The City of Gastonia currently has 4.6 miles of linear greenway trails and additional walking trails at Martha Rivers Park and Rankin Lake Park.  The Greenways are the Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway, which connects Lineberger Park to Ferguson Park, and the Highland Rail Trail, which starts near the Gastonia Police Department on Long Avenue and continues past Sims Park, with future plans to connect to Rankin Lake Park.

 

The Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway and the Highland Rail Trail are part of the Carolina Thread Trail master plan for Gaston County.

 

 

 

The 1.8 mile long Catawba Creek Greenway section begins east at Robinwood Road just north of the Catawba Creek Bridge and runs west along Catawba Creek with lovely views of the creek and a large grassy area for picnicking. The trail is paved with asphalt for its entire length, is ADA compliant, and has many types of flora and fauna including flowering deciduous trees, vines and wildflowers. Wildlife such as rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels and many types of birds can also be found. It runs through wooded and open creek areas between several residential areas and junctions at the Avon Creek Greenway which leads to Lineberger Park approximately 1.1 miles away. After this junction, the Catawba Creek Greenway parallels the Municipal Golf Course and terminates at Ferguson Park.  Combined, the Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway is approximately 3 miles. 

 

The trail is open to walkers, joggers, inline skaters, and cyclists, and is handicapped accessible. There is an additional trail connector to Ferguson Park.
 
Hours of Operation: Dawn - Dusk, daily.
 
Physical Address:
632 E Garrison Blvd
Gastonia, NC 28054
 

 

 

The 1.5 mile long Highland Rail Trail is constructed along the historic Carolina and Northwestern Railway (C&NW). Running north, the Highland Rail Trail begins downtown at Long Avenue near Broad Street and currently ends at Rankin Lake Road, north of I-85. It’s an urban trail meandering through residential neighborhoods and industrial areas, with access to Marietta Street, Davidson Street and Rankin Lake Road. The rail-trail is part of a planned system that will connect Downtown Gastonia to Rankin Lake Park.

 

Parking is available along the trail at Sims Legion Park.  Parking is also available in Downtown Gastonia across the railroad trench, south of the Long Avenue/Broad Street trailhead.

 

The trail is open to walkers, joggers, inline skaters, and cyclists.

Hours of Operation: Dawn - Dusk, daily.
 
Physical Address:
1001 N Marietta St

Gastonia, NC 28054