Nestled off a quiet street of attractive suburban homes in Waxhaw, there’s a quarter-mile trail in the woods along the Twelve Mile Creek.
Near the end of a stone stairway is a striking sight: A 160-foot suspension bridge connecting Waxhaw, North Carolina, and Indian Trail, South Carolina. You can embrace the bridge’s wobbles during the walk across and use them as an excuse to slow down and absorb the sounds of nature: the chirping birds, the soft padding of light rain on leaves, the trickling of the creek. Then, descend a set of wooden stairs and continue along the greenway for a few miles.
And take note of the pole at the trailhead: Carolina Thread Trail. What the bridge signifies – natural aesthetic appeal, a reason to leave your car behind, a walking and biking connection between communities in two states – highlights what organizers hope to deliver through the Thread Trail network of greenways, waterways and trails.
Originally published Oct. 8, 2019.