McAlpine Creek and McMullen Creek Greenway: Popular Hiking Trail in Charlotte, North Carolina

My husband and I love to brisk walk. This is something we try to do as often as our scheldule allows us. We use to drive about 45 minutes from our home to just walk. Luckily, we heard about this neat place that has 4 miles of a wildlife adventure that is unbelieveable.

Actually, McAlpine Creek and McMullen Creek Greenway is a floodplain " Forest" , what has remained of it., It provides you access into wetland areas that in a normal situation, would be too wet to actually experience it.

We have seen quite a few Owls! They have these huge nests that are amazing! This is a really strange looking bird up close.
Rusty blackbirds in the dead of Winter, Red-headed woodpeckers that nest here all Spring and Summer and so many other exotic birds, I can't even begin to name. My husband and I got the chance to see some really beautiful eagles there one morning. There are some really serious "Bird Watchers" that love to come down this trail just to get pictures for their scrap book. So, you might want to remember your camera and or binoculars.

Frogs are everywhere singing. Ducks and huge turtles are in abundance here. Oh, you wouldn't believe all of the family of deers that we have encountered walking in their natural habitat.

Some really beautiful wild flowers and unique native type plants are everywhere. The trees are hauntingly beautiful ! You almost feel like "Dorothy" from "The wizard of Oz" movie!

This trail offers a pit gravel for the first 3/4 mile then mostly asphalt. Several boardwalks that you will love walking on with the water stream beside and at times under you. If you go the whole four miles, there is a really awsome Observation deck . There you can read about some of the really rare and unique birds that are also in the area.

The walk way is really great for taking your pets. There is even a water fountain for them at the entrance! They offer you free bags so you can pick up their "poop" and trash cans are plentyful on the whole trail. This is where my little dog gets his exercise.

Adults and kids are welcome to bring their bikes. A helmet is required on this trail. Note: no motorized vehicles are allowed on this trail.

Another great thing about this trail is, it is totally free! No fee to pay for anything here.

The "Con" part of this trail is...Snakes! Yeah, I have got to be all the way truthful . There are poisonous and non-poisonous snakes that you will encounter from time to time here. My husband and I have ran into a couple of Copperheads, which are poisonous ! We have seen a few black snakes and king snakes too, which are non-poisonous. This is a scary situation, but I have never heard of anyone being bit on this trail, though it can happen.

All in all, this is a wonderful place to walk.

Directions: From interstate 485, Exit 64A. Travel east on Pineville-Matthews Road for 1.5 miles. You will almost miss it if you aren't careful. There is a nice gravel parking lot on the right with a sign that says McAlpine Creek and McMullen Creek Greenway.

Hours: open daily 7:00 a.m. - sunset

For more information about this greenway and others in Mecklenburg county go to www.parkandrec.com