Charlotte NC Scavenger Hunt

48 free finds around Trade and Tryon, down South Tryon, along Little Sugar Creek and in Freedom Park.

Charlotte NC Scavenger Hunt

TeamMeet at (place and time)

  1. Stay with your team on public sidewalks, parks and the greenway.
  2. Keep back from the creek and the lake, stay well back from rail tracks and cross only at marked crossings.
  3. Buy nothing, take nothing and climb nothing.
  4. Photograph nobody outside your team without asking.
  1. Four bronze statues on four cornersEach statue at Trade and Tryon is 25 feet tall and stands for Commerce, Industry, Transportation or the Future. Write which you like best.
  2. A church, a graveyard and a skyscraper in one viewFind a spot that shows all three and make a quick sketch.
  3. A park in First WardFirst Ward Park, 4.6 acres, was finished in 2015, giving each Uptown ward a major park. Count the ways in.
  4. A library and children's theater in one buildingImaginOn opened in 2005. Tick it from outside and write its colors.
  5. A theater inside an old Baptist churchSpirit Square's theater fills the former First Baptist Church on North Tryon. Tick it from the sidewalk.
  6. A graveyard with stones from 1776Old Settlers' Cemetery on West 5th Street was the city's first public burial ground, used until 1854. Find the oldest date you can read; quiet voices, paths only.
  7. The crossing that splits Uptown into four wardsFirst Ward lies east of Trade and Tryon, Second south, Third west and Fourth north. Point to Fourth Ward.
  8. A porch with columns on a Fourth Ward houseThe houses are private; count the posts from the sidewalk.
  9. An 1857 church with a pointed spire on Trade StreetFirst Presbyterian is Gothic Revival; its spire was rebuilt in 1883 and 1884. Count the points around the spire.
  10. Light rail tracks beside First Ward ParkStay well back; count the trains that pass in five minutes.

Next step Turn it into a photo hunt

How it works

Four 25-foot bronzes on four corners, gravestones from 1776 and a steam engine you can step into: this Charlotte NC scavenger hunt holds 48 finds, each free to see.

Read the full guide

Start at Trade and Tryon

Trade and Tryon opens first, and South Tryon runs south from it. Little Sugar Creek Greenway begins just north of Uptown and runs south to Freedom Park, about 3 miles out. Pick one of the four from the menu and press Print this list for a sheet per team.

Proof on paper

Teams score a find by writing the count, date or name it asks for, so no phone is needed. Read the note under a find to settle any argument.

Tips
  • Walk or bike the greenway from Uptown to Freedom Park and score both lists in one outing.

Questions and answers

Can you do a free scavenger hunt in Charlotte, NC?

Yes. Every find is seen from sidewalks, parks and the greenway. Museums, theaters and the ballpark are ticked from outside, and nothing needs a ticket or a purchase.

Is it good for kids?

Yes, if an adult walks with each team. Freedom Park's steam engine and lake and Romare Bearden Park's foot chimes suit children best. Keep back from the creek bank and the rail tracks.

How do you visit the old graveyard respectfully?

Old Settlers' Cemetery holds graves from 1776 to 1884. Keep to the paths, speak quietly, touch no stones and read dates from where you stand.

More tools

Browse Word Games

All 48 finds

Trade and Tryon 12

  • A church, a graveyard and a skyscraper in one view Find a spot that shows all three and make a quick sketch.
  • A graveyard with stones from 1776 Old Settlers' Cemetery on West 5th Street was the city's first public burial ground, used until 1854. Find the oldest date you can read; quiet voices, paths only.
  • A library and children's theater in one building ImaginOn opened in 2005. Tick it from outside and write its colors.
  • A park in First Ward First Ward Park, 4.6 acres, was finished in 2015, giving each Uptown ward a major park. Count the ways in.
  • A porch with columns on a Fourth Ward house The houses are private; count the posts from the sidewalk.
  • A stone obelisk among the old graves It honors William Davidson, a North Carolina planter and politician. Tick it without touching.
  • A theater inside an old Baptist church Spirit Square's theater fills the former First Baptist Church on North Tryon. Tick it from the sidewalk.
  • An 1857 church with a pointed spire on Trade Street First Presbyterian is Gothic Revival; its spire was rebuilt in 1883 and 1884. Count the points around the spire.
  • The crossing that splits Uptown into four wards First Ward lies east of Trade and Tryon, Second south, Third west and Fourth north. Point to Fourth Ward.
  • Four bronze statues on four corners Each statue at Trade and Tryon is 25 feet tall and stands for Commerce, Industry, Transportation or the Future. Write which you like best.
  • Light rail tracks beside First Ward Park Stay well back; count the trains that pass in five minutes.
  • The statue that stands for the Future Write what it shows.
Show all 48 finds (36 more)

