Great Urban Escapes

Would you like to take the "Great Urban Escape?" Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation invites campers to enjoy a variety of camping and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Escape into Nature

Copperhead Island
15200 Soldier Road, offers primitive and group camping on the shores of Lake Wylie.

• 14 acres of shore side nature
• direct boat launch access to Lake Wylie
• fishing pier
• hiking trails
• picnic shelter

McDowell Nature Preserve
15222 York Road, has 56 campsites ranging from RV to Primitive sites.

• 1108 acres of peace and quiet
• 7 miles of hiking trails
• fish from numerous piers and platforms
• McDowell Nature Center offers opportunity to learn everything you ever wanted to know about native plants and wildlife.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call 704-583-1284.

Local Nature Preserves

• Reedy Creek Park & Nature Preserve    Trail Map
  Located at 2900 Rocky River Road in northeastern Mecklenburg County. Visit the ruins of the Robinson Rock House at the preserve. Take a walk on the nature trails and seek out the 109 species of birds and 15 species of mammals. 
• Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve    Trail Map
  Located at 6211 Sample Road in northwestern Mecklenburg County. Visit the Backyard Habitat Garden that includes: bird feeding, butterfly garden, garden pond, and a demonstration compost area. Also enjoy the Raptor Center, Equestrian Center, and Historic Latta Plantation.
• McDowell Nature Preserve    Trail Map
  Located at 15222 York Road, the 1115-acre McDowell Nature Preserve is the oldest in Mecklenburg County. It has been left 90% undeveloped and protects mostly forested, rolling terrain along the banks of Lake Wylie.
• Evergreen Nature Preserve   Trail Map
  2 miles of trails offering hikers and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to explore a variety of terrains while enjoying scenic views of the forest, fields, and streams.
• RibbonWalk Nature Preserve  Trail Map
  RibbonWalk Nature Preserve is a 188-acre urban forest, located in north central Mecklenburg County only four miles from center city Charlotte. Nearly 3 miles of hiking trails offer hikers and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to explore a variety of terrains while enjoying scenic views of the ponds, forests, fields, and streams.