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The American Tobacco Trail extends uninterrupted from Durham more than 22 miles south through Chatham County to its southern terminus in Wake County.
About the Route
Starting from the trail's northern endpoint along Morehead Ave., just south of the old American Tobacco Factory, the trail heads south along a wide asphalt trail.
The Durham County section of the trail provides fixed maps and signage frequently displayed along the route.
The trail crosses Lakewood Avenue on a newly built pedestrian bridge and south of Durham the trail starts to head into more shaded, forested property, a contrast from the more urban northern end of the trail.
The trail surface is asphalt from its northern end to New Hope Church Road and has a stone dust surface for the remaining southern portion of the trail. The southern stretch of the American Tobacco Trail is open to equestrians.
The more rural southern end of the trail courses through beautiful pines, and its rural sections boast plentiful wildlife, including beavers, herons, hawks, songbirds, vultures, owls, turtles, and deer. Several old railroad bridges take users across various streams that cross the trail's path.
While hunters may use the southern portions to access Army Corps of Engineers and N.C Wildlife Resources Game Lands, firearm use is not permitted on the trail.
Connections
3 miles from the northern endpoint, the trail connects to the Riddle Road Spur Trail.
3.8 miles from the southern endpoint, the trail intersects with the White Oak Creek Greenway.
The American Tobacco Trail is part of the developing East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile route from Florida to Maine.
The American Tobacco Trail runs between Morehead Ave. (Durham) to 1309 New Hill Olive Chapel Rd (Apex), which offers parking and restrooms.
Additional parking can be found at:
See TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Went 11 miles biking today and it was very busy surprisingly busy for 30 degree Monday in mid January but still a good day
The American Tobacco Trail is an excellent trail for bikers, walkers, runners, and horseback riders. I did a bunch of research via YouTube on the trail before I drove the hour to get to it. It was shaded, easy to find, and the trail surfaces were superb and easy to ride.
There were available bathrooms at the trailhead and in different areas along the trail. It was exceptionally busy with the cooler temps so you need to watch out for oncoming traffic (runners, bikes).
If I had to pick something to improve, I would fix two things to make the trail even better. First, the markings as you get into the outskirts of Durham (from the south). We missed the trail marker and had a slight diversion. The other thing I would do to improve this great trail experience would be putting more garbage cans throughout the trail to throw out any trash and especially for folks cleaning up after their dogs (doggie bags). No one wants to carry that for a few miles.
I started at Solite Park and went to the end and back on my mountain bike (around 30 miles) in around 3.5 hours. The ride is very smooth and scenic.
Some things to consider: A lot of the trail is in the sun and I got a little burnt. There are many places to fill up a water bottle (at least in the summer) so water was never an issue. Have a trail map accessible on your phone because there are some spots that are a little confusing.
I did the trail alone starting around noon. Next time if I start earlier in the morning I would like to do the whole thing.
Nice distance and great surface. Located in the middle of everything. You can ride and enjoy the city all in one day.
Mostly paved and few road crossing until you get into Durham. Tough to follow after that
It has become part of our life, we spend few hours every week in it.
We embarked upon the asphalt/concrete path that led out of downtown (right at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, where we later watched 4th of July fireworks) and soon, we were winding through long, shaded stretches of woods that led south for the next 22.6 miles. With a name like The American Tobacco Trail, we had anticipated cycling past old fashioned general stores with carved Indian statues and former tobacco farms and barns. But no. We call this and rail-to-trails similar to it “Zen” trails because, with little visual variety, they can be described as either tranquil and serene, or boring. These trails range from flat to slightly rolling but they never have more than a 3-4 degree incline because that was the steepest railroad engines could handle at the time the tracks were laid.
It seemed for the first 6-8 miles of the ride, we passed through traffic intersections about every quarter mile, which meant waiting at lights every five minutes or so. Only one or two of the intersections appeared to have shops nearby for buying water or energy bars, so it’s best to plan ahead. Four miles prior to the end, the pavement stopped and the path became a mixture of grass, gravel and clay. On the map, we seemed to be nearing Jordan Lake, and there were swampy areas on either side of the trail, but that was the extent of the water view. With the exception of the many intersections, it was basically tree-lined the entire length – which did make the temperature perfect on an otherwise steamy summer day.
