Although you may not think it, winter in Charlotte is a great time to get out and explore some of our city’s popular hiking trails. It’s a perfect time to bundle up and see your favorite scenery in a different light, enjoy the peaceful solitude that winter brings, and get out of the house for some exercise.

We’ve got a great short hike for you, so if you’ve been going a little stir crazy indoors this fall/winter this hike is a great way to get out.

The Cattail Trail is a 1-mile easy hiking trail located at Latta Park and Plantation in Huntersville, NC about 20 minutes from Charlotte.
Blaine Troutman/AllTrails
The Cattail Trail is the perfect hiking trail for all skill levels and offers hikers amazing scenic views of Lake Norman.
Although the temperatures in Charlotte have dropped, the leaves are still falling, making it a beautiful time of year to enjoy the beautiful colors you'll see on this hike.
Scott Densmore/AllTrails
The majority of this hike is on the perimeter of the lake, so you're guaranteed to see some stunning views no matter the weather.
Scott Densmore/AllTrails
Even on gray, overcast days the trail has some beautiful spots...
Charlie Cowins/Flickr
...and it's perfectly peaceful this time of year as mother nature settles in for winter.
Jason Happe/AllTrails
There are many areas along the trail to stop, sit, and enjoy the scenery.
Scott Densmore/AllTrails
And there is no reason to hurry through this hike, once you get out there you’ll want to linger as long as you can!
Clear your head while listening to the hypnotic sounds of the lake lapping against the rocks around you.
Scott Densmore/AllTrails
Forget about everything you have to do at home and enjoy the season.
You'll still see some great flora and fauna along the Cattail Trail in the winter.
Charlie Cowins/Flickr
And if you are lucky enough to catch a snowfall, this trail is especially beautiful as soon falls over the lake and disappears.
If you're interested in getting into hiking, there is no better time than now to start.
Charlie Cowins/Flickr
And if you spend some time on the Cattail Trail this winter, you may even be ready for a more challenging trail by spring!

Where have you been hiking these days? Tell us in the comments and share your photos with us on Instagram (@onlyincharlotte) and OnlyinCharlotte on Facebook.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Related Articles