The Nature Trail

All within a 0.7 mile trek, you’ll experience a pine forest, mixed hardwood forest, and pond and stream communities typical of the North Carolina Piedmont. Bring your lunch for a day at the museum and enjoy it on the Trail in one of the picnic areas. The Trail is open year-round daily from dawn until dusk, so every day is a good day for a walk! 

Dogs are welcome on our Nature Trail, but NOT permitted within any of the other outdoor exhibits.

small waterfall of the creek in the Nature Trail during the fall season
Photograph of the Grist Mill on the creek.
Photograph of the Natural Amazement Sign

Natural aMAZEment

It has never been so fun to be lost! Explore and enjoy every twist and turn in a series of mazes made from natural materials. (Find them on the Nature Trail.) This exhibit was made possible by Melissa and John Harris and the Virgil P. Warren Foundation. 

Stone Age Heritage Site with hand prints on the giant rock.

Stone Age Heritage Site

Travel back in time when the stone tools our ancestors used were the cutting edge of technology. Walk among the standing stones, stone circles, earthen burial mound, rock cairn and petroglyphs that give insightful glimpses into our past.

 

Photograph of the Memorial Garden gazebo in the Nature Trail

Memorial Wildlife Gardens

In this wildlife oasis, take advantage of the contemplative setting by settling into an environment authentically designed to provide food and shelter for the Carolina Piedmont’s native species. This beautiful, quiet area is nestled right next to our running river.

photograph of the Grist mill in the Nature Trail

Gemstone Mining at The Grist Mill

Open Seasonally, $5 per person

Mine for gemstones at our historic Grist Mill nestled in the heart of The Nature Trail over a fresh-water creek. Watch water flow through a silver chute as it washes the sand away in this hands-on, outdoor activity. Use our helpful Gemstone index to identify what you find, then take home your gems! 

The wooden pirate ship of the playscape in the Nature Trail.

Play’Scape

Need a break? Get outside! Let your kids roam free in this fun outdoor play area located across from the Nature Trail’s pond. This unique play space hosts a variety of wooden structures for the most adventurous imaginations!

Nathan and Mike building greenhouse from NASA grant off of the nature trail in the sunshine. There is a small tree growing in an enclosed fence in the foreground of the photo.

The Greenhouse and Moon Tree

Wander through the woods and find yourself at this innovative agricultural hub. Thanks to support from NASA’s Universe of Learning Grant, this greenhouse will support plant life that may someday be able to survive on other planets.

This Moon Tree’s seed traveled 1.4 million miles around the moon and back, spending 25 days in space before returning to Earth. Take a moment to admire life on earth – and in space!

Three children wearing pink exploring the 18th Century log house in the Catawba Village.

Catawba Indian Village

Open Seasonally

Take a step back in time as you explore over 400 years of indigenous history, culture, and survival in The Schiele’s historic Catawba Village. 

Visit a prehistoric-style bark house, town house, and historic 18th and 19th-century cabins in the Catawba Indian Village on the Nature Trail.