We rewarded ourselves with a short drive to an excellent brewery in downtown Durham.
We stated at the Southern Terminus and road up to O'Kelly Chapel Road Trailhead and returned to New Hill Trailhead. Parking right off the road has only spots for 5 vehicles but proceed ahead and there is plenty more at the actual Trailhead start point. The crushed limestone surface was in great condition and truly liked that there was a crushed limestone option once the asphalt became available.
Wonderful
This trail was fun up and over highway! Busy with bikers, walkers and runners on Sunday morning we rode.
Great trail to run during the day! Well kept and has great entry/exit points with a lot of parking. It doesn’t have street lights so I wouldn’t run it at night!
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
First time on the ATT. Parked at the New Hill Olive Chapel Road access. So many nice features to this trail. This area is fortunate to have such a lovely trail! Don't hesitate to try it!!
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 ¿
Does anyone know how to find out milage you walk on ATT?
This is all new to me . Where I come from people shout out “on your left”. Here most bikers do not do this despite being urged to by frequent signs. Please people use your voice!
The part in Durham I got to ride was shady and well-maintained but I'd never ride it again. I'm used to riding trails that have long stretches and don't cross dangerous, busy streets every block or so. While this trail would be *excellent* for walking and I do see people biking, it's not one I'd recommend for the latter. There are too many opportunities for a bad interaction with an inattentive driver. I had a near-miss with a driver who didn't respect the trail/crosswalk warning lights as it was.
I'm fortunate to live within walking distance of the ATT. I walk or bike on it almost every day. Most of my mileage is on the southern half of the trail, south of Southpoint shopping mall. With that in mind here are my observations:
It doesn't have much dramatic scenery, but it does have and promote a sense of serenity along most of its length, which is all the more amazing when you consider that it cuts right through the busy RTP metropolitan area.
The trail is ALWAYS well maintained.
At the southern terminus of the trail, you can see that the rail bed continues, but is blocked by a barricade. Looking at the satellite photos of this area My fervent hope is that one day the rail-trail will be extended down this corridor.
As you would expect in an urban area, the trail can get overcrowded--especially on weekends.
I used to live right on the ATT and absolutely loved it. The trail is nicely kept and is shaded through many parts of it. The ATT made my runs so easy and it is easily one of my favorite trails that I have ever ran.
I had an extra day to spend in the Triangle before heading home, and was excited to squeeze in a ride on this trail. I parked at the White Oak trailhead, which has restrooms. The stone trail was among the best I’ve ever seen; extremely wide, smooth, well-packed. Lots of tree cover, gentle hills. They use the old-fashioned access control gates on this trail, which are a bit narrow to ride through even at a slow speed. But road crossings were not too frequent and didn’t slow me down.
Even though it was a Saturday and a lot of people were using the trail, I didn’t feel hampered to ride at a (relatively) fast pace. The mix of families with strollers, walkers, runners, and riders all got along quite well. I rode to the end of the stone section, then back past my car to the paved section and into Durham. There was a bigger hill and one very urban area where the trail narrows and becomes effectively a sidewalk, then opens up a bit and dives back into the trees. I continued to Mile 5 and turned around where it seemed to be getting more urban again.
And despite the trail’s name, not a single smoker in sight the whole way.
