McDowell Nature Preserve
McDowell Nature Preserve
Charlotte, NC 28278
Phone:704-588-5224
Fax:704-588-5226
Size: 1,108 acres.
Location:Southwestern Mecklenburg County off Highway 49 (York Rd.).
Facilities:Campsites (58), picnic areas with shelters, concessions, lake, beach area, deck, boat launch, boat rentals, trail (7 miles, @di), nature center with gift shop, amphitheater, playground.
Activities:Camping, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, bicycling, environmental education programs.
Special Features:Composed of forested, rolling terrain along the banks of Lake Wylie, the preserve is the oldest in Mecklenburg County. It protects habitat for 119 species of birds, 21 species of mammals, 21 species of reptiles, and 14 species of amphibians. Endangered and threatened plant species grow in the preserve's Piedmont Prairie restoration sites.
See other parks in North Carolina.