Five-Star Trails: Charlotte. Joshua Kinser

four elements make up the heart of the hike. “Overview” gives you a quick summary of what to expect on that trail; “Route Details” guide you on the hike, start to finish; “Nearby Attractions” suggests appealing adjacent sites, such as restaurants, museums, and other trails. “Directions” will get you to the trailhead from a well-known road or highway.

      Weather

      In Charlotte, you can experience all four seasons. Enjoy these variations, but always give careful consideration to weather and prepare accordingly—especially when heading into mountainous areas to the north, west, and east of the city.

      As a Southern city, Charlotte can get brutally hot in the summer—just the right time to head for higher, cooler ground in the surrounding mountainous areas. Summer also can bring afternoon thunderstorms, so it’s often best to hike in the morning or evening, not only to beat the heat but also to avoid exposure to seriously dangerous lightning.

      Spring and fall are long and mild and are the best times for hiking anywhere in and around the city. Spring weather can be volatile, however: a warm, beautiful, sunny day can turn into a cold and rainy one in a matter of hours. Visitors flock to the most popular trails in the fall, as the leaves begin to turn and display their colors. During these peak seasons, you should consider hiking early in the morning or during weekdays to avoid crowds.

      Winter brings the city comparatively mild temperatures that only occasionally drop below freezing. The same can’t be said for the higher elevations surrounding Charlotte, though—there you’ll encounter frigid, below-freezing temperatures and occasionally snow, sleet, and hail. So plan accordingly in terms of attire and, very importantly, in terms of time: winter daylight hours are short, especially if you are hiking in forested areas.

      The following chart lists average temperatures and precipitation by month for the Charlotte region. For each month, “Hi Temp” lists the average daytime high, “Lo Temp” lists the average nighttime low, and “Rain or Snow” lists the average precipitation. Expect cooler temperatures in the higher elevations, especially those in South Mountains and Morrow Mountain state parks.

      Water

      How much is enough? Well, one simple physiological fact should convince you to err on the side of excess when deciding how much water to pack: a hiker walking steadily in 90º heat needs to drink approximately 10 quarts of fluid per day. That’s 2.5 gallons. A good rule of thumb is to hydrate before your hike, carry (and drink) 6 ounces of water for every mile you plan to hike, and hydrate again after the hike. For most people, the pleasures of hiking make carrying water a relatively minor price to pay to remain safe and healthy. So pack more water than you anticipate that you’ll need, even for short hikes.

      If you’re tempted to drink “found” water, do so with extreme caution. Many ponds and lakes encountered by hikers are fairly stagnant, and the water tastes terrible. Drinking such water presents inherent risks for thirsty trekkers. The intestinal parasite giardia contaminates many water sources and cause the dreaded illness giardiasis, which can last for weeks after onset. For information, visit the Centers for Disease Control website: cdc.gov/parasites/giardia.

      In any case, effective purification is essential before you use any water source found along the trail. Boiling water for 2–3 minutes is always a safe measure for camping, but day hikers can consider iodine tablets, approved chemical mixes, filtration units rated for giardia, and ultraviolet filtration. Some of these methods (for example, filtration with an added carbon filter) remove bad tastes typical in stagnant water, while others add their own taste. As a precaution, carry a means of water purification to get you by in a pinch or if you realize you’ve underestimated your consumption needs.

      Clothing

      Weather, unexpected trail conditions, fatigue, extended hiking duration, and wrong turns can individually or collectively turn a great outing into a very uncomfortable one at best—and a life-threatening one at worst. Thus, proper attire plays a key role in staying comfortable and, sometimes, in staying alive. Here are some helpful guidelines:

       Choose silk, wool, or synthetics for maximum comfort—from hats to socks and in between. Cotton is fine if the weather remains dry and stable, but you won’t be happy if that material gets wet.

       Always wear a hat, or at least tuck one into your day pack or hitch it to your belt. Hats offer all-weather sun and wind protection as well as warmth if it turns cold.

       Be ready to layer up or down as the day progresses and the mercury rises or falls. Today’s outdoor wear makes layering easy, with such designs as jackets that convert to vests and zip-off or button-up legs.

       Wear hiking boots or sturdy hiking sandals with toe protection. Flip-flopping a paved urban greenway is one thing, but never hike a trail in open sandals or casual sneakers. Your bones and arches need support, and your skin needs protection.

       Pair that footwear with good socks! If you prefer not to sheathe your feet when wearing hiking sandals, tuck some socks into your day pack; you may need them if temperatures plummet or if you hit rocky turf and pebbles begin to irritate your feet. And, in an emergency, if you’ve lost your gloves, you can adapt the socks into mittens.

       Don’t leave your rain gear at home, even if the day dawns clear and sunny. Tuck into your day pack, or tie around your waist, a jacket that is breathable and either water-resistant or waterproof. Investigate different choices at your local outdoors retailer. If you’re a frequent hiker, ideally you’ll have more than one rain-gear weight, material, and style in your closet to protect you in all seasons in your regional climate and hiking microclimates.

      Essential Gear

      Today you can buy outdoor vests that have up to 20 pockets shaped and sized to carry everything from toothpicks to binoculars. Or if you don’t aspire to feel like a burro, you can neatly stow all of these items in your day pack or backpack. The following list showcases never-hike-without-them items—in alphabetical order, for easy reference.

       Extra clothes: Rain gear, warm hat, gloves, and change of socks and shirt.

       Extra food: Trail mix, granola bars, or other high-energy foods.

       Flashlight or headlamp: Include extra bulb and batteries.

       Insect repellent: For some areas and seasons, this is extremely vital.

       Maps and high-quality compass: Even if you know the terrain from previous hikes, don’t leave home without these tools. And, as previously noted, bring maps in addition to those in this guidebook, and consult your maps prior to the hike. If you are versed in GPS usage, bring that device too, but don’t rely on it as your sole navigational tool, as the battery can dwindle or die. And be sure to compare its guidance with that of your maps.

       Matches (ideally, windproof) and/or a lighter: A fire starter is also a good