Roller Coaster to Main Loop to Big Lake Loop is a 8.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Charlotte, North Carolina that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
This is a clockwise loop of singletrack trails. Great for geared XC bikes and single-speed.
did the roller coaster and part of the main. nice quick workout
Moderate/varied elevations make it a good workout for your buns. I can hike this with the dog while my husband bikes. Pass by small lake and smaller pond but only one or two spots for the dog to get near for water when leashed. Fully shaded which is what I like. Seems to always have a fair number of people on it. Porta-a-johns and picnic table at trail head.
Really fun flowing track. Worth it for sure. Shaded good parking, good people, Porta potties. Go do it.
A good trail for MTB. Overall it is well kept and provides a moderate challenge for a beginner- to-immediate level biker. Mixed terrain: branches, hills, rocks. Nice views, peaceful woods. You will come across those walking the path, but there’s room to either pull off or for them to step to the side. Just remember biking etiquette and the trail is fun and pleasant.
Visited Sherman Branch Nature Preserve for an early morning fall hike today. Sherman Oaks has (3) separate biking/hiking treks within the park, totaling over 11 miles. This is a Mecklenburg County Park and the trails are primarily maintained by the local Tarheel Trailblazers Organization. The trails are scenic and well maintained. The treks are mainly used by local mountain biking enthusiasts but you will run into many of the locals getting a hike in also. I usually hike the trails counterclockwise so I can keep an eye on oncoming bikers. This can be a long trail depending on which trek(s) you decide to navigate. I ended up doing 6 1/2 miles, skipping the Rollercoaster portion and felt like it was a good hike, I came across a few of the locals while out … some biking, others hiking or running their dogs. Dogs are allowed in the park but must be on leash. You’ll pass a few ponds while out on the trail which makes the walk even more scenic. If you’re looking for a fairly moderate hike with some inclines throughout, this is a great place to do it. I mountain biked here before and have found the trails very challenging. Lots of curves, hills, and dips so be careful especially your first time. Overall, this is a nice hike for the enthusiast but can become a bit challenging for beginners. The main trail is lightly marked with yellow blazes and the biking trails are marked with numbered placards. You can easily do 15 miles if you miss a turn, so don’t go too far out if you can’t make it back. Trails are closed during rain and a few days after as a safety precaution. There are also (2) Porta-Pottys in the parking lot at the beginning of the trail. Great hike on a beautiful fall day ... if you live anywhere within 20 miles of this park, it’ll be worth the trip. See you on the trails !
This trail is narrow and there is not much room for bicycle/hiking interactions. Hikers need to be aware of their surroundings to be able to yield to bikes. Someone recommended walking opposite to the bike traffic but I think that could be more dangerous in some parts of the park. I will definitely hike again during the week, I would not hike this trail on a weekend with a ton of cyclists! Enjoy!
Great trail... definitely a lot of mtb and not much animal sighting but well kept and great for an afternoon walk