Lake Norman State Park

Created in 1962 on shoreline donated by Duke Power — and first called Duke Power State Park — Lake Norman State Park in Troutman covers about 17 miles of the lake’s northern shore. Entry is free. The Itusi Trail is a 30-mile network of stacked mountain-bike loops (Hawk, Hicks Creek, Norwood Creek, Monbo, Laurel, Wildlife, Fallstown and Fox) that also welcomes hikers; the 5-mile Lake Shore Trail is for hikers only. In summer there’s a swim beach (small daily fee), a campground and cabins, and seasonal canoe, kayak, pedal-boat and paddleboard rentals.

Beaches

Ramsey Creek Park in Cornelius has a guarded swim beach in season, picnic shelters, a playground, a dog park and an accessible fishing pier. Lake Norman State Park has the other public beach. Swimming elsewhere is at your own risk — stay well clear of boat traffic and never swim near the dam or power-station intakes.

Mountain Creek Park

Catawba County’s 606-acre park on the lake’s northwest tip near Sherrills Ford is one of the best new parks in the region: nearly 20 miles of trails for bikes and hikers, a paved ADA trail, a pump track and tot track, a treehouse-style playground and a paddle launch.

Greenways and town parks

Davidson’s greenways connect downtown with Fisher Farm Park’s mountain-bike trails and archery range; the McDowell Creek Greenway links Birkdale Village toward Cornelius; and Cornelius’s Robbins Park, Bailey Road and Caldwell Station greenways add miles more. Mooresville’s Mazeppa Park has seven miles of bike trail, and Huntersville’s 213-acre Bradford Park is the town’s largest.

Mountain Island Lake

Just downstream, Latta Nature Preserve and Historic Rural Hill sit on quieter Mountain Island Lake, with paddling launches, hiking and the Carolina Raptor Center.