We traveled there from NJ and stayed at a local hotel a few miles down the road. La Qunita was clean and accepted our dog at no extra charge. We parked at 3 different spots on our 3 days of riding there this past weekend. In the South Point Mall parking lot, at the New Hope Church Road Parking Lot and at the Kroger Parking Lot, with absolutely no problems. We rode the entire length and other than a couple of less respectful people not caring about anyone but themselves, we had a Great time. The trails are used by walkers, joggers, families, novice and very inexperienced riders. We did see a police officer on the trail on day 3. I contacted the local Police Department prior to taking to the trails, and was advised that other than a couple of incidents, that the trail is an excellent place to bike, and that there is no specific location presenting additional hazards. We cautiously rode north to Durham on our 1st day (Friday) and the trail was not very busy at all. As we neared Martin Luther Blvd, there was a growing number of younger folks using the trail for getting around, but none of them were in any disrespectful or threatening. There were also a few just hanging in the area along side of the trails, but were also not threatening to us in any way. Days 2 and 3 we covered from south of the South Point Mall which went from asphalt to finely packed sand and gravel. There were many many people on the trails on Saturday and Sunday, but there was plenty of room for getting around and not at all a "Too Crowded"place to be. We met a few people through out our days and just had an awesome time. We put in about 70 miles during or 3 day trek! and would love to return and bring more of our family with us next time.
Love the trail. Cars are being broken into at Fayetteville Street access point next to Southpoint mall. Two this week.
Nice trail through three counties. I usaually start at the southern trail head near New Hill and ride up to the I-40 bridge near Southpoint Mall and then turn around. That is a 30 mile round trip. The trail north of the interstate has too many busy road crossings and is more residential but you might want to explore this area at least once. The last half mile into downtown Durham is nice though and ends near the baseball park.
There are water and restroom stops along the trail which is a very good feature for a long distance trail. Many other trails I've been on have little to no water. The trail is almost entirley under the tree canopy. Good chance you will see some wildlife. In the fall some of the land adjacent to the trail is open to hunting so you may see hunters using the trail to access the gameland. The southern seven miles of the trail is fine gravel while the remaining north miles are paved. There are more scenic trails out there but the ATT is a very good place to ride or run for exercise.
Beautiful ATT. The trail at Wimberly Road has a small detour while road construction is ongoing ( July 4 2016 ). Parking is still accessible at Wimberly Rd. Detour is a few hundred feet and is very well marked.
Two reviewers claim the American Tobacco Trail is not safe in Durham. That was true for a time. But in response to several attacks in 2012, citizens volunteered to patrol the trail, and Durham Police increased their presence there. NC Rail-Trails then commissioned a study, which found dramatic improvement. http://www.ncrailtrails.org/ATT-durham-section-study
Since 2014, the safest place to be in zip code 27707 is on the trail. The ATT remains the most popular trail in NC, from end to end. Follow the trail at https://www.facebook.com/groups/43492943009/ Do a custom search of police data at http://www.raidsonline.com/?agency=Durham,NC
The Tobacco trail spans 22.2 miles from Durham to Apex, NC and is great for biking, running, and walking for all ages and abilities. I have ridden the full length of the trail starting at the New Hope Church Road entrance in either direction dependant upon the recent weather. It's nice to have the paved portion for rainy days and the screened gravel/rock for better weather days. There are a few areas to stop along the way such as Herndon Park and the new trail access lot on New Hope Church Road in Cary, however once you get into Durham there are little no safe areas to stop IMO.
My family and I have now biked 19 of the 22 miles from the start. The trail is well traveled and well marked. The 1st 14 miles are paved and the remainder well packed gravel. Their are places to stop and refill your water, take a potty break, eat a picnic. The nature around the trail keeps you cool even during a hot summers day.there are lots of places to get into the trail. Can't wait to do it again! I bet the fall when the leaves are changing colors will be beautiful!!
