# Crowders Mountain State Park: Winter Ridge Trails & Child-Friendly Lake Loop > Place to go for families in the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia area (NC / SC). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Daily 8:00 AM–6:00 PM; Visitor Center open daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; closed Christmas Day - Dates: Sun, Nov 1 – Sun, Feb 28 - Where: Crowders Mountain State Park, 522 Park Office Ln, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 - Ages: All ages; Lake Loop trail is flat and accessible for all-terrain strollers; summit trails involve rock steps and steep climbs - Price: Free park admission and free parking throughout the park - Schedule: Daily 8:00 AM–6:00 PM; Visitor Center open daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; closed Christmas Day - Organizer: North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation - Official page: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/crowders-mountain-state-park - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/charlotte/activities/crowders-mountain-state-park-winter-ridge-trails-and-child-friendly-la--listing-fa8180e2319a34ba2419ebdc ## About Rising abruptly from the rolling Piedmont terrain west of Charlotte, Crowders Mountain State Park provides dramatic high-elevation vistas that are especially crisp and clear in the winter months. On cloudless days, hikers atop the rocky peaks can gaze across 25 miles to see the Uptown Charlotte skyline shimmering in the distance. Families with younger children will enjoy the gentle, flat 0.8-mile Lake Loop circling the 9-acre Linwood access lake, where waterfowl and songbirds congregate in winter. Older children and teens can challenge themselves on the Crowders Trail or the Pinnacle Trail to the summit. The modern park visitor center houses hands-on natural history and geology exhibits, clean restrooms, and trail discovery guides. ## Similar picks in Charlotte - [US National Whitewater Center Ice Skating & Winter Trail: Pond Rink & Illuminated Trails](https://grassyknees.com/charlotte/activities/us-national-whitewater-center-ice-skating-and-winter-trail-pond-rink-a--listing-b5afe1d91a3e68bcb8e6d7f3) — Nov 18 – Feb 15 · 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM · U.S. National Whitewater Center · All ages · From $25 · checked Nov 5. 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