Forney Creek Trail at Sally’s YMCA, Denver, North Carolina

Forney Creek Trail- Kathryn G. Clark at Sally’s YMCA is a natural surface trail that meanders approximately 1.1 miles along Forney Creek connecting north to the 1.3-mile Catawba Springs Preserve segment in eastern Lincoln County. The trail is located within 85 acres of land preserved by the Catawba Lands Conservancy.

We love this trail so much. I have walked and run every square inch of it many of times and it remains my most favorite trail system in Denver, NC – a western suburb of Charlotte. 

Trail Name: Forney Creek Trail – Part of Carolina Thread Trail

Trail Address: 1601 Forney Creek Rd, Denver, NC 28037

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Trail Length: many trails ranging from under 1 mile to 5k

Trail Difficulty: easy with some incline

Surface: dirt path

Fees: none

Parking: park on side of road by trailhead (by locked gate) or at Sally’s YMCA

Restrooms: none at trail but yes at Sally’s YMCA

Pets Permitted: yes, on a leash

ADA Compliant: no

Hours: dawn to dusk

More Info: here

This is a perfect day hike for the Charlotte area. Make sure you check out my other hiking guides and my essential hiking supply guide here!

Enter at Optimist Club Rd and Forney Creek Parkway in Denver, NC (taking the Optimist Rd exit off of highway 16 – not business 16)

Drive all of the way down Forney Creek Parkway until you reach the locked gate. *update 2021 – this gate is no longer here.

Park along the side of the road. Sally’s YMCA will be behind you.

At the trail head, there is a large rock and map guide.

The path begins on a gravel surface and then quickly leads you to directional markers allowing you to choose which path you would like to take.

Immediately after choosing to go left (down a small hill) you will have 3 more options to choose another path to travel.

*If you choose to go right (where the red sign is pointing) you will be taken to a rope/challenge course that is fun for all ages as well as a swaying bridge!

Depending on the trail that you choose, there are various vantage points of the creek that runs through a majority of the property.

Once on the trail, there will be more options for more trail extenders. There are also several bridges throughout many of the trails.

The paths are marked with various emergency marker location signs in case you should need to call for help.

Bikers are also allowed on the trails.

The trails are full of gorgeous natural life.

Fun Fact: My husband worked for Husqvarna, whose headquarters are in Charlotte, NC and they had a community betterment workday and came to this exact location and cleared brush, made trails and built walking bridges. Cool, huh?

There is a pretty overlook, especially when the leaves have fallen.

The trail to the overlook is long and narrow with water surrounding you on both sides.

This trail, Forney Creek Trail is apart of the Carolina Thread trail – a network of trail systems that connect North and South Carolina. 

Near the Carolina Thread Trail sign there is a veer off up a decently steep hill. If you take that, you will exit the trail systems and be at a grassy field where there is a trail leading you to the paved road (which will lead you back to the locked gate…however, you will be on the opposite side of the gate that you parked on).

Walk the paved road back to your vehicle!