RibbonWalk Nature Preserve

Bumped this up to 4-​star based on the fact that it is so close to my home. I made a new year resolution to get outdoors more and combine my need for a workout with my desire for more nature in my life. This place took care of both easily.
It is a no frills kind of place and right now you’ll have to deal with the construction going on around it but if you can see past that you’ll have a great time. It is mostly unknown and that is a plus considering you can really find some quiet time out there.
They have a few locations for sitting at a table to eat or whatever but as far as I’m concerned it is just a nice place to get a away for a little bit.

Was here for a Mushroom Hike. Had no clue what I was getting myself into.
The RibbonWalk Nature Preserve is a hidden oasis from the city of Charlotte. Over 188 acre urban forest, you are whisked away into an enchanted forest like the ones in movies. The glorious tall trees that guards this forest. The leaves protects you from the rays of the sun and provides shade as you walk on the trail in search of mushrooms. Mushrooms sprouting everywhere all you have to do is to look for them. Near the trees that have fallen down lies a family of Turkey mushrooms. Further up the trail are red mushrooms ready to greet you and all you have to do is just look all round you and take the time to breathe in fresh air from all the oxygen that the forest provides. Smell the cedar trees, and where your nose takes you is an adventure waiting to happen.
Amazing finds since it rained the night before. Mushrooms sprouting everywhere where. Like the colors of the rainbow when it comes to mushrooms. We saw red, indigo/​blue, green, purple, white, and many more. Definitely, treasures to be found but do not eat any of them. We were lucky to have a guided tour and learn about the various types, class, and species of mushrooms.
These hikes are run by Mecklenburg Co. and great educational tools to teach children and adults about what is in your local parks. Nothing beats being one with nature. When was the last time you spent a couple of hours with mother nature at it’s finest?

The fact that this preserve is hiding right in Charlotte boggles my mind. If you need a nature fix and don’t feel like driving out of the city, this is probably your best bet. My wife and I wandered around and explored most of the trails. As other reviewers have said, you can expect to be one of the only people here. We saw two other people on the trails and a family at the picnic area at around 10 on a Saturday morning. I think RibbonWalk was undergoing some maintenance when I visited, because some of the trails were inaccessible and others were poorly marked.
Overall, it’s definitely nice enough for a return visit. My dog would love it, so he’ll be tagging along next time.

I have always wanted to see the park… Well today I did and OMGOODNESS what a beautiful place and I was not disappointed at all!!! I personally wouldn’t care where the park was because of the times we are living in… I would not go by myself. Perfect place to take a day and bring a lunch and enjoy beauty at its best…

Chalk this up to most beautiful place in an unexpected location.
Don’t be confused by the locked gate when you pull in. Park in the gravel area and walk into the park. On a few visits I have encountered many deer so yeah, there is nature in this nature preserve. Great trails for running. As others mentioned I rarely see anyone else while here but there is a good deal of trash in the picnic areas so this place must be hopping after dark– I clear out waaay before then. Gorgeous place to get your nature on without traveling to the mountains.

So quiet and relaxing. The only sound is the occasional plane overhead. There’s a picnic area with giant shade trees and a small pond with a seating area. If you’re super quiet and walk up to the pond you can see about 15 turtles sitting on a log. Pretty awesome. No big wildlife that I’ve seen but lots of birds, frogs, turtles, and small fish (mainly bluegill) to watch. A nice piece of nature amongst the interstates and suburbs.

Really cool place, but not always the chillest people there.
Its a step outside of the city, right in the city. Some real deal woods, ponds, and paths to wander. Nature at its best.
Rarely do I see more than a couple other people here. Which is good and bad. If I was a single woman, I don’t think I would go alone. I have found signs of bums living in the woods.
This place is beautiful. Honestly, I have hesitated to write this review, as I want to keep it to myself.

I have only been here twice now but both times I have loved everything about it. I lived in the Pacific Northwest for a while so scenery is really important to me and so far in Charlotte this is as much as I have gotten. There are several paths there that you can walk, some small bodies of water and trees everywhere of course. Some of the paths are more obvious while others are in middle of the woods which I love. There is a cabin on the property and also a small newer covered bridge. We have been taking our dog and he loves it.

Charlotte does not have an official arboretum, but the RibbonWalk Nature Preserve is about the next closest thing to one. The RibbonWalk Nature Preserve is an urban forest that is fairly close to Uptown Charlotte. It is near the intersection of I-​85 and I-​77 and about a 15 minute drive or a 30 minute bus ride from uptown. There are about 3 miles of hiking trails and a few picnic tables near the entrance. This preserve is a nice place for a leisurely stroll and has an old colony of American Beech trees towards the back. The trails are not very difficult and are well marked, but some of them can get fairly muddy. Near the entrance the trails run around several ponds where waterfowl can be observed. There are some benches around the ponds, as well as a mossy brick walkway around the «Lower Pond.» You will see owl boxes further into the woods. Near the northern part of the preserve is an open meadow area. One of the negatives to this preserve is that there is a lot of airplane noise overhead, depending on which way the CLT airport is configured. Get the trail map from the website. There are no permanent restroom facilities and mountain biking is not allowed. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash.