The Long Rifle and Twin Ponds Trails at Gibson Park - Jamestown, NC
“If we want peace, we have to be peace. Peace is a practice and not a hope.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
“We are all a little broken. But last time I checked…Broken crayons still color.” - Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne
“What we have once enjoyed deeply, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” - Helen Keller
A Mushroom-Filled Adventure on the Long Rifle & Twin Ponds Trails
If you’re craving a short hike packed with wild beauty, rich history, and the kind of tiny forest details that make you slow down and breathe deeper, Gibson Park in Jamestown, NC, is your next stop.
A Three-Mile Trail With Big Personality
Our latest wander took us along the Long Rifle Trail and the Twin Ponds Trail—a perfect three-mile loop tucked inside Gibson Park. Despite its modest distance, this hike feels surprisingly immersive thanks to its wetlands, dense forest pockets, wildlife, and historic landmarks. It’s the kind of outing that reminds you why short hikes can still feel epic.
Mushrooms Everywhere—A Forager’s Dream (Even If You’re Not Foraging)
Within the first few minutes, we realized we were in for something special. Mushrooms. Hundreds of them.
The forest floor was a patchwork of colors—bright oranges glowing against moss, deep crimson caps standing tall, pale yellow shelves stacked along fallen logs, tiny white parasols, thick-stemmed giants, and every whimsical shape you can imagine.
For photographers, you’ll need extra battery life.
For wanderers, prepare to stop a lot.
Boardwalks Through Marshland Magic
Gibson Park features several wooden boardwalks, but one in particular stretches long and straight across a lush, tangled marsh. It’s the kind you step onto and immediately slow down, just to take in the view.
From here, the soundtrack shifts—frogs croaking, reeds rustling, and the flutter of wings from marsh residents like:
Great Egrets
Blue Herons
Songbirds hidden in the cattails
Wildlife tends to show up when you least expect it, so linger a moment.
Dense Forest & Beautiful Solitude
Beyond the wetlands, the trail dips into cool forest cover. Tall hardwoods and quiet pines arch overhead, giving you that hushed, tucked-away feeling that only a good woodland trail can offer.
Sunlight filters through just enough to make everything look storybook-soft. The deeper you go, the more the trail feels like a true escape.
A Cabin From the 1800s & a Hand-Dug Well
One of the most unexpected highlights is the small circa-1800 cabin tucked near the trail. Weathered, simple, and framed by forest, it feels like a little time capsule resting quietly among the trees.
Nearby sits an original hand-dug well—a rare piece of local history you can still walk right up to. It’s a reminder that these woods have been part of human stories long before they became a park.
Trail Connections for Longer Wanders
Gibson Park links directly to the Bicentennial Greenway, which stretches for miles across Guilford County. If you want to extend your adventure, this is the perfect launch point—great for hikers, cyclists, and runners.
Final Thoughts — A Trail That Stays With You
What makes this hike memorable isn’t just one feature—it’s the combination:
Mushroom-covered forest floors
Long, peaceful boardwalks
Wetlands are alive with birds and frogs
Quiet, cathedral-like woods
A touch of local history
Easy access to longer greenway routes
Three miles go by quickly, but the experience lingers in that perfect way a good nature walk should.
If you’re near Jamestown or anywhere in the Triad, add Long Rifle and Twin Ponds to your list. It’s a gentle reminder to get outside, explore something new, and — of course — Hike More, Worry Less!
Magic Mushroom Ride