A mountain hike close to the city. 

A favorite amongst the locals, Crowders Mountain is a mountain located just outside of Charlotte. This is a great place for hiking, birding, camping, rock climbing, and more. 

The Pinnacle Trail is a great moderate 4-mile round trip hike for families with rocks to climb over and a mountain to walk up. There is a gradual climb for about a mile and then the climb gets steeper as you get to the mountain top. Once you get to the top, you traverse over rocks until you get to the viewing area and WOW what a view. You can see the city of Charlotte in one direction and on a nice clear day see the blue ridge mountains in the other. During fall there is a great view of the fall foliage. As you make your way back down you can either come back the way you came or split off and go on the Turnback Trail. This is less rocky and an easy walk back. 

Do note that at the top of the mountain the trail is all over the place where people have made their own ways. It can get a little confusing on which way to go. Also on particularly cooler days, bring a jacket to the top as the wind can get breezy and chilly when you have worked up a sweat to the top. 

This is not a stroller friendly and a carrier is needed.