McDowell Nature Preserve

McDowell Nature Preserve is a forest reserve along Lake Wylie featuring native trees, wetlands, and interconnected trails through different landscapes. Multiple entry points provide access to well-maintained paths where visitors can hike and observe nature throughout the property.

This was established as Mecklenburg County's first protected area, converting former farmland into a conservation zone. The transformation helped preserve the forest and wildlife that might otherwise have been lost to development.

Educational programs here teach visitors about local ecosystems and wildlife through guided walks and hands-on activities at the Nature Center. People come to learn how forests and water systems support the animals and plants that live here.

The preserve is open from sunrise to sunset with several entry points, especially via York Road, making it easy to find a starting point. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, as the terrain includes varied elevation and long stretches of walking.

A primary reason for protecting this land was to save Schweinitz's sunflower, a plant species under federal protection due to its endangered status. The forests here also support more than a hundred bird species and dozens of mammal types found nowhere else in the region.

Location: Mecklenburg County

Operator: Mecklenburg County Park & Rec

Address: South York Road

Opening Hours: sunrise-sunset

Phone: +19803141128

Website: https://mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/StewardshipServices/NatureCenters/Pages/McDowell.aspx

GPS coordinates: 35.10603,-81.01699

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:43