Carolina Thread Trail

05/29/2026

Celebrate the Outdoors with us on Friday, June 5 at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia!

Join the Carolina Thread Trail, Go Gaston NC , and Gaston The Eagle before the Gastonia Ghost Peppers game to learn more about how to get outside and explore Gaston County’s parks, trails, rivers, wildlife, and outdoor adventures.

Activities begin at 6 PM
First pitch at 7 PM

Bring the family and celebrate the outdoors with games, activities, and community partners dedicated to helping everyone enjoy nature and clean water.

05/29/2026

A huge shout out to Pond and their great trail work!

Dedicated Pond team members joined us on the Pharr Family Preserve Trail in Cabarrus County, rolling up their sleeves for some serious trail restoration. This crew tackled years of sediment buildup — the slough and berms that slowly creep in over time — and recut the backslope to widen the tread back to its original width.

The result: a beautifully refreshed 300‑foot stretch of trail that’s safer, more accessible, and ready for many more miles of adventure.

Pond has been a longtime partner of Catawba Lands Conservancy and the Carolina Thread Trail and a proud sponsor of Trail Forum, one of our biggest annual gatherings for trail planners, advocates, and outdoor enthusiasts. Their commitment shows — not just in sponsorships, but in the sweat equity their team brings to the ground.

Thanks to this hardworking group of trail lovers for helping us care for the places our community loves to explore.

05/28/2026

Sunset Paddle on the Catawba River

This event is for you, kayakers! Join the Carolina Thread Trail for a relaxing end-of-day sunset paddle on the Catawba River on Saturday, June 6 for National Trails Day sponsored by TowneBank.

This paddle is made possible by Riverside Paddle & Row, who will be supplying single or tandem sit-on-top kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and headlamps. Take an approx. 2-mile leisurely paddle down the Catawba River and soak in the views while learning about all the cool blueways and hiking trails coming to the region. The paddle will finish right after sunset.

This is a paddle oriented for beginners. No prior paddling experience is required. All participants must be comfortable on the water and able to swim. Children 12 and under must be in a tandem kayak with an adult.

Cost: $35 adult / $10 child (ages 5-12)
Address: 1500 River Dr, Belmont, NC 28012
Time: 6:30 pm - 9 pm
Age restrictions: 5+, tandem kayaks available (all children ages 17 and under must be supervised by an adult)

Save your spot at www.carolinathreadtrail.org/ntd

*Hurry! Registration ends Wednesday 6/3/26

05/27/2026

Sketch and Hike at Forney Creek Trail

Calling all outdoor loving artists! Join local artist Wil Bosbyshell and the Carolina Thread Trail for a fun, nature-inspired sketching hike at Forney Creek Trail in Lincoln County, NC on Saturday, June 6 for National Trails Day sponsored by TowneBank.

Attendees will meet at the trailhead parking lot, then hike to a suspension bridge approx. 0.1 miles down the trail. The program will start with a quick sketching demonstration followed by free time to create your own artwork. All necessary sketching materials will be provided, and you will get to keep your sketchbook at the end of the program.

Cost: $25 adult / children 12 and under are free
Address: 1601 Forney Creek Parkway, Denver, NC 28037
Time: 9:30 am
Distance: 1 mile
Age restrictions: None

Save your spot at www.carolinathreadtrail.org/ntd

*Hurry! Registration ends Thursday 6/4/26

05/26/2026

Park-to-Park Roundtrip Bike Ride in Gastonia

Get on your bikes and ride! Join us for an exciting roundtrip bike ride featuring three beautiful public parks in Gastonia, connected by the city’s growing network of greenways and local street routes on Saturday, June 6 for National Trails Day sponsored by TowneBank.

This is a free event. Meet at Ferguson Park and ride Avon & Catawba Creek Greenways to Lineberger Park, then continue into downtown via the on-street bike route, and from there ride Highland Rail Trail and Highland Branch Greenway to picturesque Rankin Lake Park where we will rest before returning to Ferguson Park. Once you get back to Ferguson Park, you may choose to explore more of Catawba Creek Greenway to the southeast on your own, for an additional 5.2 mile out-and-back ride.

