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Mountain Island Park Trail is a 1.6-mile gravel and natural surface trail that winds alongside Catawba River.


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Map Key

1.6

Miles

2.6

KM

Singletrack

597' 182 m

High

571' 174 m

Low

42' 13 m

Up

33' 10 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (0°)

6%

Max Grade (4°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Need to Know

There are no public restrooms at the trailhead. After crossing the street from the parking lot there is a one mile gravel ride in on power company's right of ways. Please stay on the marked trail while on the right of way. You'll also be exiting the trails the same way.

This trail system has been expanded and is continuing to grow.

Description

The new access will be using the right of way gravel road under the transmission lines and will be signed and a new map at the parking area will show the way. After this, the trail becomes more wooded and heavily shaded for the next mile and there are four pedestrian bridges across small creeks. There is a short loop marking the end of the trail, where you can then return to the trailhead. Parking is located at 150 Mountain Island Drive, Mount Holly, across the street from the recycling center.

This is mostly an old school singletrack trail with good elevation along the Catawba River and has some cool and unique features built into it. The singletrack trail is accessed off of the two-mile Carolina Thread Trail.

After getting warmed up on the new access route (1 mile one way) you can enter the singletrack at Bridge #1 on the CTT through the trailhead archway. Bear to right for a lap or two on the beginner Boardwalk Loop. Boardwalk has a couple extended boardwalks on it for a little added fun.

Stepping it up a notch hop onto the intermediate Outer Loop and Inner Loop (accessed off of Outer Loop). After climbing through bermed switchbacks, you'll be treated to a fast downhill that runs through the trees complete with bermed turns and rollers culminating with several ladder bridges.

You can then jump on the River trail and enjoy a nice XC ride along the river or branch off and hit K2 and K34. Each one starts with a series of climbing switchbacks to the second and third peak respectively in the park. The exciting descent cuts across mostly side slope which has lots cool features to hit and beautiful views of the river. Both trails will put you where the loops start in case you want to hit either one again or you can easily continue on the River Trail to next part of the trail system.

Underpass is a new advanced trail that is accessed off of the River Trail (heading south) just before CTT Bridge #3. It is a short, but exciting, feature filled bypass of CTT Bridge #3. This trail is a one directional, bike only trail because of confined areas, open exposures to the river and limited tread width.

Where River trail (and the CTT) ends Siren Trail begins. Siren is a 1 mile along advanced trail that has some tough climbs with side slope descents. This feature filled trail ends back at CTT Bridge #5. Siren has features that are advanced/expert level and should be walked/inspected before riding, especially when riding for the first time.

Contacts

Land Manager: City of Mount Holly

Shared By:

Carolina Thread Trail with improvements by Brandon P and 1 other

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 12 votes

#7126

Overall
  4.3 from 12 votes
5 Star
50%
4 Star
25%
3 Star
25%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#191

in North Carolina

#7,126

Overall
15 Views Last Month
5,809 Since May 3, 2019
Intermediate Intermediate

9%
9%
55%
18%
0%
9%

Photos

jump @ inner loop
Jan 16, 2021 near Mount H…, NC
Mountain Island 1/21.
Feb 24, 2021 near Mount H…, NC
One of the boardwalks on the green boardwalk trail
Jan 22, 2021 near Mount H…, NC
Another boardwalk on the green boardwalk trail
Jan 22, 2021 near Mount H…, NC
jump @ inner loop
Jan 16, 2021 near Mount H…, NC
Mountain Island Park Trail
May 3, 2019 near Mount H…, NC
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 90 days ago
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Check-Ins

Oct 9, 2021
Monique C
Sep 20, 2021
Brandon P
6mi
Jan 30, 2021
Sharif Rehman
Jan 21, 2021
Brandon P
6.5mi — 12h 00m
Nov 28, 2020
Salem Congdon
Sep 2, 2020
Joe Pay
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