McDowell Nature Preserve - Chestnut Loop Trail

McDowell Nature Preserve in southwest Mecklenburg County protects over 1,140 acres of forested, rolling terrain along the banks of Lake Wylie. Over 90% of the nature preserve is undeveloped, which offers many wildlife and hiking opportunities. The preserve also offers an accessible trail, two playgrounds, picnic shelters, nature center and a campground.

All of McDowell is considered mature forest; the oldest trees are between 170-190 years. It can be described as a mature Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest community in very good condition dominated by a mixture of oaks and hickories such as White Oak, Red Oak, Black Oak, Mockernut Hickory, Sweet Pignut Hickory, and Pignut Hickory.Rare plants that may occur in Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest are Piedmont indigo-bush, Nestronia, Indian physic and Biltmore carrion-flower. McDowell has been deemed by the Secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to qualify as an outstanding natural area under statutory criteria for nature preserve dedication. McDowell Nature Preserve is rated at the highest level for NCNHP’s Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitat Assessment scale.

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