One of the best ways to combat feeling cooped up inside all of the time is to dust off your hiking boots and hit the trail. Buffalo Creek Preserve, located in Cabarrus County near Mount Pleasant, boasts some wide open fields as it traverses some old farmlands and a grassy plain. The trail also meanders alongside a creek and features a pond. The next time you’re in need of a change of scenery… head to Buffalo Creek.
The 393-acre preserve is a wonderful place to experience nature's best.
It's part of a network of 170 miles of regional trails known as the Carolina Thread Trail. Locals and visitors alike know if you're on any of the trails in this network, then you're in for a wonderful experience.
This scenic 4.1-mile hike is just over two miles each way and features a mostly flat trek, although over the course of the entire trail you'll find slight elevation changes to the tune of 275 feet. But that's up and down over the course of the entire hike, out and back.
Hit the trail during the growing season and you'll love the many flowers in bloom alongside the trail and in the many fields. The trail is also dog-friendly, as long as they're on a leash.
It's difficult to narrow down the best feature of the Buffalo Creek Trail but the suspension bridge is definitely a highlight of this hiking experience! Kids — and those who are still kids at heart — love the gentle sway of this water crossing.
Be sure to carve out plenty of time to enjoy the bridge. The kiddos will want to explore every nuance of this unique part of the hike. Thankfully, there are ropes on both sides of the structure that are intended to provide some stability during the crossing or while standing on the bridge to admire the view of Adams Creek below.
Some pets may have an issue with the see-through flooring on the bridge, so be aware of any uneasiness your dog may experience on this short leg of the hike.
The Buffalo Creek Trailhead is located on Malibu Road, only steps from Mount Pleasant Road S, just south of the town of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina.
Please remember to follow social distancing guidelines on this hike. Forested parts of the trail and sections along the creek may mean you'll need to venture off the trail in order to allow others to pass with enough distance, so be sure to wear appropriate footwear (ankle hiking boots should do it).
How are you getting exercise now that we’re all staying at home? Learn more about the Buffalo Creek Trail from our friends at AllTrails. The trail is open from dawn to dusk. Before you go, check the official website for the Carolina Thread Trail for any posted closings.
