Explore the best rated trails in Raleigh, NC. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Riverwalk Greenway and Carolina North Greenway. With more than 63 trails covering 216 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The trail starts on Green Level Church Road and then heads west past suburban homes, skirting the north side of Amberly Lake. You will cross Yates South Road via crosswalk, then continue south along...
The Sandy Creek Trail cuts a leafy course through Sandy Creek Park, stretching between the park entrance and Pickett Road. It is asphalt-paved, relatively flat and suitable for a variety of uses,...
The Tar River Trail parallels the Tar River, where Tuscarora Indians traveled before colonists settled here. Along the trail you will find evidence of early colonial history, the industrial...
Opened in August, 2014, the Mingo Creek Trail connects the town of Knightdale from Mingo Creek Park to the Neuse River Trail, just north of Anderson Point Park in Raleigh. Along its 3.4-mile paved...
The 5-mile-long Cape Fear River Trail winds through a mix of woodlands and marshes on Fayetteville’s north side, offering stunning views of the Cape Fear River. The trail is relatively flat but with...
The Yates Store Road Street-Side Trail in Cary is over a shared use pathway linking residents of the surrounding neighborhoods to the other trails in their town. So while the trail itself is just a...
Along the eastern outskirts of Raleigh, the Neuse River Trail follows the river for nearly 30 miles from Falls Lake Dam to the Wake/Johnston County line. There are several river crossings along the...
The Southbridge Greenway is a charming neighborhood path in the neighborhood of the same name, on the west side of Cary, North Carolina. On any given day on the trail you will find parents pushing...
The Mine Creek Trail consists of five distinct segments: Bent Creek (paved), Inman Connector (unpaved), Ironwood (paved), Lake Park (unpaved), Sawmill (unpaved) and Shelley Lake (paved). The segments...
Walk, bike or roll around Symphony Lake via this 10-foot wide greenway. The trail rings around the lake, providing panoramic views of the tranquil water, disturbed only by its resident waterfowl. It...
Green Hope School Greenway is a meandering collection of shared-use paths through Cary's Highcroft neighborhood. While the trail provides space for locals to get outside for fitness or fun, it also...
Endor Iron Furnace Greenway runs along Big Buffalo Creek on the west side of Sanford, which sits about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh. The paved trail begins at Kiwanis Family Park, which offers a...
Most of the short and sweet Baileywick Trail runs through Baileywick Park in the oakwood neighborhood of suburban Raleigh, North Carolina. The 50-acre park has two baseball diamonds, picnic shelters,...
The Fan Branch Trail is a pave hike and bike trail cutting through the Southern Village neighborhood of Chapel Hill. It's 10-feet wide and kicks off at the Southern Community Park, which features a...
The Crabtree Creek Trail, in suburban Raleigh, stretches nearly 16 miles along the Crabtree Creek corridor through forested greenways, city parks, residential areas, and among some business...
Sam's Branch Greenway is a short, but scenic trail in the town of Clayton, just south of Raleigh. The trail forms a paved ribbon through the woods along Sam Branch. The first phase was 1.25 miles...
The Buffalo Creek Greenway (also known as the Neuse Riverwalk) meanders along a wooded waterway through the heart of Smithfield in central North Carolina. It is one day hoped to become part of the...
The North-South Greenway is a complex of trails that link up to allow residents to cross the heart of the City of Durham without the need for a car. The South Ellerbee Creek picks up the southward...
The 2.2-mile, paved Louisburg Bike Trail runs from S. Main Street to Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC). At the Main St. end, you'll find the trail at Depot Street Hill, just south of the Tar...
The Riverwalk Greenway is a 2-mile trail in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The shared use trail begins at Gold Park and heads east, staying close to the river for most of its length, before concluding...
The Hare Snipe Trail provides access to Lake Lynn; its northern terminus follows Hare Snipe Creek from Ray Road to Wooten Meadow Park. From here the trail makes a loop around Lake Lynn, with a...
At just over 7 miles, the Black Creek Greenway is one of Cary’s longest and most popular trails. The paved pathway connects several parks, schools, and shopping and dining areas. On its southern...
The Carolina North Forest (aka the Horace Williams Tract) is made up of 750 acres owned by the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The forest and its trails provide respite for members of the...
The Centennial Bikeway Connector is a shared-use path adjacent to Centennial Parkway in Raleigh. The trail, as its name suggests, links the North Carolina State University's Centennial campus to...
Annie Jones Greenway provides a natural escape in the middle of the city. The trail goes through woods, and past streams for a short, though serene journey. The trail begins on SW Cary Parkway and...
The Reedy Creek Trail links William B. Umstead State Park to Meredith College. Beginning at the edge of Umstead State Park, the trail passes among some of the area's feature attractions, including the...
