Marion Diehl
Distance: 3 mi Elevation Gain: 250 ft Est. Time: About 20-30 mins Difficulty: Intermediate
Connected to Backyard Trail, Park Road and Portal by the Little Sugar Creek greenway, it offers steep and primitive riding with lots of climbing and a few optional features.
The Marion Diehl trail system winds for three miles around Marion Diehl Park. It is part of the trail system connected by the Little Sugar Creek greenway that includes Backyard Trails, Park Road Park and Portal.
The riding is primitive singletrack, and can be steep in places. There are challenging root staircases, fun gulleys, and a few optional features.
In some places it winds across and even along the paved Hope Creek Greenway, so keep an eye out for trail markings and directions at entrances and exits.
People usually access Marion Diehl from the Little Sugar Creek greenway and ride the loop uphill from there, often in conjunction with one of the other nearby trails. . However It is possible to park at Marion Diehl Recreation Center and ride this trail by itself.
Tarheel Trailblazers volunteers maintain the trails in partnership with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation.
Interactive Trail Map
More riding nearby
Backyard Trails
Park Road Park
Portal
Details & Logistics
Marion Diehl Recreation Center
2219 Tyvola Rd, Charlotte NC 28210
Across Tyvola Rd from the main trails, right by the Marion Diehl loop. Restrooms inside the rec center when it's open. The trail can be accessed at its highest point directly from the parking via the paved greenway trail running through the large green crosswalk in the parking lot. Reach the other trails nearby via the Lower Sugar Creek greenway at the lowest point of this trail.
Get DirectionsOther options
Many riders access Marion Diehl as part of a longer ride by riding in and out from the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. See Backyard Trails, Park Road Park and Portal trail pages for other parking options for the larger connected trail system.
Park is usually open dawn to dusk.
Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on trails. Class 1 means bikes that only provide electric assistance when pedaling, don’t have a throttle and don't provide assistance over 20mph. Any bike with a throttle or that can provide electric assistance over 20mph is not allowed on trails because of the safety risk to other trail users, and the hard to repair trail damage they cause.
Can take a while to dry after heavy rains, so always check status on our website.
Trail access at Little Sugar Creek is near the intersection of Little Sugar Creek and Hope Creek Greenways. In a few places it winds across and even along the paved Hope Creek Greenway, so keep an eye out for trail markings and directions at entrances and exits.
Park is open dawn to dusk so no night riding.
A lot of food and drink options available 1.5 miles north on the greenway, along Park Road (accessible via various greenway exits) or 1.5 miles away at Park Road Shopping Center. Bike shops in Park Rd Shopping Center and on Selwyn Avenue/Brandywine. Gas available on Park Road or Tyvola/Fairview.
Restrooms inside the Marion Diehl rec center when it's open.
First Timer Tips
- If you like the main Backyard Trails singletrack, you’ll probably like Marion Diehl - it has a lot of short turns, root and rock climbs and some interesting concrete features. Overall a bit less technically challenging than BYT.
- There are a number of short but steep climbs - don’t be surprised if you have to walk a couple of them the first few rides
- Most people ride Marion Diehl as part of a longer ride including part of Backyard Trails, Park Road Park or Portal. They are all nearby and connected by the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.