South Tryon 12

  • A ballpark across the street from a park Tick it from Romare Bearden Park and write what you can see through the gates.
  • A crane working on a new tower Count the cranes you can see from one corner.
  • A dark brick church from 1893 St. Peter's is the oldest Catholic parish in Charlotte, founded in 1851; this building is its second. Write the year on its front.
  • A giant sculpture covered in mirror pieces Write what animal it looks like. Do not climb it.
  • A park drawn from an artist's collages Romare Bearden Park, 5.4 acres, opened in 2013 with a design based on the Charlotte-born artist's work. Count its waterfalls.
  • A plaque set into a Tryon Street sidewalk or wall Copy its first line.
  • A small park called The Green It sits beside St. Peter's. Write one thing in it that is not a plant.
  • The biggest street number on South Tryon Write the highest one you find.
  • Chimes you play with your feet The park's play area has interactive dance chimes. Take turns and write one sound.
  • Four arts buildings on one block of South Tryon They hold a modern art museum, an African-American arts center, a theater and the Mint Museum's uptown home. Copy one name from a sign.
  • One glass tower reflected in another Write the colors you see in the reflection.
  • The tallest building in North Carolina It rises 871 feet, finished in 1992, and on a clear day can be seen from 35 miles away. Sketch the shape of its crown.

Little Sugar Creek Greenway 12

  • A bed of wildflowers beside the trail Greenways are planted for people and for wildlife. Write one flower color; pick none.
  • A bench that faces the creek Sit and write three sounds you hear.
  • A bridge carrying the trail over the creek Stop on it and count what floats by in one minute.
  • A creek brought back to life in the city Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a stream restoration and trail, planned to run 20 miles to the South Carolina line. Keep back from the bank; write whether the water is clear.
  • A greenway sign with a distance on it Copy the distance.
  • A heron or duck on Little Sugar Creek Write which, and what it was doing.
  • A piece of art along the greenway Write what it is made of.
  • A pipe or channel where rainwater enters the creek Greenways by streams help control flooding. Write where the water comes from.
  • A sign for the Cross Charlotte Trail The greenway is part of it. Find the trail's name or logo.
  • A tree whose trunk splits in two Write how high the split is compared with your tallest teammate.
  • Cyclists passing on the greenway Keep right and count the bikes that pass in five minutes.
  • Rocks in the creek making small rapids Count the rapids you can hear from one spot.

Freedom Park 12

  • A big shade tree near the water Sit under it and count the ducks you see.
  • A bird standing on one leg by the lake Write how long it stayed that way.
  • A lake shelter with a fireplace It looks out over the lake. Write what you see from its patio.
  • A nature museum next to the park It shows animals and plants of the Piedmont. Tick it from outside.
  • A park sign with the park's name Copy the name and one rule from it.
  • A playground in Freedom Park Write the tallest thing on it.
  • A seven-acre lake at the heart of a park Freedom Park covers 98 acres on East Boulevard, about 3 miles from Uptown. Walk around the lake and count the bridges.
  • An island or point sticking into the lake Write what grows on it.
  • An old steam engine you can step into The park's 2-8-0 locomotive is fenced, with bars over the tender, but the cab is open. Count the big driving wheels on one side.
  • Canada geese on the lake They gather here all year. Count them; feed none.
  • The spot where the greenway enters Freedom Park Since 2012 the greenway runs through the park toward Uptown. Find where it comes in.
  • Tennis or volleyball courts Count the courts.

How this list was compiled: Written for this page in September 2026: 48 finds on foot in Charlotte, North Carolina, around Trade and Tryon, on South Tryon Street, on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway and in Freedom Park, sorted by area, all scored from public sidewalks, parks and trails with nothing bought and no ticket. Nothing was copied from another list; no bank, team or bar is named. Levels are our judgment. Names, dates, sizes and places in the notes were checked on 2026-09-24 against English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ followed by Uptown_Charlotte, Old_Settlers%27_Cemetery_(Charlotte,_North_Carolina), First_Presbyterian_Church_(Charlotte,_North_Carolina), ImaginOn, First_Ward_Park, Spirit_Square, Bank_of_America_Corporate_Center, Romare_Bearden_Park, St._Peter%27s_Catholic_Church_(Charlotte,_North_Carolina), Levine_Center_for_the_Arts, Little_Sugar_Creek_Greenway and Freedom_Park_(Charlotte,_North_Carolina). Licence: own work