Beginning at E. Martin Street, the Little Rock Trail heads south through Chavis Park, running parallel with Chavis Way. The park features rock outcroppings, swimming pool, baseball diamond, shelters...
The Honeycutt Trail extends from Raven Ridge Road to Strickland Road in Raleigh, NC. The trail consists of two segments: between Raven Ridge Road and Durant Road, the trail is unpaved, though...
The Simms Branch Trail boasts several areas of large loblolly pine and connects Falls River to Durant Park. Watch for wildlife, including plenty of deer and maybe some beaver. You'll find a small...
The Yates Store Road Street-Side Trail in Cary is over a shared use pathway linking residents of the surrounding neighborhoods to the other trails in their town. So while the trail itself is just a...
The American Tobacco Trail extends uninterrupted from Durham more than 22 miles south through Chatham County to its southern terminus in Wake County. In 2014, a bridge for the trail over Interstate 40...
The Buffalo Creek Greenway (also known as the Neuse Riverwalk) meanders along a wooded waterway through the heart of Smithfield in central North Carolina. It is one day hoped to become part of the...
The Ellerbee Creek Trail is part of a chain of trails running across Durham, known as the North-South Greenway. This trail picks up where the Stadium Drive leaves off, on Stadium Drive next to the...
Sam's Branch Greenway is a short, but scenic trail in the town of Clayton, just south of Raleigh. The trail forms a paved ribbon through the woods along Sam Branch. The first phase was 1.25 miles...
The White Oak Creek Greenway runs through Cary, a city in North Carolina’s Triangle region that also includes Raleigh and Durham. On the west end the trail connects to the American Tobacco Trail, the...
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Green Hope School Greenway is a meandering collection of shared-use paths through Cary's Highcroft neighborhood. While the trail provides space for locals to get outside for fitness or fun, it also...
The Riverwalk Greenway is a 2-mile trail in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The shared use trail begins at Gold Park and heads east, staying close to the river for most of its length, before concluding...
Along the eastern outskirts of Raleigh, the Neuse River Trail follows the river for nearly 30 miles from Falls Lake Dam to the Wake/Johnston County line. There are several river crossings along the...
As its name suggests, this well-maintained trail does sit on the side of NC-55, but that's not the whole story. The trail is a space for fitness and recreation, pleasantly landscaped, and paved so...
Indian Creek Greenway is a hike-and-bike asphalt pathway that sits in the swathe cut by Indian Creek through residential Morrisville. About a third of the trail parallels Town Hall Road as a dedicated...
Endor Iron Furnace Greenway runs along Big Buffalo Creek on the west side of Sanford, which sits about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh. The paved trail begins at Kiwanis Family Park, which offers a...
The Tar River Trail parallels the Tar River, where Tuscarora Indians traveled before colonists settled here. Along the trail you will find evidence of early colonial history, the industrial...
The northernmost segment of Durham's North-South Greenway, Warren Creek Trail provides a serene hiking or biking experience and access to a neighborhood park. The trail extends between Horton Road...
Go by yourself, with a friend, or with man's best friend - just get out onto one of Cary's paved greenway trails. The Northwoods Greenway is a good option - it's just under a mile long, but it travels...
At just over 7 miles, the Black Creek Greenway is one of Cary’s longest and most popular trails. The paved pathway connects several parks, schools, and shopping and dining areas. On its southern...
The Third Fork Creek Trail offers a paved 3.5-mile route through southwestern Durham. The trail begins at Southern Boundaries Park and continues through a pleasantly wooded corridor to its end at...
The Riverwalk Greenway is a 2-mile trail in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The shared use trail begins at Gold Park and heads east, staying close to the river for most of its length, before concluding...
The House Creek Greenway Trail is a 2.8-mile-long paved trail that runs from Crabtree Valley Avenue near the intersection with Blue Ridge Road (near the McDonald's) until it meets the Reedy Creek...
The Ellerbee Creek Trail is part of a chain of trails running across Durham, known as the North-South Greenway. This trail picks up where the Stadium Drive leaves off, on Stadium Drive next to the...
The Simms Branch Trail boasts several areas of large loblolly pine and connects Falls River to Durant Park. Watch for wildlife, including plenty of deer and maybe some beaver. You'll find a small...
The Reedy Creek Trail links William B. Umstead State Park to Meredith College. Beginning at the edge of Umstead State Park, the trail passes among some of the area's feature attractions, including the...
Abbotts Creek Trail courses along a tree-lined route beside open fields and subdivisions in a suburban community near Wake Forest, North Carolina. The trail follows Abbotts Creek and passes by North...
