McDowell Nature Preserve

Great local park. Nice kept hiking trails. Lots of picnic tables. You can sit down by the lake. Have fun kits to rent for free at office like Mud Kitchen for kids to play in the creeks with. Something to do all year round. Has a small kids playground but not shaded well so too hot during summer afternoons.
Four Seasons hiking trail is paved for accessibly and strollers.

Me and my dog love this place! The trails are always maintained and free of obstructions. Most importantly, we feel very safe every time we visit. People are always friendly and respectful.

Best primitive camping sites in Mecklenburg County. Reserve ahead of time is the fall the sites go fast. Hiking trails around the lake and plenty to keep you busy in the outdoors. Locked entry exit points with gate code after hours. If you need fire wood get there before 5pm front desk closes. Enjoy.

Love going to this park! It's beautiful , peaceful and close to home.

A great place for hikers and picnic lovers. Lots of picnic spots and fishers. You can plan for fishing or picnic or hiking. Picnic spots were bit crowded but still there were lots of spots. Very well managed park by Meck county.

Really impressed with the lovely setting along Lake Wylie with beautiful views, well managed trails, lots of decks with built in grills for picnics—this was our first time and we will definitely be back to explore more.

Such a great place to come and enjoy the outdoors. There are different trails to go hiking and there’s a waterfront area with seats and picnic tables. It’s definitely a hidden gem at Lake Wylie. I’ve been coming back for years and I enjoyed it!

Nice park with shoreline access, seating, trails, nature center, playground, and campground.

beautiful place to fish. to meditate. have a picnic. to walk ppr trails. I love going every day.

Wow!!!!! This is an unbelievable park! I have lived around mecklenburg county my entire life but I had NEVER been to this public park until this year. This park has so many fabulous picnic/bbq areas for families!! May I add most of which are shaded. There are fishing spots ALL throughout this location. I can admit I have passed this park HUNDREDS of times I always wondered what it was like but I never actually went inside to explore.
There is SO much fabulousness inside here…. Take your family… pack a lunch… bbq.. take advantage of EVERY single thing this location has to offer. If you read you will find so many perfectly placed benches to enjoy. If you need to think; you will find peace as you look out on the water hearing the waves and wildlife. I can’t say enough about this park. Just trust me when I say take advantage of this park. And if you enjoy camping… there is a site for that as well so call and book your spot… camping, playground, trails, splice, fishing piers… it’s AMAZING!!

Great spot to go for a trail run, nice public amenities and plenty of parking. Just watch out for these guys as there is a pack living in the park, they avoid humans.

I have visited this park twice now. Have enjoyed our time both times. It is free to get in and parking is usually not an issue. We haven’t hiked all the different trails yet, we mainly walk along the river and play in the water. It’s a great place for dates, picnics or just meditate. There are bathrooms available, and a playground for the kids. Check out the pics!

Beautiful place to go, tons of trails and great events for kids and family’s. Good not experience. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable!!

Beautiful place. Friendly staff in the nature preserve. Lots of crawfish in the creeks.

Beautiful park! Very clean and well-kept. Nice trails and great views of Lake Wylie. Great photo opportunities and your kids will thank you! Highly recommend this park!

Large park that I have seen all of. Only get to visit when I am visiting my parents. From what I have seen so far there are miles if walking trails. Pavilions that I am guessing are rentable. With other picnic table/grills spread about. Look forward to more visits. Was there late afternoon and snapped some pictures.

Great campground. Love the hiking trails and nature center. Great price per night too. Two playgrounds for the kids.

This park is by far my favorite in Charlotte; it is beautiful and has numerous picnic areas, trails, and docks. It is pet-friendly.

Beautiful natural park. Well taken care of and borders Lake Wylie. Fun fact: Lake Wylie is roughly 80 feet deep at it's deepest!

Great hiking trails and views of the water. Gets a little busy on temperate days but still accessible. Lots of space to hold groups, or just wander on trails. Beautiful, varied scenery.