McDowell Nature Center and Preserve
McDowell Nature Center and Preserve
McDowell Nature Center and Preserve
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
157 reviews
Excellent
102
Very good
44
Average
8
Poor
1
Terrible
2
TrailDame
Charlotte, NC812 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
These woods are a gem in our backyard. It is a pleasant place to hike along Lake Wylie and through the woods. There are spots that have incline for a good workout but mostly the trails are flat. They do have lots of tree roots and rocky in some places so be sure to wear good sturdy footwear to handle those and even possible muddy spots after it rains. If you like hiking sticks, take those as well. There is also a neat visitor center to check out while you are there. Along the way you will run into picnic areas to stop to take a break if needed.
Written May 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bowmanator22
Charlotte, NC5,300 contributions
Sep 2021 • Solo
McDowell Nature Preserve has some excellent trails for running. Nice changes of scenery with some good hills. Beautiful lake views and free to enter. Nature Center focused on the kiddos.
Written September 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Millet02
Atlanta, GA509 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
This is a lovely place to walk on trails. The person we talked to in the gift shop/education center wasn't very knowledgeable about where some of the types of ecosystems were but was able to point out her favorites and tell us what we might see on them. Worth a few hours for some time in nature
Written October 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aisha K
Alexandria, VA33 contributions
Oct 2011 • Couples
I have hiked here with my husband, family, and dog on multiple occasions and always look forward to returning. This nature preserve is open year round, is well maintained and has excellent service facilities and amenities. There are marked trails and maps provided for way-finding throughout the property. Picnic and playground areas are available, conveniently alongside nicely kept bathrooms. I love spending time outdoors so this place is always a treat for me and the trails are so much fun to hike. Great views and scenery and I've never had any experience with loud music or obnoxious hikers; McDowell attracts wholesome nature-loving people. The best part is that you can enjoy it for free; places like this are what I love to see as a tax-paying citizen!
Written February 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ggayle
115 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
A great place to escape for a while. Trails are easily walkable. We only saw a few people there, so it was very peaceful. There are a few geo cache there too.
Written June 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andymarian
East Northport, NY52 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
We camped here for 2 nights ...wish it were longer! No noisy car and truck sounds, hard to believe in such a busy area...the sights aren’t huge but for 33$ a night who cares.
We spend a few sacred hours hiking the trails around the lake and just relaxing.
We are from New York and wish we had the same caliber of county parks that Charlotte
Does. Don’t hesitate to camp or visit here.
We spend a few sacred hours hiking the trails around the lake and just relaxing.
We are from New York and wish we had the same caliber of county parks that Charlotte
Does. Don’t hesitate to camp or visit here.
Written April 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John E
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States105 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
McDowell Park is located just south of Charlotte within view of SC. The campground is neat and tidy offering full hook-up to primitive camping. Fire rings and picnic tables are included with most RV sites. Ice and firewood are sold at the office for a reasonable price. Mecklenburg county residents get a nice discount. Walking trails abound but mind the signage. Signs can be deceiving. Many activities within driving distance including carowinds. Have fun...we did!
Written July 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArkTraveler72113
Maumelle, AR59 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
For clarification, I am only rating the campground as it relates to RV and Trailer camping. No consideration is given for other aspects of a campground/park, such as swimming pools, clubhouses, or activities such as fishing or canoeing. Also, many campgrounds may have a variety of quality. My assessment is base on what I perceive as the best they have to offer.
I use a two part rating system. The first is based on the basic elements that most campgrounds provide. The value for each of the items is fixed. This puts all campground on the same level based on what they provide. The second and final rating is based on another set of fixed values for things that I think should be part on any quality campground such as good maintenance and cleanliness. I then add a fudge factor just based on my opinion of the value and aesthetics of the campground. Occasionally I will throw in a note to explain my evaluation. Most any campground can earn at least a basic 5.0 rating. For me an acceptable campground for a multiple night stay will have to have a final rating of 7.0 or above. Very few campgrounds will go over a 9.0 with 10 being the max.
On Trip advisor a 6.5 to 7.4 is equivalent to 3 circles, four circles will be 7.5 to 8.4 and 5 circles are above will be 8.5 and above.
