Reedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve

Reedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve is a park in northwest Mecklenburg County. Reedy Creek Park consists of 125 acres used for recreational activities, while Reedy Creek Nature Preserve consists of 737 acres of protected natural habitat, including a nature center.

The first human inhabitants of the area were Native Americans with artifacts discovered dating back to the Woodland period. One of the first European inhabitants was John Selwyn, who received a land grant from King George and occupied the land in the mid 18th century. The land was sold to the Robinson family and the Robinson Rock House, the remains of which can still be seen today, was built in the late 1700s. The land was purchased by the City of Charlotte in 1981 to create Reedy Creek Park and was transferred to Mecklenburg County after the merger of the City and County Parks and Recreation Departments in 1991. In 1997, the park was split into the Reedy Creek Park and Reedy Creek Nature Preserve.

Contact Information:

2900 Rocky River Road

Charlotte, NC 28215

Phone: (704) 432-6459

Fax: (704) 432-6461

Directions:

From I-85, take exit 45A and merge onto NC-24 E/W T Harris Blvd. Continue for about 3.5 miles then turn left onto Rocky River Road. After a half mile, turn left onto Rocky River Road/Grier Road and the park entrance will be on the right. Use the map below to generate customized directions.

Map:

Trails:

There are more than 10 miles of hiking trails in the nature preserve.

Dragonfly Pond Trail:

Length: 1 mile (loop)

Difficulty: Moderate

Blaze: Green Square

The Dragonfly Pond Trail starts at the nature center and passes through hardwood forests before following the shore of Dragonfly Pond and returning to the nature center.

Sierra Loop Trail:

Length: 1.5 miles (loop)

Difficulty: Moderate

Blaze: Yellow Triangle

The Sierra Loop Trail is accessed from the South Fork Trail. Heading counterclockwise, the trail intersects with the Robinson Rockhouse Trail and makes a loop around to the Sassafras Trail. This trail was constructed by volunteers from the Central Piedmont Sierra Club.

South Fork Trail:

Length: 0.25 miles (one-way)

Difficulty: Moderate

Blaze: Red Square

The short South Fork Trail connects the Umbrella Tree Trail to the Sierra Loop Trail. There is a bridge over Reedy Creek shortly before the trail intersects the Sierra Loop Trail.

Umbrella Tree Trail:

Length: 1 mile (Loop)

Difficulty: Moderate

Blaze: Yellow Circle

The Umbrella Tree, named for the deciduous magnolia along the banks of the south fork of Reedy Creek, starts at the nature center and intersects the South Fork Trail and the Big Oak Trail in two places before looping back to the nature center.

External Links:

Mecklenburg County Parks website: https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/StewardshipServices/NatureCenters/Pages/Reedy.aspx