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The Broad River Greenway in Boiling Springs offers nature, history and year-round recreation.
Distance
From Charlotte, it's a one-hour drive (50 miles).
To see and do
The Broad River Greenway, begun in the mid-1990s, offers outstanding opportunities. Every year, its nearly 1,500 acres are visited by more than 120,000 people who enjoy walking, hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, horseback riding, swimming or simply enjoying nature.
The greenway has a number of public events throughout the year and one of its most popular is coming up Sept. 18: the greenway's birthday party. There will be free refreshments, live music, games and the locally famous Rubber Ducky Regatta. The Sunday rain-or-shine event will be from 3 to 5 p.m., with the duck race (featuring 2,500 speedy ducks) beginning at 4:30.
Any day, the greenway is a family-friendly attraction. More than two dozen tables, many in shaded spots, along with strategically placed grills, make cookouts and picnics a favorite activity. A large shelter is available on a first-come basis or can be rented in advance. There are nice walking trails on both sides of the river; they include a 1,900-foot section that is handicapped-accessible. A well-maintained playground is another highlight.
Phifer Cabin, a circa-1850s structure, is where a variety of special entertainment and educational events are held.
If you like to fish, try your luck catching catfish, crappie, bluegill or bass along the banks or on the handicapped-accessible pier. (Make sure you have a valid license.)
The Broad River offers a bucolic setting for tubing, canoeing, kayaking and for cooling off on a hot day. The greenway does not have lifeguards; enter the water at your own risk.
Cyclists, equestrians and hikers have more than 15 miles of trails to try. Maps are available on the greenway's website or at the ranger station.
Birding can be quite enjoyable, especially at the beginning or end of a day. Numerous tree, plant and wildflower species are well worth the walks needed to see them: The greenway is home to a number of rare and protected species of plants including one of the largest populations in North Carolina of the dwarf-flowered heartleaf.
