Latta Nature Center and Hiking
6345 Sample Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Dawn to dusk
$
outdoor-adventures, hikes
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So many things to do in one location. Only 20 minutes from uptown Charlotte, but you will feel like you're a world away.
The Latta Nature Preserve is made up of 1,460 acres of natural habitat for hiking and home to the Nature Center, Raptor Center, and Latta Plantation. This preserve is adjacent to Mountain Island Lake for fishing, canoeing, and amazing views. There are 16 miles of hiking trails with 13 of them available for horseback.
The hiking trails throughout the park are generally easy to moderate. There are many family-friendly and easily accessible trails. We began with the Hill trail and from there, there are several trails to split off from. The Split Rock and Cove trails bring you by the lake for some beautiful scenery. These trails are not stroller friendly so bring the carrier with you.
At the end of the hike, one of our favorite things to do in the nature preserve is to drive to the end of the road to the lake picnic areas and enjoy lunch by the water. There is a sandy area for the kids to play and splash their feet in the water. Do note that there is no swimming in the water. So we only let the kids go in enough to get their feet wet. This is a great spot on those particularly hot days to cool off.
The new nature center called the Quest looks amazing and will be a great educational resource for the preserve. It is the one-stop-shop for environmental education and outdoor recreation.