Address: Ferguson Park, 1401 Golf Course Dr, Gastonia NC 28054
Time: Meet at 9:30 am. Ride will start at 9:45 am and conclude at approx. 11:30 am.
Distance: Approx. 12 miles roundtrip (not including an optional 5.2-mile out-and-back add-on on your own at the end)
Age Restrictions: 16 and up. Must be able to bicycle up hills and on low-traffic streets, in addition to the greenways.

Save your spot at www.carolinathreadtrail.org/ntd

*Hurry! Registration ends Friday 6/5/26

05/26/2026

Your next adventure is closer than you think!

At Baker’s Mountain Park in Catawba County, the trail climbs through a shaded forest, surrounded by trees and the sounds of wildlife. The higher you go, the more the view begins to unfold, until you can see across miles of foothills from the highest point in the county.

At Lake Whelchel in Cherokee County, the trail traces the edge of the water, moving between quiet stretches of forest and open views across the lake. It follows a historic route once traveled by patriot militia during the Kings Mountain campaign of 1780, now part of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.

Our region is full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. A new trail to hike. A stretch of river to paddle. A place in nature that feels like a retreat. And the more you explore, the more you realize just how much there is to experience right here at home.

This summer, you can help make sure the places we explore today are still here for future generations. Thanks to the generosity of our Board of Directors, every gift made now through June 30 will be matched up to $45,000, helping to conserve more land and expand access to the outdoors.

Make your gift today to help protect these places for future generations at https://catawbalands.org/donate

05/21/2026

Heroes Hike with Veterans Bridge Home at Duke Kimbrell Trail

Carolina Thread Trail and Veterans Bridge Home are teaming up for a hike dedicated to our nation's heroes on Saturday, June 6 for National Trails Day sponsored by TowneBank.

Veterans and the veterans community are encouraged to join us for a relaxing hike along the Duke Kimbrell Trail and Stowe Connector, adjacent to Daniel Stowe Conservancy in Belmont, NC. This is a free event and excellent opportunity to connect with fellow veterans and community members while enjoying the peace and beauty of nature.

We will hike a loop around Stowe Conservancy using the Duke Kimbrell Trail and Stowe Connector Trail. After our hike the Trailhead Store will be open for refreshments.

Address: 6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC 28012
Time: 8 am
Distance: 4-4.5 miles
Age Restrictions: None

Save your spot at www.carolinathreadtrail.org/ntd

*Hurry! Registration ends Friday 6/5/26

Join the National Trails Day fun across North Carolina and South Carolina with a variety of FREE guided hikes and bike rides throughout the day in multiple locations. Pick the adventure you want and spend the day outdoors with us! Check back for program information and registration.

05/20/2026

National Trails Day Hike at Falcon Trail

Join the Carolina Thread Trail as we explore the historic Falcon Trail in Stanly County on Saturday, June 6 for National Trails Day sponsored by TowneBank .

This is a free event and will be a group hike on a largely flat, gravel trail through forest and open fields. A nice feature of the trail is two bridges (a swinging bridge and a covered bridge) which cross Richfield Lake within the park. Bring your camera as a variety of plants along the trail may be in bloom. We will meet at Richfield Park at 8 am and hit the trail around 8:20 am.

Address: Richfield Park, Richfield, NC 28137
Time: 8 am
Distance: 4 or 10 miles
Age Restrictions: None

Save your spot at www.carolinathreadtrail.org/ntd

*Hurry! Registration ends Friday 6/5/26

Join the National Trails Day fun across North Carolina and South Carolina with a variety of FREE guided hikes and bike rides throughout the day in multiple locations. Pick the adventure you want and spend the day outdoors with us! Check back for program information and registration.

05/15/2026

Explore the new Highland Branch Greenway extension in Gastonia from a cyclist's point of view. This trail connects Rankin Lake Park to downtown, expanding the city's trail network.

Video courtesy of The Gaston Gazette

04/29/2026

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