Get Outside! OLD

  1. ADAMS TRACT
    1.25 miles of unpaved trails, consisting of a .7 mile loop trail and a number of access trails, on a 27 acre woodland preserve, bounded on the north by Bolin Creek and on the east by Estes Drive Extension. Parking is in Wilson Park. Owned and maintained by Carrboro and Orange County.
  2. BATTLE BRANCH TRAIL
    A 1.5 mile unpaved trail with picturesque overlooks and some steps that connecting UNC’s Forest Theater with the Community Center Park located across from University Mall. Maintained by the North Carolina Botanical Garden.
  3. BOLIN CREEK TRAIL
    A 1.5 mile 10′-wide paved trail through meadows and woods. Parking entrances at the Community Center Park and Bolinwood Drive in Chapel Hill. This trail was joined in 2018 by a new extension that runs along the Bolin Creek to Umstead Park and then joins Tanyard Branch. The entire valley flooded during Florence and endures frequent damage from storms.
  4. TANYARD BRANCH TRAIL
    From Umstead Park you can take this .4 mile paved trail, connecting to the Northside neighborhood.  Parking is available at Umstead Park off of Umstead Drive.
  5. P.H. CRAIG TRACT This was one of the favorite places to hike in the area until 40 out of the  77 acre tract owned by P.H. Craig was timbered two years ago. Some wooded portions remain along the creek. This property is bordered by Bolin Creek and joins forested Adams Tract to the south and and Carolina North to the north.  All together these properties contained a remarkable 425 acres of remarkable wildlife in a natural area near  the rapidly urbanizing Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
  6. COKER ARBORETUM
    A series of sandy and paved paths wind around this beautifully landscaped garden. Located on UNC campus, at the corner of Country Club Road and Raleigh Street at the address 399 East Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill. The closest parking is the paid lot at Morehead Planetarium. For more information, read The Chapel Hill Recorder article: Coker Arboretum.
  7. DRY CREEK TRAIL
    1.2 mile unpaved trail, starting at Cedar Falls Park off of Weaver Dairy Road, which has ample parking. This trail has some rocky, steep slopes.
  8. DUKE FOREST
    7,000 acres of wooded land, with many miles of unpaved trails. A convenient entrance is located off of Whitfield Road near the Fire Station.  Park off the street near the trail entrance.
  9. ENO RIVER STATE PARK
    More than 4,000 acres of natural beauty along 14 miles of winding riverbanks. Parking can be found at Cabelands (on Howe St off Sparger Rd), Fews Ford (Cole Mill Rd) and Pleasant Green (on Pleasant Green Rd).
  10. FAN BRANCH TRAIL
    1.6 mile 10′-wide paved trail, with a few steep slopes. Connects Southern Community Park with Southern Village, where parking is available at either end.
  11. HANK ANDERSON III COMMUNITY PARK
    .4 mile crushed gravel loop of woods, a pond and feeder creeks. Accessible from the ample parking area. Located on Highway 54, west of Carrboro, past Carrboro Plaza on the right.
  12. JOHNSTON MILL NATURE PRESERVE
    3 miles of wooded, unpaved trails. Located 1.1 miles east of NC Highway 86 on Mount Sinai Road, with a parking area on the right just before New Hope Creek.
  13. LOWER BOOKER CREEK TRAIL
    .8 miles, 10′-wide paved trail. Connects Booker Creek Road with Eastgate Shopping Center and Linear Park. Limited parking available at Markham Drive.
  14. MEADOWMONT GREENWAY
    10′-wide paved paths on both sides of Highway 54, and begins at Rashkis school. Natural surface trails are located in Meadowmont Park in the north side of the development.
  15. MORGAN CREEK TRAIL
    .85 miles, 10′-wide paved trail that leads along the creek, through the woods to Merritt’s Pasture. Parking is available at the entrance, right off of Fordham Blvd./54 East, just past Kingswood Apartments.
  16. NORTH CAROLINA BOTANICAL GARDEN
    Nearly 800 acres of preserved land with nature trails, carnivorous plant, aquatics and herb gardens. Parking is located at the entrance at 100 Old Mason Farm Rd (off US Highway 15-501). Currently closed but trails are open.
  17. OCCONEECHEE MOUNTAIN STATE NATURAL AREA
    3 miles of unpaved trails. Overlooking the Eno River, the mountain has an elevation of 867 ft., which is the highest point in Orange County. Parking at the entrance at Virginia Cates Rd (off Orange Grove Rd) in Hillsborough, NC.
  18. GEORGE AND JULIA BRUMLEY FOREST PRESERVE  Located off of New Hope Church Road and NC 10.  Over 600 acres of hiking and biking trails. The northern tract is preferred by hikers.  Trail cyclists dominate the southen tract.