Home › North Carolina › Charlotte › Iswa Nature Preserve
Iswa Nature Preserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 183 Google reviews · Running trail in Charlotte, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Iswa Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Unpaved nature preserve featuring a looped trail along the Catawba River with benches.
What runners say about Iswa Nature Preserve
“The day I went they had a group doing clean up, which was good to see.”
“This is a beautiful nature Preserve with nature trails right on the banks of Catawba river.”
“The trail is shaded and has numerous water access points.”
“Was not crowded at all when I went there in the afternoon on a Tuesday”
Lovely little spot. Pretty easy hike. All trails said 1.40 miles. Made a cute little friend that was hiding in the hole at the start of the trail! Encountered no humans on a Monday around lunch, nice and peaceful!
This is a beautiful nature Preserve with nature trails right on the banks of Catawba river.
Nice short trail, path is paved at the beginning but a dirt path after. Might be stroller friendly if you have one with big wheels, but I didn't try a stroller. Path starts along the river then goes into the woods and circles back to the river. No bikes or motorized vehicles.
a nice shady trail. lots of people like to fish along the river here. pretty quick one mile, windy loop! fairly limited parking.
Trail conditions & character
“This is a beautiful nature Preserve with nature trails right on the banks of Catawba river.”
“Very nice short loop hike, some of it along the river banks.”
“The trail is shaded and has numerous water access points.”
“Was not crowded at all when I went there in the afternoon on a Tuesday”
“Nice short trail, path is paved at the beginning but a dirt path after.”
“Favorite place to walk my dog, a bit popular on the weekends but don’t see many people otherwise.”
“Might be stroller friendly if you have one with big wheels, but I didn't try a stroller.”
“Nice short trail, path is paved at the beginning but a dirt path after.”
Plan your run at Iswa Nature Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Charlotte
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 956 reviews
Riverfront park featuring a playground and swings, plus a dock for fishing, paddling and kayaking.
Stowe Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,076 reviews
Small downtown park popular with kids featuring a big playground, a walking loop & seasonal events.
Rocky Branch Park - Belmont, NC
4.6 ★★★★★ 116 reviews
Popular park with hiking paths, wooden bridges, a pump track and jump lines.
A&E Riverfront Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 88 reviews
Paved path following the river and other areas along the waterfront, featuring a playground.
