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Lowell South Fork River Trail

5 ★★★★★ 2 Google reviews · Running trail in Gastonia, North Carolina · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

We have not been able to confirm the surface, distance or shape of Lowell South Fork River Trail yet from its own listing, the park's website or runner reviews — so those cells stay blank rather than guess. What is below comes straight from the listing and from reviewers' own words. 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.

Lowell South Fork River Trail — running trail in Gastonia, NC, photo 1
Trailhead parking

What runners say about Lowell South Fork River Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (2 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

recommended! beautiful and quiet. not difficult to navigate. Just over a half a mile each direction. leads into a nice neighborhood and it ends there.

★★★★★ — Chris , Nov 2025

Great gravel trail that winds down towards the river. Connects to Poston Park.

★★★★★ — Bailey , Dec 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 2 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Lowell South Fork River Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitelowellnc.gov

Where to find Lowell South Fork River Trail

1101 Lowell Spencer Mountain Rd, Gastonia, NC 28056

Get directions

Running trails near Gastonia

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Poston Park River Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 51 reviews

Gastonia, NC

MixedScenic

Peaceful hiking area with picnic tables and a lake for fishing.

under a mile away

Spencer Mountain Trail

5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Gastonia, NC

under a mile away

George Poston Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,477 reviews

Gastonia, NC

12 miLoopPavedShaded

Dog-friendly park with sports fields, trails, a lake, picnicking, playgrounds & mountain biking.

under a mile away

South Fork River Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 82 reviews

Gastonia, NC

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Riverside scenic park featuring trails, picnic tables and benches as well as hiking and fishing.

1.3 miles away

Carolina Thread Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Gastonia, NC

Scenic

2.3 miles away

South Fork Trail and Blueway Access

4.5 ★★★★★ 138 reviews

McAdenville, NC

2.4 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Trail to stroll along the South Fork River past a disused cotton mill and for canoeing.

2.3 miles away

All running trails in Gastonia, NC →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.