By far my favorite Greenway in Charlotte. Be prepared to forget that you are in a city.
In a nutshell
- Private Path: away from the street--only you, a creek, and a path.
- Safe: no streets=no cars (ok once, when crossing David Taylor Dr.).
- Shady under a green canopy of trees
- Length: It just keeps going...
- Quiet: easier to escape and enjoy the beauty
More detailed (cause it deserves it!):
I suggest starting right across from UNCC at the Kirk Farms Fields (210 East Mallard Creek Church Road). You can park right there (or a new bridge connects it from campus!). There is also water fountain there.
Your journey begins crossing under a roads to follow the paved path of a small creek under the canopy of wonderfully green trees (except for Fall/Winter of course). Once you pass under Tryon, your only companions are a creek, some distant apartments, and--for a short while--the tantalizing smell of the nearby Cook-Out.
After 1.5 miles of pavement, crossing David Taylor Dr greets you with a dirt/gravel path throughout the University Research Park. At first there are occasional schools and a dog park, but then you are relatively alone in nature for the next 1.5 miles.
At the 3 mile mark, the path becomes paved and you have the choice to cross a foot bridge to continue on the Mallard Creek Greenway or stay straight onto Clark's Greenway. Either way you go, houses start to line the path, but still avoid any surface streets--though I usually turn around here for a good 6 mile run.
When I lived close by, I would come here 3-4 times a week. It doesn't get old, in fact, it is fun to watch how the path changes throughout different seasons.