Pharr Family Preserve Trail - Carolina Thread Trail - Midland, North Carolina

Will M.

Nice trail near the river. I saw several songbirds in the brush near the river. There is boat access via steps leading down to the river. The hours are too restrictive and preclude a lot of people from going. The signs are nailed right against the trees instead of leaving space for the tree to grow which seems like an elementary installation step. The parking lot could and should be surrounded by low maintenance natives instead of manicured grass with weed killer sprayed next to the posts.

S B.

3/14/18 It's a good little out and back trail that runs along the river. It has a kayak/canoe launch a little ways down the trail from the parking lot. No restrooms. The trail is flatter than that of nearby Buffalo Creek. One thing I don't like is that it has a sliding gate that closes at night.

Erica

Totally agree with the other reviews, this trail is beautiful and has a lot of potential. Parts of it remind me of the Buffalo Creek trail about 10 minutes up the road from the Pharr Farm Trail. The canoe launch is closed. The bridge (about a 15-20 minute run or 30 minute walk ahead) is broken and moved out of the way. You could technically cross without the bridge but it would involve mud, water plus a little slip & slide or long jumping to across it to avoid it. The trail looks overgrown past this point of the broken bridge though. It would be a shame not to fix it as this is a great spot. It’s a great trail you could walk or run a few times back and forth if you I wanted peace and quiet as no one really comes here. The gate closes after 5:00 pm seasonally and during late spring-early fall it closes at 8:00 pm. If you’re still at the trail after this time you can still get out as the gate will automatically open when you pull up to it.

Charles F. T. U.

A few paths were washed out. The canoe launch was out of service, boards missing washed away.
Parking lot is small, gravel. The park has a shared driveway that is locked at night.
Hopefully in the future this will be a nice park to bike, hike and conoe.

Nick H.

Great little hike it would be nice if the bridge and kayak launch were repaired. We had a wonderful bike ride and hike through the woods even though it was shorter.

Monty M.

Part of the Carolina Thread Trail collection, this is an easy trail that walks you thru fantasticly varying forest lands just next to the Rocky River.
There are not many ups and downs on this trail making it easy for most adventurers. A few benches and wooden bridges over the creeks are a nice set of milestones during the hike.

An out-and-back hike trail (unless you brought a kayak;) that abruptly ends only once you wonder 'Hey, How long is this trail anyway ?'

The kayak launch (part of Carolina Thread Trail Blueway ) is a few hundred yards down the trail from the parking lot. On the right & clearly marked as Rocky River Blueway.

Rains can make the trails super soft and muddy, with little run off available. But the river is wild and floods as it wants making muddy and slightly risky adventures, but with unique experiences, scenery, and photography opportunities.

This has become one of my favorite hour+ hikes in the area because of the unique flora, established trail, and water views. Each Season of the year in these woods is unique in its flowering colors, flora density & the views themselves.
Jun2023 - new benches added thru the length of the trail.

Enjoy these enjoyable woods.
- Monty

"The taste for the beautiful is most cultivated out of doors."
-Henry David Thoreau.

Nicholas M.

very peaceful, 1.7 mile walking, hiking, and biking trail, with a kayak launch pad. now, i wanna a kayak. 😂

Gabby W.

I’m sure the trail would have been nice but when we got there the mosquitos were TERRIBLE. So bad we walked about 5 mins and turned around because we were being swarmed.