Basic evaluation: RV/Trailer Campsite review, (13) RV/TT sites – (25) Popup, Surface: gravel (most pull through), Electricity Hookup: All 20-30-50 amp connection, Water Hookup: Yes, Sewer Hookup: No, Grills/Fire Ring: Yes, Picnic Table: Yes, Comfort Station: Yes. Value = 6.15
Secondary rating. Based on the additional amenities, good maintenance of the sites, cleanliness of the comfort station, and the overall value of the park, I added 1 point to the rating for an overall rating of 7.15
This campground had big potential, but has several big misses. The roads and sites are narrow, and most are not level lengthwise or side to side. There is no wi-fi, for TV there is no cable, satellite is difficult at best. The over the air reception is very good. The park personnel were very nice
If you go here try to get site #R5 it was larger and flatter than most others and has a sewer clean out you can use. One other site has sewer clean out #R6. It is very small and in the corner of two roads. Avoid our site #R3 it is like parking on the side of a mountain. The bathhouse was new, with (8) large lockable family style shower toilet areas. The big miss was you cannot adjust water temp and to keep water on you have to continually push a water flow control button every couple of min. The Bathhouse has a nice laundry with two washer and dryers. The campground is much smaller than it appears on their layout map. Sites are stuffed together. The outside access loop runs within 10-15 ft of most of sites and is heavily traveled and noisy. Everything is gravel except asphalt trailer pad. Also the park appears to be on landing pattern for charlotte int. airport and is very noisy.
We stayed here 5/2013 for 3 nights (30 Ft. travel trailer).
I use a two part rating system. The first is based on the basic elements that most campgrounds provide. The value for each of the items is fixed. This puts all campground on the same level based on what they provide. The second and final rating is based on another set of fixed values for things that I think should be part on any quality campground such as good maintenance and cleanliness. I then add a fudge factor just based on my opinion of the value and aesthetics of the campground. Occasionally I will throw in a note to explain my evaluation. Most any campground can earn at least a basic 5.0 rating. For me an acceptable campground for a multiple night stay will have to have a final rating of 7.0 or above. Very few campgrounds will go over a 9.0 with 10 being the max.
On Trip advisor a 6.5 to 7.4 is equivalent to 3 circles, four circles will be 7.5 to 8.4 and 5 circles are above will be 8.5 and above.
Basic evaluation: RV/Trailer Campsite review, (13) RV/TT sites – (25) Popup, Surface: gravel (most pull through), Electricity Hookup: All 20-30-50 amp connection, Water Hookup: Yes, Sewer Hookup: No, Grills/Fire Ring: Yes, Picnic Table: Yes, Comfort Station: Yes. Value = 6.15
Secondary rating. Based on the additional amenities, good maintenance of the sites, cleanliness of the comfort station, and the overall value of the park, I added 1 point to the rating for an overall rating of 7.15
This campground had big potential, but has several big misses. The roads and sites are narrow, and most are not level lengthwise or side to side. There is no wi-fi, for TV there is no cable, satellite is difficult at best. The over the air reception is very good. The park personnel were very nice
If you go here try to get site #R5 it was larger and flatter than most others and has a sewer clean out you can use. One other site has sewer clean out #R6. It is very small and in the corner of two roads. Avoid our site #R3 it is like parking on the side of a mountain. The bathhouse was new, with (8) large lockable family style shower toilet areas. The big miss was you cannot adjust water temp and to keep water on you have to continually push a water flow control button every couple of min. The Bathhouse has a nice laundry with two washer and dryers. The campground is much smaller than it appears on their layout map. Sites are stuffed together. The outside access loop runs within 10-15 ft of most of sites and is heavily traveled and noisy. Everything is gravel except asphalt trailer pad. Also the park appears to be on landing pattern for charlotte int. airport and is very noisy.
We stayed here 5/2013 for 3 nights (30 Ft. travel trailer).
Written June 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph Robba
Charlotte, NC2,263 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
McDowell is a great park, with boat launches into Lake Wylie, tons of hiking, playground equipment and the nature center, there's not much you won't find here. Really great place to get outdoors and explore.
Written May 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Commandkat
Charlotte, NC455 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
McDowell is a nice big park with lots of trails and areas to picnic. There are playgrounds, canoe rentals (though I've only seen them there, never in use) and boardwalks. Tons of platforms with picnic tables and great views over Lake Wylie. There is a neat little nature center. We went there with a friend who has a kid and the person running the nature center let us see some animals and touch them. The nature center also has a water bottle filler which is very nice to have!
Park can get really crowded on nice days. There are lots of trails to escape the crowd on.
Park can get really crowded on nice days. There are lots of trails to escape the crowd on.
Written May 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there good bike routes through the Nature Center and Preserve? Is bike rental available nearby?
Written May 17, 2018
I saw people biking. I don't know about rentals.
Written May 18, 2018
How much does it cost to rent kayaks?
Written August 26, 2017
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