McAuley Road Scenic Byway

Overview

McAuley Road offers travelers a glimpse of the past through a typical 19th century landscape with a dirt road, one lane wooden bridge, open farmland, and dense woodlands. Located in Mecklenburg County, one of the fastest growing urban areas in the United States, this byway offers motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists an opportunity to see what Mecklenburg County looked like in the past. Traveling along the road, visitors will experience rolling hills, mixed forests, pastures, grazing livestock, and historical farm structures. Ramah Creek meanders through the protected lands and can be seen from the one lane bridge about halfway through the route. A wide variety of wildlife including deer, coyotes, turkeys, birds of prey, and an extensive list of other birds can frequently be seen along the route. The road is historically significant and is designated by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission as one of the last vestiges of rural vistas that dominated Mecklenburg County until the middle of the 20th century. Catawba Lands Conservancy permanently protects 775 acres of the area surrounding the road through voluntary conservation easements assuring a large natural preserve of native flora and fauna.