George Poston Park

File this under the category of “How Have We Not Been Here Yet?!” That’s exactly how I feel about George Poston Park, which someone casually mentioned to me not long ago. We recently checked out this Gaston County park, about 22 miles west of Charlotte in Lowell, NC, and are already looking forward to going back.

 

The appeal for us lies very specifically in the state-of-the-art asphalt pump track, one of only 10 of its kind in the whole United States. A pump track is a closed bicycling loop that gets its name from the way users are meant to pump the bike, rather than turn the pedals. The idea is that one can ride around the entire track by using momentum to maneuver the bike up and down the slopes and around bends without pedaling.

 

And I’m sure that’s a very fun challenge for “real” bike riders, but we very happily pedaled our way around and around the track for well over an hour on our visit, and enjoyed every minute. Taking a spin is kind of like riding your own personal roller coaster. As long as you’re following the flow of traffic, riders can choose the level of difficulty, bypassing some of the more technical turns by opting for the flat ridges.

 

The George Poston Park pump track is 10,000 square feet which can accommodate 20-30 users at one time, though it’s probably most enjoyable if you can visit at a non-peak time. The pump track is free and open to the public from 7 a.m. to sunset. It can be used for any non-motorized wheeled sport, like rollerblades and skateboards.

 

And while the pump track is definitely the reason we’ll go back, George Poston Park offers several other draws, including 10 miles of mountain biking/hiking trails, a small playground, an easy kid’s bike trail, picnic areas and restroom facilities.

 

For a short, pleasant hiking option, I recommend the 0.6-mile paved River Trail. This loop swings by the South Fork of the Catawba River, with a bench at an overlook.

 

At just under 30 minutes from uptown, George Poston Park is a wonderful option for active, family-friendly outdoor fun. After just one visit, we’ll go ahead and file this under “We’ll Be Back.”

 

How to get there:

George Poston Park is located at 1101 Lowell Spencer Mountain Road, Gastonia, NC 28056. The paved lot offers plenty of parking.

 

Don’t forget to take:

• Bikes and helmets: Or any riding toys if you want to enjoy the pump track
• Comfortable shoes: Hike or bike any of the 10 miles of trails
• Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen: The park is only partially shaded
• Water: Keep hydrated; refill at the restroom facilities
• Snacks or a picnic lunch: Picnic shelters and benches are available