Walk Through an Enchanted Forest at Purser-Hulsey Park in Matthews

You might not know that there’s an Enchanted Forest near Charlotte, but once you visit Purser-Hulsey Park, at 13201 Phillips Road, Matthews, North Carolina, you’ll have no doubt. Kids love this place — it’s a chance for their imaginations to go wild while they’re getting exercise and fresh air.

This park has a dog park, a community garden, and three biking and walking trails, which add up to 4.4 miles. It’s free to visit.

Please note that it does not have restrooms, so plan accordingly.

Check out this list of 50+ walks and hikes near Charlotte!

One of the three trails is called the Enchanted Forest Loop. This half-mile trail is unlike any other walking trail in the Charlotte area.

Find all the best (and cheapest) kids’ activities on our list of upcoming kids’ events in Charlotte!

Forest Structures at Purser-Hulsey Park

The Enchanted Forest contains about a dozen teepee-like structures, made from fallen trees. Many of these are large enough to go inside.

They are an ongoing project, so you can build onto them if you’re inspired.

Painted Rocks in the Enchanted Forest

Along the trail you’ll find painted rocks — hundreds of them, displaying a great deal of creativity and artistic talent. Feel free to paint a rock and add it to the collection. You can also pick up the rocks that you find and move them to other spots on the trail (with a couple exceptions…keep reading!)

There are a few special areas, where rocks painted with a certain theme are kept together, including a “farmers’ market” of fruits and vegetables, a zoo, and a beehive. Don’t move those rocks anywhere else.

You’ll find a lot more surprises all the way, including a place to write down your wishes. We won’t ruin all the surprises…enjoy the discoveries!

Make sure to help take care of the trails by cleaning up after your dogs, which must be leashed, and respecting the hard work of all the people who have contributed to the Enchanted Forest!