About 12.8 miles of greenway and trail run inside Huntersville, with McDowell Creek reaching Birkdale Village. Maps, trailheads and the new e-bike rules.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Distances come from Mecklenburg County’s greenway listing and its greenway trail map data; maps from the Town of Huntersville’s greenway and trail page. In an emergency on a greenway, call 911 and give the greenway’s name, the county says.
About 12.8 miles of greenways, urban trails and natural-surface trail run inside Huntersville’s town limits. The town calls its network The Huntersville Vine. The longest pieces follow McDowell Creek and Torrence Creek, and one reaches Birkdale Village. For longer, wilder walks, the county’s nature preserves on the lakes add miles of trail.
What this means for you
- Longest greenway: McDowell Creek, from Cornelius to N.C. 73 at Birkdale Village.
- Downtown: the Huntersville Downtown Greenway, with a trailhead at 102 Gilead Road.
- E-bikes: allowed on greenways if Class 1, 2 or 3; helmets for riders under 18.
- Maps: linked below for every trail.
The greenways in town
From the county’s greenway trail data, miles inside Huntersville’s limits:
| Trail | Miles in town |
|---|---|
| McDowell Creek Greenway | 3.3 |
| McDowell Creek Dirtway | 2.5 |
| Torrence Creek Tributary Greenway | 2.5 |
| Torrence Creek Greenway | 2.4 |
| Huntersville Downtown Greenway | 1.1 |
| Hambright Road Urban Trail | 0.4 |
| Short connectors (Bryton, Caldwell Station Creek, Cane Creek, Clarks Creek) | 0.7 |
The county’s greenway listing describes the main routes end to end:
- McDowell Creek Greenway: 2.82 miles from Magnolia Estates Drive to N.C. 73 at Birkdale Village, connecting Cornelius and Huntersville and linking to 2.18 miles of urban trails.
- McDowell Creek, Torrence Creek and Torrence Tributary greenways: 3.72 miles from near Chilgrove Lane to Cedar River Road and Compass Street.
Maps and trailheads
The town’s greenway and trail page links a map for each:
- Downtown Greenway map. The downtown greenway trailhead is at 102 Gilead Road, which the town also lists as event parking.
- Upper McDowell Creek Greenway map
- Torrence Creek Greenway map
- Latta Nature Preserve trail map
- Lake Norman Bike Route brochure
- Buckeye Cove and Rural Hill trail maps, through the county’s nature map library.
The town’s 2024 map of existing greenways and future projects shows what is planned, from its Huntersville Vine page.
Trails in parks and preserves
- North Mecklenburg Park, 16131 Old Statesville Road: a mountain bike trail and a walking trail.
- Walking trails at David B. Waymer Park, Huntersville Athletic Park, Rosedale Nature Park (with greenway access), Holbrook Park and Richard Barry Memorial Park.
- Latta Nature Preserve, 5226 Sample Road: trails, horseback riding and fishing on Mountain Island Lake. The Carolina Raptor Center’s Raptor Trail is on the same road.
- Rural Hill Nature Preserve, 4431 Neck Road, and Buckeye Cove Nature Preserve: walking trails.
More detail is on our parks and trails page. The county says numerous miles of mountain bike trails are managed by the Tarheel Trailblazers.
E-bike rules (new in 2026)
On Sept. 15, 2026, the Huntersville Board of Commissioners adopted an e-bike ordinance:
- Allowed: Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes, with motors of 750 watts or less, on roads, streets, sidewalks and multiuse paths such as greenways.
- Helmets: required for riders and passengers under 18.
- Penalty: a $50 citation; unpaid after 15 days, it can become a civil penalty, and a continuing violation can bring a citation each day.
- Not covered: e-motorcycles, which state law already regulates.
The town also asks riders to slow down near walkers, call “On your left!” or ring a bell before passing, keep right and use lights at dawn and dusk.
Have a say
The town’s Greenway, Trail and Bikeway Commission advises the town board and meets in public at Town Center, 105 Gilead Road; schedules are on its commission page. Contact: Tracy Houk, assistant director.
More: dog-friendly Huntersville and free things to do.
Frequently asked questions
How many miles of greenway does Huntersville have?
About 12.8 miles of active greenways, urban trails and dirt trail inside town limits, according to Mecklenburg County’s trail data, led by the McDowell Creek Greenway.
Where does the McDowell Creek Greenway go?
Mecklenburg County lists a 2.82-mile section from Magnolia Estates Drive to N.C. 73 at Birkdale Village that connects Cornelius and Huntersville, plus a 3.72-mile McDowell Creek, Torrence Creek and Torrence Tributary section from near Chilgrove Lane to Cedar River Road and Compass Street.
Are e-bikes allowed on Huntersville greenways?
Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes with motors of 750 watts or less are allowed on roads, sidewalks and multiuse paths such as greenways under an ordinance the town board adopted Sept. 15, 2026. Riders and passengers under 18 must wear a helmet.
Where can I mountain bike in Huntersville?
North Mecklenburg Park, 16131 Old Statesville Road, has a mountain bike trail, and the McDowell Creek Dirtway is a natural-surface trail. The county says many mountain bike trails are managed by the Tarheel Trailblazers.
Have your say