I've seen this place in my dreams before. All of it. The water. The trails. The beer. The people. I never knew it actually existed, out there in reality. When I first interviewed for jobs here in the Queen City (Charlotte, NC) it was the common thread of where people told me to go. Something you could tell they were proud of, and a place they knew a type like me belonged.
I'm talking about the U.S. National Whitewater Center. An Official training ground of the United States Olympic Team, situated about 20 minutes outside of downtown Charlotte on the banks of the Catawba River. The USNWC boasts a high ropes course, 30 miles of singletrack trail (more coming), two man made whitewater channels, the Catawba River, climbing walls, and a beer garden/restaurant. During the summer months you can mosey on over one Thursday or Saturday evening and find the Riverjam Series in full swing, a free outdoor concert and plenty of good craft beer to boot.
I'm talking about the U.S. National Whitewater Center. An Official training ground of the United States Olympic Team, situated about 20 minutes outside of downtown Charlotte on the banks of the Catawba River. The USNWC boasts a high ropes course, 30 miles of singletrack trail (more coming), two man made whitewater channels, the Catawba River, climbing walls, and a beer garden/restaurant. During the summer months you can mosey on over one Thursday or Saturday evening and find the Riverjam Series in full swing, a free outdoor concert and plenty of good craft beer to boot.
The USNWC offers more than the sum of its amenities and free concerts. It plays host to events like beer tastings and races, offers instructional courses, and is a place for those like minded folks to find each other. It is the last point that was the core of those dreams I had been having. A place where us crazy people who find freedom in the great outdoors and love to play in it can come together and rejoice. The trails at the USNWC are mapped, signed, and rated. Navigation is that much easier in that they are all one way. In fact a lot of trails around here are. At first I had a real issue with that, but in a city of 800,000 people, I can see how it really reduces conflicts. After all, these are all multi-use trails, and there are plenty of racers in the area who are chasing PRs and face-to-face collisions are unsightly. By and large the current South Main trail has the most to offer in way of these loops. In order of appearance (CCW) you have: Carpet, Wedge, Tower 93, Goat Hill, Weight Station, and Toilet Bowl. With Goat Hill and Toilet Bowl taking the honors of black diamond (the difficulty rating system is your typical green circle, blue square, black diamond). South itself is blue and and follows the Catawa River for some fun riding with some good roots to negotiate at times. Goat Hill is a famous trail here at USNWC that remains from its old days. The history surrounding these trails is a bit unknown to me, but there were a number of trails here before the USNWC bought the land and developed it. Luckily for us recreation was their goal, still, some people complain. I'm happy to day I cleaned Goat up the first time around, it certainly is a rooty mess of an uphill that someone like me relishes. Back on South you continue toward I-85 when a right will lead you onto Weight Station, which, you guessed it, rides behind the NC State weigh station on the interstate. I like to think of Weight as a root lover's paradise, its a blue but plenty of bumpy pedaling is to be had. | I have had the pleasure of riding the USNWC more than any other trail system so far while here in Charlotte, which equates to a grand 3 or 4 times. But, in those pedals I've covered every trail and feel confident I can report to you, the reader, on this awesome amenity to the city. My first time riding the trails that lace beneath tree canopy ropes courses and along the Catawba River I saw plenty of dog walkers, joggers, runners, and of course riders. That, is something that makes my heart melt. The loops are set up in a sort of clover leaf fashion with four lobes stemming out from the parking area/main center of action. These loops offer side trails which are typically harder in difficulty, making for interesting routes and options to test yourself or take a break as needed. Carpet it a bit longer and has some really nice steep ups and downs due to it playing in a couple of drainages that flow out to the Catawba. One notable steep up includes a section of carpet laid down for traction as you make the quick left handed switchback. Wedge and Tower 93 are a bit shorter and plenty of fun. Like Carpet they climb to river left, up the hill away from the Catawba. Tower 93 tops out at the Duke Energy Transmission line...tower 93 of course, and features some great jump lines if that's your thing. |
Next up is Toilet Bowl, which I did not clean 100% my first time (I blame it on being spent from Goat/Weight/etc.) It is a very fun trail and I may like it more than Goat Hill. You drop down, spin around, and climb back out. All with plenty of roots and few rocks thrown in for good measure.
Back on South you'll come out of the shade into the blazing sun, you can opt to hit the short slalom course overlooking the interstate or book it back into the trees. The next clover leaf is the only green circle and tends to be a place the beginners head (and I love seeing them out there). Lake Loop is fast, generally wide, and a great way to spin the legs out.
From here its East Main, which now as an extension on it to make it a good four mile "leaf" or shorter if you want. East is another favorite with a few technical spots, great speed, and again plenty of roots. The extension is easily identified as bench cut machine built trail. It is a bit wide in spots but should wear in, and the switchback climbs are stellar.
The last clover leaf is North Main and Figure 8, it's black diamond side shoot. Figure 8 starts pretty early on and is a great piece of singletrack with a few skinnies to navigate. As a bonus the Carolina Thread trail is not part of the USNWC but connects Figure 8 out to a road, its great for me who like to add more and ride from Mt. Holly where I can go back and launch the SUP right into the river. Warning: The Thread trail is two way and you may run into others who have discovered this little known secret.
North Main is like a pile of spaghetti and plays back and forth on itself wonderfully. It also scales up and down the bluffs next to the Catawba quite well making for some excellent pedaling.
While out on all this great riding you might spy obstacles, like a rope over a wall, or monkey bars. This makes for some interesting trail running if one is up for that! Obviously there is paddling galore. And the beer garden plays host to about 40 taps, many local, all delicious.
I highly recommend heading over and playing outside, their specialty. Catch a free concert after getting your sweat on and enjoy a cold brew and some tacos. Personally I'm working on getting some courses in whitewater and I may renew my wilderness first air certification. The options are nearly endless, get outside and play!
Back on South you'll come out of the shade into the blazing sun, you can opt to hit the short slalom course overlooking the interstate or book it back into the trees. The next clover leaf is the only green circle and tends to be a place the beginners head (and I love seeing them out there). Lake Loop is fast, generally wide, and a great way to spin the legs out.
From here its East Main, which now as an extension on it to make it a good four mile "leaf" or shorter if you want. East is another favorite with a few technical spots, great speed, and again plenty of roots. The extension is easily identified as bench cut machine built trail. It is a bit wide in spots but should wear in, and the switchback climbs are stellar.
The last clover leaf is North Main and Figure 8, it's black diamond side shoot. Figure 8 starts pretty early on and is a great piece of singletrack with a few skinnies to navigate. As a bonus the Carolina Thread trail is not part of the USNWC but connects Figure 8 out to a road, its great for me who like to add more and ride from Mt. Holly where I can go back and launch the SUP right into the river. Warning: The Thread trail is two way and you may run into others who have discovered this little known secret.
North Main is like a pile of spaghetti and plays back and forth on itself wonderfully. It also scales up and down the bluffs next to the Catawba quite well making for some excellent pedaling.
While out on all this great riding you might spy obstacles, like a rope over a wall, or monkey bars. This makes for some interesting trail running if one is up for that! Obviously there is paddling galore. And the beer garden plays host to about 40 taps, many local, all delicious.
I highly recommend heading over and playing outside, their specialty. Catch a free concert after getting your sweat on and enjoy a cold brew and some tacos. Personally I'm working on getting some courses in whitewater and I may renew my wilderness first air certification. The options are nearly endless, get outside and play!