top of page

Free & Low Cost Things To Do

Looking for free things to do in Gaston County? Explore parks, walking trails, farmers markets, and public places close to home—open to everyone.

Easy, Affordable Ways to Enjoy Gaston County

Things To Do

Hiking
Ranlo Splash Pad

15 Park Drive, Ranlo, NC, USA

Hiking
Walker E Reid III Park

109 West 2nd Avenue, Gastonia, NC, USA

Hiking
Erwin Center, Park & Swimming Pool

913 N Pryor St Gastonia

Hiking
Tryon Park

2851 Tryon Courthouse Road, Bessemer City, NC, USA

Hiking
Southpoint Access

175 Boat Launch Road, Belmont, NC, USA

Hiking
Kings Mountain Gateway Trail

807 S Battleground Ave, Kings Mountain, NC, USA

Hiking
Kings Mountain Farmers Market

313 South Battleground Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, USA

Hiking
Stinger Park

555 Stinger Park Way, Bessemer City, NC, USA

Hiking
Lineberger Berry Hill Farm

2400 Hudson Poultry Rd, Iron Station, NC 28080, USA

Hiking
Bessemer City Public Library

207 N 12th St, Bessemer City, NC, USA

Hiking
Cherryville Public Library

605 East Main Street, Cherryville, NC, USA

Hiking
TECH at Lowell Library

203 McAdenville Road, Lowell, NC, USA

Hiking
Dallas Public Library

105 South Holland Street, Dallas, NC, USA

Hiking
Union Road Public Library

5800 Union Road, Gastonia, NC, USA

Hiking
Stanley Public Library

205 North Peterson Street, Stanley, NC, USA

Hiking
Mount Holly Public Library

245 West Catawba Avenue, Mount Holly, NC, USA

Hiking
Ferguson Public Library

913 North Pryor Street, Gastonia, NC, USA

Hiking
Belmont Public Library

125 North Central Avenue, Belmont, NC, USA

Hiking
Gaston County Library Main Branch

1555 East Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Hiking
Harold Rankin Park

519 Park Circle, Lowell, NC 28098, USA

Hiking
Mauney Memorial Library

100 South Piedmont Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, USA

Hiking
Belmont Farmers Market

24 S Main St, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Hiking
Gaston County Museum

131 W Main St, Dallas, NC 28034, USA

Hiking
North Belmont Park

3110 Hickory Grove Rd, Gastonia, NC 28056, USA

Hiking
Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park

1400 Catawba St, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Hiking
Lineberger Maple Springs Farm

906 Dallas Stanley Hwy, Dallas, NC 28034, USA

Hiking
Lineberger Park

632 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Hiking
Martha Rivers Park

1515 Neal Hawkins Rd, Gastonia, NC 28056, USA

Hiking
Mount Holly Farmers Market

226 S Main St, Mt Holly, NC 28120, USA

Hiking
Patriots Park in Kings Mountain

220 S Railroad Ave, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, USA

Hiking
Phillips Center and Park

2031 Echo Ln, Gastonia, NC, USA

Hiking
Rankin Lake Park

1750 Rankin Lake Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Hiking
Ranlo Park

1624 Spencer Mountain Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Hiking
River Street Park in Mount Holly

330 N River St, Mt Holly, NC 28120, USA

Hiking
Riverside Park in Cramerton

75 Riverside Dr, Cramerton, NC 28032, USA

Hiking
Robert H Ballard Park

101 S Rudisill Ave, Cherryville, NC, USA

Hiking
Rocky Branch Park

103 Sacco St, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Hiking
Stowe Park in Belmont

24 S Main St, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Hiking
T Jeffers Center and Park

121 Hartman St, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Hiking
The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium

1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Hiking
Tuckaseege Park

165 Broome St, Mt Holly, NC 28120, USA

Hiking
African American Museum

300 South Firestone Street, Gastonia, NC, USA

Hiking
American Military Museum

109 W 2nd Ave, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Hiking
Bessemer City Park & Pool

220 S 14th St, Bessemer City, NC 28016, USA

Hiking
Crowders Mountain State Park

522 Park Office Ln, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Hiking
Dallas Park

1303 Dallas Cherryville Hwy, Dallas, NC 28034, USA

Hiking
Daniel Stowe Conservancy

6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Hiking
Davis Park

204 Park Dr, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Hiking
Gastonia Farmers Market

410 East Long Avenue, Gastonia, NC, USA

Hiking
George Poston Park

1101 Lowell Spencer Mountain Rd, Gastonia, NC 28056, USA

Hiking
Goat Island Park

141 8th Ave, Cramerton, NC 28032, USA

Hiking
Harper Park

301 Blacksnake Rd, Stanley, NC 28164, USA

Trails

Stinger Park Trails

​

555 Stinger Pk Wy, Bessemer City, NC 28016, USA

Paved, Sidewalk

Easy

​

Stowe Connector Trail

​

Seven Oaks Trail - New Hope Trailhead, 6900 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Gravel

Easy

1.20 miles, One Way

Demonstration Trail

​

200 Gobbler Wy, Stanley, NC 28164, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

.25 Mile

Harvest Hill Trail

​

200 Gobbler Wy, Stanley, NC 28164, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

.75 Mile

Talking Tree Trail

​

200 Gobbler Wy, Stanley, NC 28164, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

.85 Mile

Loblolly Loop Trail

​

200 Gobbler Wy, Stanley, NC 28164, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

1.35 mile loop

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail

​

807 South Battleground Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, USA

Gravel

Moderate, Easy, Advanced

4.80 miles, One Way

Cardio Hill Trail

​

807 South Battleground Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, USA

Gravel

Moderate

0.4 Miles One Way

Plateau Loop

​

807 South Battleground Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, USA

Paved, Gravel

Moderate

1.70 miles, One Way

Rail Trail Loop

​

807 South Battleground Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, USA

Gravel

Easy

.7 Miles

Living History Farm Trail

​

1577 Park Rd, Blacksburg, SC, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

1.5 miles

Kings Mountain Horse Trail

​

1277 Park Rd, Blacksburg, SC, USA

Natural Surface

Easy, Moderate

30+ mile loop

Kings Mountain Nature Trail

​

1277 Park Rd, Blacksburg, SC, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

1.2 mile loop

Kings Mountain Hiking Trail

​

Kings Mountain State Park, Park Road, Blacksburg, SC, USA

Natural Surface

Moderate

16 mile loop

Kings Mountain Battlefield Trail

​

2300 Park Road, Blacksburg, SC 29702, USA

Paved, Walking

Moderate

1.5 Mile Loop

Trails at Harpers Park

​

301 Blacksnake Road, Stanley, NC, USA

Walking

Easy

​

South Fork Ridge Trail

​

1101 Lowell Spencer Mountain Road, Lowell, NC 28056, USA

Gravel

Moderate

0.8 Miles One Way

Paved Greenway at Poston Park

​

1101 Lowell Spencer Mountain Road, Lowell, NC 28056, USA

Paved

Easy

1/2 mile

Walking track at Harold Rankin Park

​

519 Park Circle, Lowell, NC 28098, USA

Walking

Easy

​

Track at Bessemer City Park

​

1316 Crowders Mountain Road, Bessemer City, NC 28016, USA

​

Easy

​

Walking Track at Jaggers Park

​

424 South Spargo Street, Dallas, NC, USA

Paved

Easy

​

Track at Cloniger Park

​

305 W Church St, Dallas, NC 28034, USA

Walking

Easy

.2 Miles

Walking Track at Dallas Park

​

1303 Dallas Cherryville Highway, Dallas, NC, USA

Walking

Easy

1 Mile

McAdenville Greenway Park

​

501 Lakeview Drive, McAdenville, NC 28101, USA

Paved

Easy

0.8 miles, One Way

South Fork Rail Trail

​

2677 Laboratory Road, Lincolnton, NC 28092, USA

Natural Surface, Gravel

Easy

1.8 miles, One Way

Dutchmans Creek Greenway

​

300 North River Street, Mount Holly, NC, USA

Paved, Gravel

Easy

0.6 miles, One Way

Rocky Branch Trail

​

103 Sacco St, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Gravel, Natural Surface, Sidewalk

Easy, Moderate

1.20 miles, One Way

Turnback Trail

​

522 Park Drive, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, USA

Natural Surface

Easy, Moderate

1.2-mile, One way

Crowders Mountain Trail

​

4611 Linwood Rd, Gastonia, NC, USA

Natural Surface, Boardwalk, Gravel

Moderate

2.5 miles, One Way

Backside Trail

​

4611 Linwood Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Gravel

Advanced

0.50 miles, One Way

River Link Greenway

​

142 8th Ave, Cramerton, NC 28032, USA

Paved

Easy

0.70 miles, One Way

Trails at Whitewater Center

​

5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214, USA

Natural Surface

Easy, Moderate

50 Miles

Nature Trail at Schiele Museum

​

1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

0.7 mile loop

Meadowwood Walk at DSBG

​

6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

0.6 mile loop

Persimmon Trail at DSBG

​

6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

3.2 miles

Fern Trail at Crowders Mountain

​

522 Park Drive, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

0.80 miles loop

Tower Trail at Crowders Mountain

​

4611 Linwood Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Natural Surface

Advanced

1.8 miles one way

Rocktop Trail at Crowders Mountain

​

4611 Linwood Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Natural Surface

Advanced

1.4 miles one way

Pinnacle Trail at Crowders Mountain

​

522 Park Dr, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, USA

Natural Surface

Advanced

1.70 miles, One Way

Lake Trail at Crowders Mountain

​

522 Park Dr, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

0.8 miles loop

River Loop at Warlick YMCA

​

2221 Robinwood Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

1 mile

Quarry Loop at Warlick YMCA

​

2221 Robinwood Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Natural Surface

Easy, Moderate

1.66-mile circuit

Power Loop at Warlick YMCA

​

2221 Robinwood Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

1.39-mile circuit

Sytz Trail System at Warlick YMCA

​

2221 Robinwood Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Natural Surface

Easy

About 4 miles

Kings Mountain State Park Trail

​

1277 Park Rd, Clover, SC 29710, USA

Natural Surface

Moderate

3.1 Miles One Way

Mountain Island Park Trail

​

146 Mountain Island Rd, Mt Holly, NC 28120, USA

Trail

Easy

2.0 Miles One Way

Duke Kimbrell Trail

​

Seven Oaks Trail - New Hope Trailhead, 6900 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Natural Surface

Moderate

3.45 miles, One Way

Ridgeline Trail at Crowders Mountain

​

522 Park Drive, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, USA

Natural Surface, Gravel

Advanced

8 Miles One Way

Kings Mountain to Town via Sidewalk

​

807 S Battleground Ave, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, USA

Sidewalk, Paved

Easy

2.1 miles, One Way

Mount Holly Linear Park Trail

​

400 East Central Avenue, Mount Holly, NC, USA

Paved

Easy

.3 Miles One Way

A & E Riverfront Trail

​

231 Broome St, Mount Holly, NC, USA

Paved

Easy

1.5 Miles One Way

Belmont to Cramerton Sidewalk Connector

​

24 S Main St, Belmont, NC 28012, USA

Sidewalk

Easy

1.3 Miles

Goat Island Greenway

​

142 8th Ave, Cramerton, NC 28032, USA

Paved

Easy

.7 Miles One Way

Riverside Greenway

​

Riverside Dr, Cramerton, NC 28032, USA

Paved

Easy

1.3 Miles One Way

Bessemer City Park Trail

​

220 S 14th St, Bessemer City, NC 28016, USA

Paved, Boardwalk, Natural Surface

Easy

1.3 Miles One Way

Pharr Yarns Family Trail

​

119 Willow Drive, McAdenville, NC, USA

Natural Surface

Moderate

2.4 Miles One Way

Avon-Catawba Creeks Greenway

​

1401 Golf Course Dr, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA

Paved

Easy

4.5 Miles One Way

Robert H. Ballard Park

​

101 S Rudisill Ave, Cherryville, NC 28021, USA

Walking

Easy

​

Highland Rail Trail Downtown Sidewalk Connection

​

200 E Long Ave, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Paved

Easy

3.0 Miles One Way

Rankin Lake Park Trail

​

1750 Rankin Lake Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Walking, Jogging

Moderate

1.9 miles

Highland Rail Trail

​

200 E Long Ave, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA

Paved, Gravel

Easy

2.1 Miles One Way

bottom of page