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| - Shaped somewhat like the coastal lines of India (imagine a squiggly V if you're not geographically inclined), this series of greenways has a lot to offer. It is the combination of the Lower McAlpine Creek, McMullen Creek, and Four Mile Creek Greenways, each with a little something different to offer than the other.
Starting at the Four Mile Creek Greenway (begins right at the intersection of Bevington Pl and Rea Rd, but a more convenient entrance can be at the corner of Elm Ln and Rea, beside the Trader Joes), there is a short bit of pavement before you enter onto the "boardwalk." The boardwalk is a very well maintained crossing through the floodplains in the area. Though wooden it is easy to traverse on any type of bike, though obviously you won't get up to very high speeds.
Trees overhang most of the greenway and are a welcome home to many types of wildlife including many types of birds such as ducks, heron, warblers, and woodpeckers. Every so often there is a place where you can pull aside from the main path over these floodplains, allowing you to relax, fix your stupid bike computer, or read the wildlife preservation signs that have been posted by the parks department. Eventually you'll hit pavement and really be able to move if you're on wheels.
Leaving the Four Mile Creek Greenway you enter onto the Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway which is nothing overly significant, just more of the same, but still nice. In this portion of the connected greenways you will pass under 485, hit the bottom of the "V" to turn around, and once again pass under 485, leading you to McMullen Creek Greenway.
Once again, nothing overly exciting about McMullen Creek Greenway, but not to take away from it, it just doesn't feel any different than the previous two, except for the last 3/4 mile portion which is packed dirt/light gravel much like the McAlpine Creek Greenway (not to be confused with Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway which is being covered in this review) north of here. The "gravel" is very easy to travel on and will bring you to the end of the greenways right at Pineville-Matthews Rd between Blue Heron Dr (to the west) and Johnston Rd (to the east, obviously).
This greenway, due to its length (5.8 miles of greenway, 1.0mi of combined neighborhood entrances), shade, beauty, and perhaps location is one of the busier greenways that I've been on in the area, probably the busiest. I can't subtract any points from that because it's just a testament to its awesomenessosity (yeah, it's like that). So if you're on wheels, keep your throat ready for the constant "on your left!" that you'll be shouting to alert walkers (many with dogs) as you whiz by. If you're a walker, there really aren't many cyclists on the greenway, and what there are, are mostly cruiser types, so no need to worry about Fido and Schwinn becoming all too familiar with each other.
This also seems to be the greenway I most often see families and groups on, so it's very friendly for a cheap to free excursion on a nice day. If you need to stop there are benches throughout the course and the course itself is typically plenty wide.
There is ample parking at each end of the course as well as at the Johnston Rd entrance where the Four Mile Creek and Lower McAlpine Creek Greenways connect. There are water fountains at these locations as well. I've added pics to the review. Overall the greenway system is beautiful and a great escape from the city/suburban sprawl, you'd hardly know that it ran past so many roads.
Now that you've done that 6 miles, turn around, pick up the speed, and do it in reverse!
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