And once again, Labor Day weekend has arrived.

The calendar and the almanac say the end of summer is still more than two weeks away. Don’t believe them.

The days have already grown noticeably shorter, high school football stadiums shine like polished diamonds on Friday nights, and a few maples are already showing the first vague hints of yellow and red in their upper branches.

Soon, the days will join the nights in being distinctly cooler and even the most sedentary among us will feel the urge to get up, to get out, to walk in the woods, and to breathe in air freshened by the changing seasons.

No need to head to the mountains or the coast to seek solace in nature’s beauty. Gaston County has a plethora of parks, greenways, and trails, all close enough to keep gas in your tank and money in your pocket.

I’ve written many times in the past about many trails around the county, but here are my Top 5 recommendations for the autumn of 2022.

Rankin Lake Trail

Rankin Lake Park is located at 1750 Rankin Lake Road in west Gastonia.

The park offers fishing, an 18-hole disc golf course and outstanding picnic facilities, but to me its crown jewel is the trail which circles the 100-acre Rankin Lake.

This trail is perfect for walkers of any age, shape, or physical condition. The loop trail is a hair under 1.6 miles in length and is basically flat as a board. If you want to avoid the one small hill on the trail, go right as you begin your walk.