Piedmont Environmental Center — Attraction in High Point

The Piedmont Environmental Center is a large nature reserve geared towards environmental education and nature trails.

The building itself has accessible restrooms from 9-5. There is minimal parking here and this can be frustrating to folks at peak times. To the right of the building is a large topographical map of NC you can walk on. It is 70' by 30' and frankly, huge. Has surrounding amphitheater type structure.

But I come here for the trails. The reserve is split into two area: North and South Preserve.

The North:

Has 2.5 miles of the paved Bicentennial Greenway (it goes further north for a total of 14.5 miles). This ends at the southern part of the Greenway at the building and then becomes the High Point Greenway. The Deep River Trail and Hollis Roger Pine Woods Trail are nature trails and easy to walk.

The South:

Has all the trails beside the building. Bill Laver Lakeshore Trail (1.8 mile loop), Fiddlehead Trail, Pine Thicket Trail, Dogwood Trail, Chickadee Trail, Raccoon Run Trail, and Wildflower Trail. All of these are accessible beside the building, heavily shaded, and great nature walks through forest type foliage and near High Point Lake's edge. The paved High Point Greenway begins at the parking lot too.

The gist:

A smorgasbord of trails and greenways for the walker, hiker, and biker. Parking can be tough at peak times. Go walk...

We found Piedmont Environmental Center when looking for a close place to ride our bikes. We we're surprised by the secluded feel. The center had some one on staff to give us guidance on the bike path that starts at the beginning of the Greenway that goes from High Point/James town area to Greensboro. We did not get very far as we stopped about 30 minutes in to deer watch. There is a set of stairs with a bike rail to push your bike down (and up on the way back). There was one other place that was blocked and instructed us to dismount due to a large decline in a curve. Both of these spots were within the first 1 1/2 miles in. Most of the path is shaded with a few hills. Back at the center are bathrooms,and vending machines and a couple of tables to take a snack break. There are also looking chairs on the porch to do some bird watching. . Overall nice place, we will be back to...

I took the Bill Faver Lakeshore Trail while on vacation. It was a beautiful and relaxing 1.8 miles.

Trail was well marked with tree markers and posts. It was a mostly flat, easy trail for anyone who wants a nice walk in the woods.

They have a big map at both trailheads & it circles back to the parking lot. If you don’t want to do the big loop, you can cut across on one of the shorter trails.

I also went into the building once it opened. They have learning materials and live snakes (in their own enclosures) which I thought was SUPER neat.

Staff was very pleasant. An older gentleman who worked there (whose name I did not get) talked with me about the snakes and even let me hold a rattle that had fallen off the rattle snake. It was such a great experience.

I definitely recommend visiting!! This is a good trip for everyone of all ages...