Broad River Greenway - Cottonwood Trail

The Cottonwood Trail is a 1.8-mile natural surface trail that is part of a larger network of trails along the Broad River in Boiling Springs, NC, the Broad River Greenway. 
Trail Uses
Walking / hiking / running Mountain biking Horseback riding
Locations
Boiling Springs (NC), Shelby (NC)
Length
1.80 miles, One Way
Difficulty
Easy
Surface
Gravel/Crushed stone, Natural surface, Boardwalk
Motorized Vehicles
Not Permitted
Fees
$5/car, $35/year
Pets
Permitted on leash
Parking Spaces
30
Restrooms
Yes
Hours
Dawn - Dusk

Description

The portion of the Broad River Greenway that is designated Thread Trail includes the River Trail of 2.2 miles and the Cottonwood Trail of 1.8 miles along the Broad River. The Broad River Greenway area is approximately 1,500 acres of protected land on both sides of the Broad River in Cleveland County. It is owned by Cleveland County and the Town of Boiling Springs and managed by the Broad River Council. The Broad River Greenway joins more than 20 miles of multi-use trails along both sides of the river. At the trailhead, a handicapped accessible pathway includes educational displays. Amenities include a fishing pier, a wooden playground, benches for enjoying the view, and grills for picnics. The Broad River has been an important part of this community for many generations.

The Cottonwood Trail is home to a number of birds. "You can find out what birds call the Greenway home and when is the best chance to see them at the North Carolina Birding Trail website.  The Greenway is part of the Mountain Birding Trail and a complete list of birds is available at Greenway Birding" Broad River Greeway website.

 

Other Information

Though the Broad River Greenway is designated Carolina Thread Trail, the Broad River is not.

Cleveland County Residents may park for free at the Broad River Greenway trailhead, with a resident decal on their vehicle. For visitors who are not Cleveland County residents, the cost is $10.00 per car per day, OR a yearly pass may be obtained for $50. Resident decals and yearly passes are available at the Broad River Greenway Ranger Station (704-434-0040), or you may purchase your pass online. Bicyclists and pedestrians may enter for free. (Bicycle lanes on NC 150 [Gaffney Rd] connect the greenway to the Town of Boiling Springs.) 

Trail Manager

Visit the Broad River Greenway website for more information and trail maps are available upon request from the Ranger Station.

Broad River Greenway
126 Broad River Road
Shelby, NC 28152
704-434-0040
ranger@broadrivergreenway.com
View website

Featured Post

Carolina Thread Trail awards $634,000 for trail projects to 7 partners
Carolina Thread Trail awards $634,000 for trail projects to 7 partners
The Carolina Thread Trail announced its 2023 grant awards to seven partners advancing public trails across the Greater Charlotte region, totaling more than $634,000.
> Read Post

Trail Tips

Layer Up
When out on trail in cooler weather, wear layers which are easy to add/remove so that you can maintain a comfortable temperature.
Legend
Hide All
View Connector Trails
Broad River Greenway - River Trail

Trailhead Information

Parking Address and Trailhead Location: 126 Broad River Dr, Shelby, NC 28152. MAP

Click on an icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
Hang Tight!
Nearby services are loading
SHARE THIS TRAIL
PRINT THIS TRAIL

Add Trail Log

Please wait…
Join In on the Fun!
Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of Carolina Thread Trails: keep track of trails you want to do, preserve memories of trails you’ve done, and more!
Your log in attempt was not successful. Please try again.
    Lost your password? Reset your password
    Don't yet have an account?
    There was an issue with your submission. Please try again.
      * Indicates required field
      Already have an account? Login here
      Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account.
      There was an issue with your submission. Please try again.

        Success! A new password has been emailed to you.

        Log in now

        Please wait…