* Crowders Mountain State Park *
Gastonia, North Carolina
History
Park Map
Trailhead: From Charlotte, Take I-85 to exit 13, Turn left on Edgewood Road to Kings Mountain Highway (State Route 29/74), Go through light to on Archie Whitesides Road), Follow to end, Turn left on Sparrow Springs Rd,
Look for park entrance on right, The Linwood Road Access.
(Latitude: 35.14443 Longitude: -81.16164)
* Tower Trail & Back Trail *
Hike Type: Day Hike
Distance: 2.9 miles, about 2 hours
Scenery: 
Difficulty: 
Trail Conditions:
Highlights: On a clear day you can see downtown Charlotte over twenty miles away.
Summary:
We hiked these trails on a cool overcast day and it was worth it. The Tower Trail is a well maintained maintenance road which winds around the mountain to the Tower Overlook. This route is a moderately strenuous hike. The Backside Trail is steep and strenuous, but gets you to the top quick. There are benches along the trail for a rest and over a hundred steps near the top. Most people take the Backside Trail to get to the top fast then leisurely stroll down the Tower Trail back to the trailhead, either ways it's a nice hike. The best times to visit is the spring and fall avoiding the summer heat.
Here we are at the trailhead and the start of the Tower Trail.
View of the valley looking towards South Carolina and more of the Tower Trail.
A marker at the overlook and more views to the south.
The Backside Trail is fairly steep with a lot of steps at the top and then a look back up to Crowders Mountain..
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