Sherman Branch
Distance: 9 mi Elevation Gain: 600 ft Est. Time: 1-1.5 hrs for a full lap Difficulty: Intermediate
Fast, flowy singletrack on Charlotte’s eastern edge, full of berms, bridges and optional wooden features. Start on the Main Loop, then add optional Roller Coaster and Lake Loop for the full lap.
Sherman Branch sits inside Sherman Branch Nature Preserve, a Mecklenburg County preserve on Rocky River Church Road, on the eastern edge of Charlotte near Mint Hill. Tarheel Trailblazers volunteers started building the trails in 2006 and still look after them today.
The ride is a clockwise loop of tight, twisty singletrack. The Main Loop is where everyone starts. It has berm runs, bridges, log skinnies, small jumps and a few rock gardens, and most features have an easier line around them.
Two one-way side loops branch off the Main Loop. Roller Coaster is short and fast, with natural rollers, some quite steep. The Lake Loop runs past the biggest lake and contains a rock garden and a couple of creek crossings.
Along the way you’ll ride past creeks, ponds and the remains of old farms. Newer riders can stick to the Main Loop. Stronger riders can link all three for a full lap of about 11 miles.
Interactive Trail Map
Details & Logistics
Main Parking Lot (Rocky River Church Rd)
12435 Rocky River Church Rd, Charlotte, NC 28215
Gravel parking lot with trailhead kiosk and two port-a-potties. Trail entrance and exit are near the kiosk. Can get busy on weekends.
Get DirectionsOpen 7am to sunset. Gate is locked at sunset.
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.
Trails close when wet, usually for about 24 hours after rain. Check the trail status before you drive out. Sometimes Roller Coaster will be closed when the rest of the trail system is open.
Ride clockwise. Start at the kiosk by the parking lot and follow the arrows. The trail winds back and forth a lot to make the most of the terrain. Roller Coaster Loop and Big Lake Trail are well-signposted one-way side loops off the Main Loop, so ride them in the direction shown. The trails are shared with hikers, runners and dogs on leashes. Many walkers go counter-clockwise so they can see bikes coming, so expect to meet people head-on. Slow down and pass with care.
No night riding. The preserve closes at sunset.
Gas, food available nearby at the intersection of Rocky River Church Rd and Albemarle Road, about a mile south of the parking lot.
Two port-a-potties in the parking lot.
Trail Segments
Main Loop
Start here. The loop opens with a berm run, then crosses a bridge to a log skinny and a couple of small jumps. Expect more berms, rollers, wooden bridges, rock gardens and and a few wooden drops you can roll if you prefer. Most features have a ride-around. The Short Cut, just after the Copperhead wooden feature, trims about a mile if you want to head back to the lot sooner.
Roller Coaster
An optional one-way loop that turns off the Main Loop about a mile in, just after a short gravel section. Fast and fun, with bermed corners and natural rollers, hence the name!
Lake Loop
An optional one-way loop that joins the Main Loop about four miles in and runs past the lake. It has a few jumps and drops, then two rocky creek crossings.
First Timer Tips
- Start at the kiosk by the parking lot and ride clockwise. Follow the arrows.
- New to mountain biking? Ride the Main Loop first. Add Roller Coaster and Lake Loop when you’re ready for more.
- Major features have a ride-around. Look before you ride anything new, and walk it if you’re not sure.
- Signage for the optional loops is very visible and overall wayfinding is straightforward. An optional Short Cut reduces the Main Loop by about a mile.
- A full lap takes most riders 1 to 1.5 hours. The Main Loop alone takes about 35 to 45 minutes.
- You’ll share the trail with hikers, runners and dogs on leashes, sometimes coming toward you. Slow down and say hello.
- Trails close when wet. Check the trail status before you head out.