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.
March 4, 2021Better
January 24, 2021
January 21, 2021January 20, 2021December 27, 2020December 13, 2020December 12, 2020December 6, 2020Closed today- I assume city of charlotte closed trail because of Covid
November 4, 2020October 29, 2020nice trail we make the whole trail in 58 min
October 17, 2020excellent trail. 2nd time on it.
October 4, 2020September 24, 2020Good
September 23, 2020did the roller coaster and part of the main. nice quick workout
September 22, 2020September 20, 2020September 6, 2020Watch out for the bikers since the trail gets busy mid morning!
September 5, 2020Shady trail, but is better for mountain biking than hiking.
September 5, 2020August 10, 2020I got better
August 9, 2020Moderate/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.
June 24, 2020Really fun flowing track. Worth it for sure. Shaded good parking, good people, Porta potties. Go do it.
April 11, 2020Does anyone have any good ideas on where to park for a ride since the parking lot is closed now?
March 22, 2020Great trail with my daughter and sisters and dog! We all enjoyed it
January 8, 2020A 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.
December 4, 2019Visited 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 !
December 1, 2019Dec 01, 2019 at 9am the entrance was locked and unable to hike. It was a rainy morning and after reading reviews appears to be more mountain bike oriented. New trails, new adventures!
September 3, 2019This 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!
September 2, 2019Nice short hour. 30 min ride
April 21, 2019Great trail... definitely a lot of mtb and not much animal sighting but well kept and great for an afternoon walk
