3330 x209
sharon@catawbalands.org
