Outdoor Adventures Make for a Great Weekend Getaway in Gaston County
Updated: Jan 19, 2023
Fall is absolutely the best time to get outside as temperatures cool and landscapes come brilliantly alive. Get out and explore this weekend in Gaston County.
Check out our brand new Fall Guide 2021, showcasing the best way to experience Gaston County this season. Enjoy the outdoors, locate our most scenic views, explore our historic downtowns, indulge in our most unique dining, and create lasting memories with family and friends.
Get outside and explore
With the help of the Carolina Thread Trail, Gaston County offers more than 25 miles of trails incorporating both natural-surface and paved, giving all visitors a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy nature.
Our crowning jewel, Crowders Mountain, presents the most spectacular views rising 1,500 feet above the surrounding Piedmont. A carpet of fall colors, including raw sienna and burnt umber, can be appreciated from the summit of its sheer rock cliffs. Dedication of the people to the preservation of the natural rocky monadnocks found here has earned Gaston County its reputation as a regional hiking destination. Check out the trails to understand what makes Gaston the go-to for weekend warriors from all over the southeast.
Other impressive hikes around the county include George Poston Park, Seven Oaks Preserve Trail, Mountain Island Park, and the South Fork Rail Trail.
Paddle Our Rivers
Running along the eastern border of Gaston County is the slow flowing Catawba River and its South Fork. The warmer climate in this area means paddling is enjoyable well into the fall. Take in the colors from the banks of our rivers on the 11 Mills Blueway.
Paddle the day away by kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard. Easy access points along this blueway can be found at the Riverbend Access on Mountain Island Lake, River Street Park in Mount Holly, or U.S. National Whitewater Center. The undeveloped and protected shoreline here will make for a relaxing day and another way to enjoy the season.
Put in at the Spencer Mountain Access of the South Fork Blueway for a leisurely 8.4-mile paddle through Gaston’s County’s historic mill towns. Along the way a portage trail will circumvent a dam at McAdenville to continue the trip toward Lake Wylie. Take time for a break and bite to eat at South Fork Village in Belmont or Goat Island in downtown Cramerton.
Meet us in our colorful downtowns
Make your weekend complete by taking time to explore the best of our downtowns where you will find a festive fall spirit along with shopping, dining, and local entertainment.
Sip locally made craft beverages
The Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail features breweries, a rum distillery, and wineries extending beyond the boundaries of Gaston County. Each venue has a unique feel and would make a great addition to any of our fall events.
A great place to stay
Our accommodations are conveniently located close to major highways and include national brands, historic boutiques, bed & breakfasts and Airbnbs. Whether you are traveling in a large group, a family, or all by yourself, you will find well appointed properties with all the amenities you may need for a short or long stay.
If you are looking for something with history, charm and romance, the Esquire Hotel, of the Ascend Hotel Collection is a national landmark. Originally built as a bank in 1918, it has now been transformed into this upscale hotel. Barrister’s restaurant, located in the hotel lobby, serves sophisticated southern cuisine and has a great bar.
Easy to find
Gaston County is located in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina just west of Charlotte, the largest metropolis in the the state. I-85 runs straight through Gaston County linking it to cities in the northeast and southeast, while I-77 and I-40 provide easy Midwest access.
Don’t miss the splendor of the season in Gaston County, NC. Check out our Fall Guide 2021 regularly so you won’t miss a thing.
Gaston County Tourism Development
620 North Main Street, Belmont, NC 28012
GoGastonNC.org | TravelGuide@GoGastonNC.org