Walk, run or roll; the Nancy Branch Greenway invites you to go at your own pace. The trail is flat and paved, making it easy enough for even the youngest members of the family to enjoy. Sandwiched...
The American Tobacco Trail extends uninterrupted from Durham more than 22 miles south through Chatham County to its southern terminus in Wake County. In 2014, a bridge for the trail over Interstate 40...
The Honeycutt Trail extends from Raven Ridge Road to Strickland Road in Raleigh, NC. The trail consists of two segments: between Raven Ridge Road and Durant Road, the trail is unpaved, though...
The Rocky Branch Trail offers beautiful views of the Raleigh city skyline, while also passing through the length of the North Carolina State University campus. It also links to Pullen Park, which has...
The trail starts on Green Level Church Road and then heads west past suburban homes, skirting the north side of Amberly Lake. You will cross Yates South Road via crosswalk, then continue south along...
The Morgan Creek Trail is named after the nearby stream and is a well-used asphalt and boardwalk trail in the town of Chapel Hill. The trail gives residents a safe connection to Merritt's Pasture, an...
The Carolina North Forest (aka the Horace Williams Tract) is made up of 750 acres owned by the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The forest and its trails provide respite for members of the...
This was our first trail ride in over 2 years and it was so much fun! Easy to get back into. We went from parking at the solite park up to the most northern point. A round trip of almost 14 miles and it was fantastic!
I walked this trail in its entirety twice yesterday. I started at the southernmost point at the NewHill location and made my way to the northernmost point at the Durham Bulls Athletics Park and back. A total of 50+ miles and 14 hours later I can attest to the greatness of this trail. Long, flat with plenty of space, this trail did not disappoint . Beautiful views along the way with plenty of wildlife in the south opening up to a busy city landscape offered much diversity through the hike. I highly recommend!Ihighly recommended
I roundtripped this entire trail in 1 day (44 miles, 4.5 hours, average speed just under 10mph), starting in Durham. Parked in the free lot under the freeway. Unfortunately I noticed a homeless camp there right away. The first 5 or so miles had several homeless camps along the side of the trail; lots of garbage; a security call phone. The next few miles of the trail are currently detoured because of nearby road constructions. Some of the signage along the detour could be improved. I found myself stopping often to look around to see where I was supposed to go next. There are multiple road crossings along the way - stop and be careful crossing the roads; the oncoming cars do not stop for bikers! There are also lots of new homes being constructed along the way as well. The northern end is paved. The southern end finally turns into a nice pleasant ride through the woods (it is fenced-off hunting lands) on a crushed-stone bed. The southern end has large parking areas and restrooms. I was hoping to see more history along the trail, but literally only passed 2 old falling-down tobacco barns along the way. It looks like a great trail (especially the southern end) for locals to jump on for a quick ride or jog, but not something that I as a visitor to the area would ever want or need to ride again.
Really astonished to see it for the first time. Had a great time with kids and family. It will be a great bike riding trail during summer ¿
I really ejoy this walk. I can walk all my four legged animals and that includes my pot belly pig names Sugar. We had such an amazing time. I am looking for to coming back soon.
One end of the trail has been closed for some time now .
I recently road the White Oak Greenway trail for the first time, starting from the American Tobacco Trail. The trail is wide with a high quality surface, varying between asphalt, concrete, and wood/trex causeways through wetlands. Since the trail is often adjacent or over wetlands, it is very scenic and peaceful, even though you are in the middle of a large suburban residential developments. I was also happy to find that there were absolutely no road crossings, so the trail is as safe as it gets!
The Indian Creek Greenway is a pleasant, level, paved walk wide enough for both bikes and pedestrians. The trailhead has a handicapped accessible, fenced playground, two shelters with picnic tables and a restroom building. The newly constructed (Fall 2020) stormwater control measure is a large landscaped water feature along the greenway.
The western end safely crosses McCrimmon Parkway and connects to the Shiloh Greenway providing access to Church Street Park which has tennis courts, restrooms, playground, outdoor fitness equipment, and the highest quality cricket pitch in the region.
See you on the trail,
TJ Cawley
Mayor of Morrisville
www.TownofMorrisville.org
Was staying downtown Raleigh and wanted to find a nice place to run. This was it. Very nice trail through the campus of NC State. Was easy to get to and the scenery and trail is very enjoyable.
Fresh new Trex planks, which will outlive all of us, replaced the rotting, patched-up wooden planks near the swampy lagoon area alongside Green Level Church roadTy city/state/whoever!
This is my favorite trail because it connects to so many others. You meander along the Neuse River, while enjoying transitions into open fields, woodlands, and some boulder areas. It’s medium and difficulty with some uphill travel, which is always treated with a downhill ride. However it is mostly flat. Too many great spots for photo shoots to share!
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TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!