Badin Lake Guidebook

Nicole
Badin Lake Guidebook

Hiking

We have some amazing hikes around the area. You can find all the best trails easily on Alltrails.com or TheHikingProject.com
Badin Lake Hiking Trail is a loop trail that follows the shore of Badin Lake for half its distance, then loops back through hardwood forest to Cove Boat Ramp. A short loop of 2.5-miles can be hiked, as well as the entire 5.6 miles. The trail was constructed by the Youth Conservation Corps in 1979 and 1980. High water levels cause some stretches to get boggy, especially near the creeks that empty into the lake. Backpackers looking for a waterfront camping experience will find it here. It is a great place to camp and fish from the shore. Easy access and gentle terrain make the Badin Lake Hiking Trail a good choice for family hikes. Keep an eye out for the bald eagles that fly over the lake. Length: 5.6 miles; 2.5-mile short loop Recommended Seasons: Year Round Use: Medium to Heavy Difficulty: Easy Trail Beginning: Cove Boat Ramp and Picnic Area, 15 miles northwest of Troy. You can also access the trail from the Arrowhead, Badin Lake, Badin Group Camp campgrounds, or from the Kings Mountain Point day use area. Access: From Hwy 109 west of Troy, follow signs to Badin Lake and Cove Boat Ramp and Picnic Area. Badin Lake Hiking Trail skirts coves of Badin Lake and offers scenic views of the lake. The area has abundant cedars, mosses, and wild flowers. Evidence of past gold mining can be seen along the trail.
400 Cove Rd
400 Cove Road
Badin Lake Hiking Trail is a loop trail that follows the shore of Badin Lake for half its distance, then loops back through hardwood forest to Cove Boat Ramp. A short loop of 2.5-miles can be hiked, as well as the entire 5.6 miles. The trail was constructed by the Youth Conservation Corps in 1979 and 1980. High water levels cause some stretches to get boggy, especially near the creeks that empty into the lake. Backpackers looking for a waterfront camping experience will find it here. It is a great place to camp and fish from the shore. Easy access and gentle terrain make the Badin Lake Hiking Trail a good choice for family hikes. Keep an eye out for the bald eagles that fly over the lake. Length: 5.6 miles; 2.5-mile short loop Recommended Seasons: Year Round Use: Medium to Heavy Difficulty: Easy Trail Beginning: Cove Boat Ramp and Picnic Area, 15 miles northwest of Troy. You can also access the trail from the Arrowhead, Badin Lake, Badin Group Camp campgrounds, or from the Kings Mountain Point day use area. Access: From Hwy 109 west of Troy, follow signs to Badin Lake and Cove Boat Ramp and Picnic Area. Badin Lake Hiking Trail skirts coves of Badin Lake and offers scenic views of the lake. The area has abundant cedars, mosses, and wild flowers. Evidence of past gold mining can be seen along the trail.
Trailhead Parking Address: Richfield Park Road and HWY 49, Richfield, NC 28137 Trailhead Location: After entering the park, signs will direct you to The Falcon Trail. Parking Address: 48380 US-52, Misenheimer, NC 28109 Connecting the Stanly County communities of Misenheimer and Richfield, the trail offers lake and agricultural views, as well as access to Pfeiffer College and many historic buildings listed on the Natural Historic Register. The historic Gladstone Academy (an 1890's school house) is close to Pfeiffer’s campus. The Falcon Trail is mostly natural surface and is 2.7 miles in length and is one way. It connects to a bit of sidewalk at either end. The trail is designed for walking, hiking, running and bicycling and is of moderate difficulty. A nice feature of the trail are the two adjacent bridges (a swinging bridge and a covered bridge) which cross Richfield Lake. The swinging bridge leads to an island with a picnic table. A variety of plants along the trail bloom in season. There are two trail entrances, one at Richfield Park and one at the intersection of US 52 and Wesley Chapel Road in Misenheimer. There are restrooms in the gym on Pfeiffer’s campus and in Richfield Park and parking is available at both trail entrances. Richfield Park has picnic tables and other amenities (fishing and disc golf). There is a grocery store, drug store, Coffee/Ice Cream shop and multiple restaurants near the trail entrance at Richfield Park.
48380 US-52
48380 U.S. 52
Trailhead Parking Address: Richfield Park Road and HWY 49, Richfield, NC 28137 Trailhead Location: After entering the park, signs will direct you to The Falcon Trail. Parking Address: 48380 US-52, Misenheimer, NC 28109 Connecting the Stanly County communities of Misenheimer and Richfield, the trail offers lake and agricultural views, as well as access to Pfeiffer College and many historic buildings listed on the Natural Historic Register. The historic Gladstone Academy (an 1890's school house) is close to Pfeiffer’s campus. The Falcon Trail is mostly natural surface and is 2.7 miles in length and is one way. It connects to a bit of sidewalk at either end. The trail is designed for walking, hiking, running and bicycling and is of moderate difficulty. A nice feature of the trail are the two adjacent bridges (a swinging bridge and a covered bridge) which cross Richfield Lake. The swinging bridge leads to an island with a picnic table. A variety of plants along the trail bloom in season. There are two trail entrances, one at Richfield Park and one at the intersection of US 52 and Wesley Chapel Road in Misenheimer. There are restrooms in the gym on Pfeiffer’s campus and in Richfield Park and parking is available at both trail entrances. Richfield Park has picnic tables and other amenities (fishing and disc golf). There is a grocery store, drug store, Coffee/Ice Cream shop and multiple restaurants near the trail entrance at Richfield Park.

Food scene

Scallywag's is just a few miles away, and is a local favorite. They offer waterfront and patio dining! Open during the off season for dinner and drinks.
15 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Scallywag's Bar & Grill
700 Lake Forest Dr
15 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Scallywag's is just a few miles away, and is a local favorite. They offer waterfront and patio dining! Open during the off season for dinner and drinks.
Great place to get breakfast or lunch for the family. They close at 2pm so get there early!
Badin Lake Family Restaurant
2507 Blaine Rd
Great place to get breakfast or lunch for the family. They close at 2pm so get there early!
This Pizza Hut Classic is a throwback to the nostalgic Pizza Hut of the 80s and 90s.
812 NC-24
812 North Carolina 24
This Pizza Hut Classic is a throwback to the nostalgic Pizza Hut of the 80s and 90s.

Sightseeing

It’s the nation’s largest walk-through, natural habitat zoo. Situated in central North Carolina near the scenic Uwharrie Mountains are 5 miles of walkways meandering through 500 acres of carefully recreated habitats of various African and North American animal species – and a new Asia region with tigers, red pandas and Komodo dragons is expected to open in 2023.
4401 Zoo Pkwy
4401 Zoo Parkway
It’s the nation’s largest walk-through, natural habitat zoo. Situated in central North Carolina near the scenic Uwharrie Mountains are 5 miles of walkways meandering through 500 acres of carefully recreated habitats of various African and North American animal species – and a new Asia region with tigers, red pandas and Komodo dragons is expected to open in 2023.