White Lake, NC Hike Trails and Maps

84 Reviews

Looking for the best Hike trails around White Lake?

Find the top rated hike trails in White Lake, whether you're looking for an easy short hike trail or a long hike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
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Type
5 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Cape Fear River Trail

7 mi
State: NC
Asphalt, Boardwalk

Military Cutoff Trail

2 mi
State: NC
Asphalt

Dunn-Erwin Rail-Trail

7 mi
State: NC
Concrete, Crushed Stone

Gary Shell Cross-City Trail

15.8 mi
State: NC
Asphalt, Concrete

River to the Sea Bikeway

11 mi
State: NC
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Overview The Cape Fear River Trail winds for 7 miles through a mix of woodlands and marshes on Fayetteville’s north side, offering stunning views of the Cape Fear River. About the Route The...
NC 7 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk
The Military Cutoff Trail is a paved, north-south route paralleling its namesake roadway on the east end of Wilmington. A wide grassy median separates the trail from the busy roadway. The south end of...
NC 2 mi Asphalt
Overview Following the route of a historic rail line that once serviced a coal plant and denim textile mills in Erwin, the Dunn-Erwin Rail Trail passes through wooded terrain interspersed with open...
NC 7 mi Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview The Gary Shell Cross-City Trail connects the Wilmington campus of the University of North Carolina with the City of Wilmington's many recreational attractions, including Halyburton Park,...
NC 15.8 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The River to the Sea Bikeway (WMPO Bicycle Route 1) is an 11-mile, on- and off-road bicycle route that follows the Historic Beach Car Line, which carried vacationers from downtown Wilmington to...
NC 11 mi Asphalt

Recent Trail Reviews

Cape Fear River Trail

Great trail to ride!

April, 2025 by kk7mhnt22f

Rode this with the entire family today, beautiful day and the trail is everything a person could ask for. Woods, waterfalls covered bridges, boardwalk bridges, kids loved it. Down here in North Carolina from Michigan visiting the kids and grandkids, glad we brought our bikes.

Cape Fear River Trail

Beautiful, all the way

April, 2025 by jxksfkkhnc

Too bad it ends nowhere on the south extremity.

Cape Fear River Trail

Fun scenic trail!

March, 2025 by mlawlor72

I really enjoyed riding this rail trail. After reading the reviews, I decided to start off in Linear Park and ride my way north on the trail so I would hit the challenging hills in the middle of my ride. Smart move on my part lol! The trail is asphalt, beautiful condition. Blooming wisteria was stunning and the scent is intoxicating. Boardwalks, bridges, “tunnels”, hills and flats - it has something to offer everyone. The Cape Fear River and a few streams and a couple waterfalls wrap is up! Rode all the way to the soccer field complex and then back to Linear Park. Great ride!

Accordion

River to the Sea Bikeway

Deadly and not a trail.

March, 2025 by csherman0385

please don’t do this. me and my mom biked from downtown wilmington to wrightsville beach and it’s pretty generous to call it a trail when the trail is just well traveled roads with the occasional sign to share the road. people do not pay attention and go well over the speed limit. also says it will take 1 hour when it took 3. do not attempt this. just go to the beach in your car.

Cape Fear River Trail

Forested splendor

March, 2025 by mollyrollins008

Husband and I rode this trail on Sunday 3/9/25, little chilly & overcast on this date, but a really nice ride. Heading north from Clark Park is a good workout as there are some challenging uphill climbs. The ride is beautifully surrounded by forests, easy to forget you're in the Carolina sandhills. Trail was moderately crowded on this date, an overall really good time.

Dunn-Erwin Rail-Trail

Saturday cycling

March, 2025 by robertrollins28079

Spouse and I were trying to find a moderate length rail trail within a couple of hours from home (Charlotte area). We decided to try the Dunn-Erwin trail and are glad we did. It was a nice late winter day with temps getting into the mid 70's. The trail was enjoyable and fairly well maintained until we got to the trail extension in Erwin. There was a short section which was washed out more suitable for mountain bikes rather than road bikes. Some of the signage is getting weathered and needs replacing but otherwise well marked. Overall a satisfying ride.

Dunn-Erwin Rail-Trail

Trail needs lights and porta johns

October, 2024 by dalee3

Beautiful trail, but would be better if there were lights along the trail despite the worries if it disturbs our wildlife.

Having lights would make the trail feel much safer to walk on, especially in the winter evenings when it gets darker earlier. Namely, the wooded area closer to Erwin would be ideal since it's a bit more remote than other sections of the trail.

Also, it would be worthwhile putting some porta johns along the trail for those who may need to use the bathroom.

Gary Shell Cross-City Trail

Severe Parking Shortages for Trail Access

October, 2024 by luckydogupcyle

The lack of adequate parking for walkers along the trails is a glaring oversight by the planning board. It’s evident that they were aware of this shortfall when they designed the parking options. Unfortunately, the influence of developers and boards dominated by politicians and investors continues to overshadow the needs of the community.

As a result, trail users are forced to park in neighborhood easements near trailheads, creating tension with local residents. The planning board must prioritize the addition of sufficient parking areas rather than catering to commercial interests that prioritize land sales over community needs.

Effective planning should involve acquiring land for parking during the trail development process, yet they ignored this critical issue—particularly on Rose Ave, where the only available parking area was eliminated through land sale. The barriers residents have erected in easements are a direct response to this neglect.

These politically motivated decisions are not just disappointing; they are detrimental to the community. It’s time for the planning board to take a stand for the citizens they serve and make informed, responsible choices for our shared spaces.

River to the Sea Bikeway

Awful, awful, awful

September, 2024 by johnpascoe

With all the beauty of Wilmington and beaches, why can't our government spend money on a legitimate bike path from Leland/Wilmington to the beach? Instead, we get Dollar Trees and Car washes!! C'mon Wilmington Government, we can do better!!

Cape Fear River Trail

will come back soon!

September, 2024 by tabvena

Excellent trail. Unobstructed and scenic with all types of turns and bridges. Got an easy 10 here and could have went further. Love the mixed crowd; kids, bikers, runners and dogs. Super exciting to see so many people into fitness and outdoors.

River to the Sea Bikeway

Dangerous!!!

May, 2024 by marydegange

A third of the ride is designated bike trail, the other two thirds are streets, and a few are very busy streets! Many street crossings, and signage is fair. Had to check the map several times to make sure we were on the bikeway. Won’t ride this ever again.

Gary Shell Cross-City Trail

urban to woods

May, 2024 by janskinj

A good portion of this trail presents as a sidewalk along a busy road. Still decent park views, old trolley lines and water side rides at this end. The real beauty is at the Halyburton Park end. Wooded, all natural, rolling hills, the smell of pine and lots of critters. Peaceful and rewarding.

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