These Walks Will Show You Natural Beauty And History

Marker remembers slaves of the McCoy family

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – March 23

Spring is here. A person is invigorated by being outside in this beautiful weather. What better way to enjoy the River than to go on a hike through the woods?

Every 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday, Latta Plantation Nature Preserve sponsors a hike through the preserves in Mecklenburg County. The group meets at the Latta Plantation Nature Center at 9 am on the appointed day.

I have been attending these hikes since last fall. The guide has taken us to areas that very few people know of.  There is the Stephen's Road Nature Preserve in the north end of Mountain Island Lake. It is calm and peaceful as you walk along the River.

Then there is the Gar Creek Nature Preserve, with a cemetery dedicated to the slaves of the McCoy Family. That hike will take you through the woods out to the prairie.

Rural Hill Nature Preserve is noted for the annual Rural Hill Scottish Festival and the Amazing Maze. The Scottish Festival will be April 20-22 this year. Rural Hill also has trails that take a hiker down to McDowell Creek, which feeds into Mountain Island Lake. The last one-room school house in Mecklenburg County is preserved there. The Davidson family cemetery sits near the road for the history buffs to study.

Cowan's Ford Wildlife Refuge is a birder's dream location. This area is especially interesting when the birds are migrating. The numbers are unbelievable. The Audubon Society has given this preserve the designation as an “Important Bird Area.”

Behind the Nature Center are trails that lead to the prairies being restored with native vegetation. Other trails lead to Gar Creek and the Overlook at Mountain Island Lake.

Join the group. It is a learning experience as well as exercise in the fresh air. Mecklenburg County has preserved these tracts of land to keep the quality of the water in the reservoir for Charlotte high. Enjoying nature is a bonus.

How to get there

Latta Plantation Nature Preserve is at 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. The park is open sunrise-sunset (currently closing time is 7:30 p.m.). The staffed nature center is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. 

Directions: Get a map link. 

Trail map and programs: Download a trail map and learn about upcoming programs.

About Alice Battle – Alice lives on Mountain Island Lake has served on numerous groups devoted to protecting the lake, including the Duke Energy Relicensing stakeholders group. She currently is Lakekeeper for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.