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Big Rock Nature Preserve | Sightseeing in Ballantyne
Looking for some woodland in the Ballantyne area for you, the kids and the dog to have fun? Then spend an afternoon at the Big Rock Preserve, a mid sized park with some outsized rocks. Kids and dogs alike love climbing and exploring the granite boulders in the preserve.
The Big Rock Nature Preserve, commonly called Big Rock Park, is small Mecklenburg County park with some big rocks. Located in suburban Ballantyne right inside the Thornhill neighborhood, the preserve is right off of Elmstone Drive.
The park is mostly undeveloped woods with several massive boulders near the entrance. The park is open to the public and dogs are allowed, but they need to kept on a leash. If you want to go horse riding, however, you will be disappointed. Horses are strictly forbidden.
What can you do in Big Rock Park?
Big Rock Nature Preserve keeps it simple. A small oasis of woodland in otherwise suburban Ballantyne, main activities in the park include walking the trail, exploring the woods and climbing the large rocks. If you manage to scramble up on top of them, the big rocks provide a great observation point to take in a panoramic view of the preserve.
Children love to do this, particularly young ones. Don't be surprised on any given visit to see several little visitors trying to climb up and down the boulders! If you are a parent and intend to bring your children, take care as it is somewhat easy to get hurt running around the rock formations.
Why is Big Rock Nature Preserve Historically Significant?
An archeological dig in 1987 unearthed a number of indigenous Native American artifacts. Stone tools and fragments of cooking pots indicate that the area has been local landmark and meeting place for thousands of years. First for Native Americans and now for Charlotteans.
Final Thoughts
Big Rock Nature Preserve is isn't as large as some of the other parks or as impressive as some of the monuments in Ballantyne, but it certainly has it's own charm. If you live or are visiting the South Charlotte area, it's worth a quick stop and look. If nothing else, it makes for great photos.
