The Chestnut Loop Trail at McDowell Nature Preserve has been inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network, according to Mecklenburg County. A ceremony and guided hike took place at McDowell Nature Center on October 29, 2026, marking the 50th anniversary of the preserve's opening.

The Chestnut Loop Trail is the eighth location in North Carolina to join the network, which aims to preserve and recognize old-growth forests across the United States.

Press Release: Mecklenburg County

Published November 2, 2026. Reproduced in full from the Mecklenburg County.

McDowell Nature Preserve Inducted Into National Network of Old-Growth Forests

The Chestnut Loop Trail at McDowell Nature Preserve has been inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network in recognition of the trail’s beauty and biodiversity. To celebrate, a ceremony and guided hike took place at McDowell Nature Center on Oct. 29, 2026, the 50th anniversary of the preserve’s opening.

The Chestnut Loop Trail is the eighth location in North Carolina to join more than 350 forests nationwide included in the Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN). The network’s goal is to identify and ensure at least one forest in every forested county in the United States is preserved and recognized. The network also creates a roadmap of family-friendly hikes that showcase the beauty, complexity and diversity of the country’s oldest forests.

“OGFN is happy to work with Mecklenburg County to include McDowell Nature Preserve in our network. The preserve shows us that when communities take a proactive approach to conservation, all future generations benefit,” said Ciera Wilbur, southeast regional manager for the Old-Growth Forest Network. “Places like McDowell Nature Preserve are evidence that it is possible to protect and include mature and old-growth forests in the mosaic of our modern landscape.”

McDowell Nature Preserve’s Chestnut Loop Trail winds through a dry-mesic oak-hickory forest where visitors can view various species of mature oak and hickory trees. The site, located in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, has remained intact since at least the 1930s, based on aerial images. The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has deemed McDowell an outstanding natural area under statutory criteria for nature preserve dedication. McDowell Nature Preserve is rated at the highest level on the N.C. Natural Heritage Program’s biodiversity and wildlife habitat assessment scale.

"Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is thrilled that McDowell Nature Preserve is joining the OGFN's recognized forests,” said Kelly Sides, natural resources supervisor for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. “We are proud of the exemplary forests in McDowell, protected by the County for 50 years and maintained with care by our staff."