Love trails? How about rivers? Join us outside along the Catawba River to learn about the Carolina Thread Trail project!

Join us for this ~casual happy hour~ that includes a short overview of the Thread Trail, description of nearby trails and river launches open to you right now as well as current trail projects in the works. There’ll be plenty of maps and ways for you to provide your input into the development of this regional project locally.

Meet our new Thread Trail Community Coordinators! Ashton Lamb and Jane Love joined us this year and look forward to meeting you!

This event is free to attend. We encourage you to RSVP so we can plan accordingly.

Enjoy one beer from Blue Blaze Brewing Co. on us! You are welcome to bring your own adult beverages as well.

Thanks to Riverside Marina, Padddle & Row for hosting us for this Trails on Tap event!

*Preregistration is required for this event.

**Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail are acting in compliance with local and national guidance on COVID-19, and encourage all program participants to take actions to ensure the safety and comfort of those around them, including maintaining distance and/or wearing a mask if unvaccinated.   

Join us at Buffalo Creek Preserve for a hike though a piedmont savannah. Fire has always been a part of our landscape in the piedmont of NC. Learn about good fire and check out an area which was burned back in March. Along the way we will learn about flora and fauna that can found in this savannah, as well as the surrounding forests. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring plenty of water. The hike is approximately 4 miles in length. This will be a moderate hike, so get those boots ready!

Details

• Date: Saturday, June 26, 10-12 PM
• Location: Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail
• Parking: 7911 Malibu Road, Mt Pleasant, NC 28124

What is provided?

• Carolina Thread Trail trip leader
• Wildflower guidebooks
• Safety gear, first aid

What should you bring?

• Full water bottle
• Comfortable walking or hiking shoes (hiking boots are recommended for this hike)
• Snacks
• Camera
• Binoculars, if you have them
• Hat, sunscreen
• Small daypack
• A mask

*Preregistration is required for this event.

**Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail are acting in compliance with local and national guidance on COVID-19, and encourage all program participants to take actions to ensure the safety and comfort of those around them, including maintaining distance and/or wearing a mask if unvaccinated.   

Interested in learning more about local history? Join Carolina Thread Trail and Gaston County Museum in a History Hike on Goat Island and River Link Greenways the surrounding area on a 2 mile walk. Along the way, Alex Brooks, the Education Coordinator with Gaston History Museum, will share about Gaston County’s history from before its textile past through today. On this hike, you will see history come to life as you walk over the regionally important South Fork river, through Goat Island, and around downtown Cramerton. This leisurely walk will be on flat, paved surfaces.

Details

• Date: Saturday, June 26, 10-11:30 AM
• Location: Goat Island Greenway
• Parking: 142 8th Avenue, Cramerton, NC 28032 MAP

What is provided?

• Carolina Thread Trail trip leader
• Gaston County Museum Guide
• Safety gear, first aid

What should you bring?

• Full water bottle
• Comfortable walking or hiking shoes
• Snacks
• Hat, sunscreen
• Small daypack
• A mask

**Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail are acting in compliance with local and national guidance on COVID-19, and encourage all program participants to take actions to ensure the safety and comfort of those around them, including maintaining distance and/or wearing a mask if unvaccinated.   

Interested in learning more about local history? Borrow a kayak or bring your own, and join Carolina Thread Trail and Gaston County Museum on a 3 to 4-mile History Paddle around Goat Island. Along the way, Alex Brooks, the Education Coordinator with Gaston History Museum, will share about Gaston County’s history from before its textile past through today. On this paddle, you will see history come to life as you float through the regionally important South Fork river and around Goat Island. This kayak paddle will be of moderate effort and we will begin and end at Riverside Park in Cramerton. Rented Kayaks are courtesy of Riverside Marina Paddle and Row in Belmont, NC.

**You must be able to swim to partake in this event.**

Details:

• Course: light to moderate paddle around South Fork Catawba River in Cramerton
• Time: Saturday, July 10, 9:00 – 11:30 am
• Parking Address: 75 Riverside Dr, Cramerton, NC 28032 MAP

We provide:

• Carolina Thread Trail staff guide
• Gaston County Museum staff guide
• Boat, PFD, and paddle rental
• Safety gear and first aid
• Extra face masks and hand sanitizer
• Light appetizers

Please bring:

• Full water bottle
• Water shoes or old sneakers
• Hat, sunscreen, sunshirt, bug spray
• Clothes you don’t mind getting wet
• Personal medical supplies (Epipen, inhaler, etc.)
• A personal face mask

*Preregistration is required for this event.

**Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail are acting in compliance with local and national guidance on COVID-19, and encourage all program participants to take actions to ensure the safety and comfort of those around them, including maintaining distance and/or wearing a mask if unvaccinated.   

Interested in learning more about local history? Join Carolina Thread Trail and Gaston County Museum in a History Hike at Seven Oaks Preserve Trail. Along the way, Alex Brooks, the Education Coordinator with Gaston History Museum, will share about Gaston County’s history from before its textile past through today. On this hike, you will see history come to life as you hike parallel to the regionally important Catawba River- Lake Wylie section. In addition to views of the lake, you will see all kinds of nature as the trail lies on the Seven Oaks Preserve, a 2-mile stretch of shore line conserved by the Catawba Lands Conservancy!

Details

• Date: Saturday, September 4, 10-11:30 AM
• Location: Seven Oaks Preserve Trail
• Parking: 6900 S New Hope Road, Belmont, NC 28012 MAP

What is provided?

• Carolina Thread Trail trip leader
• Gaston County Museum Guide
• Safety gear, first aid

What should you bring?

• Full water bottle
• Comfortable walking or hiking shoes
• Snacks
• Hat, sunscreen
• Small daypack
• A mask

**Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail are acting in compliance with local and national guidance on COVID-19, and encourage all program participants to take actions to ensure the safety and comfort of those around them, including maintaining distance and/or wearing a mask if unvaccinated.   

Interested in learning more about local history? Borrow a kayak or bring your own, and join Carolina Thread Trail and Gaston County Museum on a 3 to 4-mile History Paddle around Goat Island. Along the way, Alex Brooks, the Education Coordinator with Gaston History Museum, will share about Gaston County’s history from before its textile past through today. On this paddle, you will see history come to life as you float through the regionally important South Fork river and around Goat Island. This kayak paddle will be of moderate effort and we will begin and end at Riverside Park in Cramerton. Rented Kayaks are courtesy of Riverside Marina Paddle and Row in Belmont, NC.

**You must be able to swim to partake in this event.**

Details:

• Course: light to moderate paddle around South Fork Catawba River in Cramerton
• Time: Sunday, September 12, 9:00 – 11:30 am
• Parking Address: 75 Riverside Dr, Cramerton, NC 28032 MAP

We provide:

• Carolina Thread Trail staff guide
• Gaston County Museum staff guide
• Boat, PFD, and paddle rental
• Safety gear and first aid
• Extra face masks and hand sanitizer
• Light appetizers

Please bring:

• Full water bottle
• Water shoes or old sneakers
• Hat, sunscreen, sunshirt, bug spray
• Clothes you don’t mind getting wet
• Personal medical supplies (Epipen, inhaler, etc.)
• A personal face mask

*Preregistration is required for this event.

**Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail are acting in compliance with local and national guidance on COVID-19, and encourage all program participants to take actions to ensure the safety and comfort of those around them, including maintaining distance and/or wearing a mask if unvaccinated.   

Interested in learning more about local history? Join Carolina Thread Trail and Gaston County Museum in a History Hike on the Mountain Island Park Trail and the surrounding area on a 3-mile walk. Along the way, Alex Brooks, the Education Coordinator with Gaston History Museum, will share about Gaston County’s history from before its textile past through today. On this hike, you will see history come to life as you walk below the Mountain Island Damn and next to the regionally important Catawba River along a natural surface trail.

Details

• Date: Saturday, November 6, 10-11:30 AM
• Location: Mountain Island Park Trail
• Parking: 400 Mountain Island Rd, Mt Holly, NC 28120 MAP

What is provided?

• Carolina Thread Trail trip leader
• Gaston County Museum Guide
• Safety gear, first aid

What should you bring?

• Full water bottle
• Comfortable walking or hiking shoes
• Snacks
• Hat, sunscreen
• Small daypack
• A mask