James Boyce Park — Attraction in Charlotte

In the last few months, I have been to the mountains of North Carolina several times. Specifically I have hiked around Stone Mountain North Carolina and South Mountain. They were great hikes, but I also wanted a local option. I have been to many of the different parks around Charlotte, and the issue I keep running into, is the trail's either have too few sudden elevation changes, or they tried to fit a long trail in such a small area that the trail doesn't feel naturally made. This is not so with James Boyce Park. It is a true hidden gem. Many of the paths are unmarked for the most part. But that is what makes it feel like a adventure to explore. And it feels like your in the foothills, even though you are in the middle of the city. Some parts of the hike actually look like you are in the mountains (the small variety). Additionally, you are far enough away from the main road, that you don't hear cars passing by. If you are looking for a wooded trail, with enough ups and downs, to get your heart pumping, even if your not trail running, and you want a trail that doesn't feel like its going out of its way to make itself longer; If you love that sense of adventure that comes when there's a fork in the path, and your curious where each route will lead next, then James Boyce Park is the...

Warning! This is not a safe park to walk your dog. People use this park and ALL of its trails as a free run for their dogs. Dogs are let out of the cars in the parking lot to run free. dogs are running on the trails literally hundreds of feet from their owners. People will not leash their dogs when asked to. This is not a dog park situation where dogs are allowed to be free as long as they are well behaved with the other dogs within the fenced areas. And the 'my dog is friendly" response is an absolutely unreliable answer and potential for fights and injury to the other dog who the owner has on...

A great little park behind Charlotte Prep and Charlotte Christian schools on Sardis Road. This park connects to McAlpine Greenway but you don’t even have to go on the Greenway for a long walk or run. There are many trails hidden in the woods that you can meandered through and sometimes get lucky running into herd of deers. There are owls that live in the woods here but I have not been quick enough with my camera to get the picture. There are Soccer and baseball fields for family, a playground, and bathroom. I hate to even review this park because I’m afraid I might not be able to park...