Have you visited Reedy Creek Park in Charlotte, NC?
Local mom, Sarah, visited the park with her 3 kids and they had such a wonderful time exploring the Reedy Creek Park Nature Center, the playgrounds, natural play spaces, trails, and more!
The best part is there’s no admission. Reedy Creek Park is FREE! Read on to learn more about their visit and get all Sarah’s tips to plan your adventure at Reedy Creek Park.
Just a few short miles past the heart of Charlotte, NC you can find Reedy Creek Park, home to the nearly 1,000 acres of the Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve. Travel time is 1 hour 30 minutes from Spartanburg. SC, 1 hour 45 minutes from Greenville, SC, and 1 hour 50 minutes from Columbia, SC. Factor in that the park is COMPLETELY free to access, including convenient parking throughout, and this place is a dream come true for your next family excursion!
Reedy Creek Nature Center
We recommend starting in the heart of the park at the small but worthwhile Nature Center. With ample parking and a short, paved path up to the building, this is a great place to start out with kids of any age and determine which parts of the park you want to explore. You’ll find free, easy-to-read maps, clean restrooms with changing tables, and a gift shop packed with educational materials and fun souvenirs for all ages. The gift shop leads straight into the Nature Center, which is one large room of hands-on exhibits for kids to explore!
When our family visited the Nature Center, we found a microscope projector with a variety of artifacts to check out, including butterflies and scorpions. There were explorer costumes to borrow, a treehouse to climb, a fairy village on display, and even a covered reading nook where quieter children could enjoy a wide selection of nature-themed picture books.
Our personal favorite spot, though, was the set of rocking chairs—with sizes for both children and adults—facing out wall-sized windows towards a beautiful hummingbird garden. Once you are ready to venture outside, be sure to ask if there’s a scavenger hunt going on! If so, bringing back a completed scavenger hunt sheet can earn your kids a prize.
You will find one of the best attractions in the whole park right outside the Nature Center: a sprawling wooded area that has been carefully curated for young explorers. The main attraction is a set of large platforms and bridges, surrounded by high railings to ensure safety. This structure has only two access points, both of which come out on the same side, making it easy to supervise children without ever having to chase them!
Beyond that, there are multiple climbing areas, all appropriately sized for preschool and elementary-aged kiddos. There’s plenty for older kids in this area, too, with a long and winding balance beam carved from real trees and a huge stockpile of long, thick branches that can be used to build any kind of fort imaginable! Plus a bonus for parents: several benches with clear visibility of the ENTIRE play area.
Dragonfly Pond
The next major attraction at Reedy Creek Park is absolutely the water features, and it could be worth making an entire trip to spend at this area alone! There are two sizable ponds, the larger of which allows fishing and has a handicap-accessible fishing pier.
Rods and reels are available to borrow free of charge from the Nature Center, but a fishing license issued by the State of North Carolina is required for ages 16 & up, so plan ahead to obtain one of those prior to your visit!
In the area surrounding the ponds, there are also several picnic structures, restrooms, a volleyball court, a disc golf course, and a Panthers Play60 playground for all ages! This area has some woods and a lot of sun, so be sure to pack sunscreen if this is where you plan to spend your day.
Sports Complex
The last area that might be most desirable for families is the playground and sports complex right by the entrance. This is the smallest play area of the park, featuring one play structure each for toddlers and older kiddos alongside a couple of swing sets.
Here you will find another volleyball court, as well as a basketball court and what looked to be a couple of baseball diamonds. There are also picnic structures and restrooms available in this area, and the woods provide a nice balance of sun and shade everywhere except the baseball diamonds.
Hiking Trails at Reedy Creek Park
Other features of the park to note are the dog park and the hiking trails. Dogs are also allowed in all outside spaces of the park as long as they are leashed, and I cannot recommend Reedy Creek Park enough for beginning hikers or those hiking with little ones!
All trails are easily accessible from the parking lots scattered throughout the park, and trail lengths range from 1/10th of a mile to 1.5 miles. The park maps available at the Nature Center include details on each trail, specifying not only the length but the difficulty, incline, shade, and points of interest on each one!
All the hiking paths are either natural, gravel, or a mix of both. All-terrain wheelchairs are available to borrow at no cost from the Nature Center on weekdays, but reservations are required at least 4 days in advance to ensure availability. Other than that, only foot traffic is permitted on the hiking trails.
Cyclists and those walking with strollers will want to wait for the greenway currently under construction, with completion expected by Summer 2025!
Hummingbird Festival
An annual highlight at Reedy Creek Park is the Hummingbird Festival held every August! Contact the Nature Center at 980.314.1119 for details on the event and any special activities that may require advance registration. Arriving early in the morning is best to guarantee plenty of hummingbird sightings and special activities could include limited-time exhibits, science experiments, arts & crafts, and storytelling!
Tips for Visiting Reedy Creek Park
- During the warm seasons, pack sunscreen & bug spray.
- During cooler seasons, wear layers for indoor & outdoor fun.
- Plan multiple visits or a full day trip to see all that this incredible park has to offer. You can pack your own snacks & lunch, or make a quick trip out to one of the many kid-friendly restaurants in the larger Charlotte area!
- For fishing, purchase your fishing license in advance & pack your own supplies. Rods & reels are available to borrow at the Nature Center, but supplies may be limited.
- For details on facility reservations, seasonal programs, offerings, or temporary closures, just call the Nature Center staff at 980.314.1119 during their open hours!
About the Reedy Creek Nature Preserve
So what are you waiting for? Plan your family’s next day trip to Reedy Creek Park today!
General Park Information:
- Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 am-5 pm / Sunday, 1-5 pm
- Address: 2986 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC 28215
- Website: Reedy Creek Nature Preserve
- Email: rcnp@MeckNC.gov
- Phone: 980-314-1119
Other Helpful Links”
- Digital Trail Map (Last Updated 2020)
- Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Charlotte, NC
- NC State Fishing License Purchase Portal
Reedy Creek Park, Nature Center, and Preserve
2900 Rocky River Road
Charlotte, NC
980.314.1119
Visit the Reedy Creek Nature Center Website to learn more & plan your trip!
Events Coming up at Reedy Creek Nature Center
Have you ever been to the Reedy Creek Nature Center?
The parks and playgrounds in Charlotte are super fun!
Check out the Kidding Around® Guide to Parks in Charlotte, NC.
For more day trip ideas see our list of Day Trips from Charlotte, NC.