The northern segment of the ATT, from the bridge over Interstate 40 to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) in Durham, is not safe. Before the bridge was opened, and since the bridge was opened, there were several attacks on people using the northern segment of the ATT. See local news from 2012 http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/11612808/ The local Durham authorities are trying to address that. See local news story from 2014 http://www.wral.com/new-cameras-on-american-tobacco-trail-won-t-be-near-site-of-recent-attacks/13724147/ However, there have been numerous attacks in recent years, day and night. I ride the southern segment two-to-three times per week. It is very safe. In January 2014, there were some car break-ins at one trailhead on the southern segment. See local story http://www.wral.com/cars-broken-into-at-cary-access-point-for-tobacco-trail/13326172/ but more police are now patrolling the trailheads, and that doesn't seem to be a problem anymore. I frequently bike from the southernmost New Hill Trail Head ( address 1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Road, Apex, NC 27502 ) to the Interstate 40 bridge behind the "Streets of SouthPoint" mall. The hill behind the mall is a nice long steep climb. Good challenge, and good reward going back down. I also start at various trailheads / parking lots that are along the way from work ( based on stores / chores that I have to do , where I happen to be driving near the southern segment at the time ). If you do want to venture north of that pedestrian bridge over Interstate 40, then please be very careful. I have ( and still do ) ride over the bridge into the northern segement of the ATT, but I will not go more than 0.5 miles north into Durham past the bridge. I go past the McDonalds and Wendy's shopping center, but I turnaround at the Woodcroft Parkway, and head south again. It might be safe going further north than that; I used to go to the DBAP years ago, but not anymore. Nice PDFs are located http://www.triangletrails.org/american-tobacco-trail And for the Wake County section, there are nice street addresses for some popular trailheads. See http://www.wakegov.com/parks/att/Pages/directions.aspx
Since Durham County paved its portion and the bridge is complete, the ATT is now a joyful 26-mile round trip from I-40 to Cary. Near either side of the I-40 bridge, there are several places to park and get rich coffee, gourmet donuts or baked goodies in Durham shopping centers. The trail gently ascends and descends with many forest and creek views. Biking is relatively easy, the natural environment quiet and enjoyable. The only caution is the number of roadways to cross, but these are usually lightly traveled.
I forgot to put my rating in what I just wrote.
I ride my bike on the trail from south Durham over I-40 towards Apex. The comment about crime is totally overblown. Yes, there have been assaults but police have stepped up patrols. If you have any concerns, go with another person. Also, I haven't heard of any assaults on cyclists. They actually just arrested a kid for two recent assaults. http://www.wral.com/durham-teen-arrested-in-two-american-tobacco-trail-assaults/13761060/
If you don't want to start in downtown Durham, a good starting point in Solite Park in south Durham - you can then ride south towards Apex or north to downtown. From Solite Park south, there's not too much traffic crossing the streets. Also the park is popular enough (people playing basketball) that your car won't get broken into. The bottom line is I'm a single woman who has been on the trail by myself at least 100 times and have not had any problems. I feel strongly that the best response to this issue is to keep using the trail - if it's innudated with people, no one is going to be assaulted.
Actually, on weekends it is kind of crowded. Lots of kids and dog walkers who have trouble staying on their side of the trail.
It's a little tricky following the trail where it crosses Highway 54- the signage isn't great. Basically if you're going south, you make a right (where there is a sign) and go behind the shopping center. Then you make a right and go on the sidewalk for one block of 54 and then make a left, crossing at the light. You go straight for a block and then make a right for a block and then make a left to go over the I-40 bridge. If you're there on weekends there will be plenty of people around to follow or ask.
If you want a really country experience, park at Herndon Park, which is south of Southpoint mall and go to the trailhead in Apex. Your only problem will be avoiding horse droppings and not scaring them when you pass.
This trail, between the DBAP and Hwy 54 is a high crime area. If you go here, you are likely to be assaulted on the trail at the same time your car is being broken in to. And the DPD does nothing about it but issue statements.
Great biking trail for out-of-towners too. Good signage, well maintained paved and smooth crushed rock surfaces. Most users respect the standard policy of staying to the right. A few dink heads walking on left or little ones milling willy nilly. Any bike will do.
I've ridden twice, Fall and Spring, covering the open parts from mile 0 heading north. A good surface, hard and fast, sometimes paved, sometimes striped, even a slow lane in the paved portion for runners or horse riders. It's a subtle trail. Generally flat. Starts at 0 with the Beaver Creek wetlands, and then on and on through a stick pine forest. With the trees bare you will see the nuances, the streams, the terrain. There is even a Neverland. Ride and see if you can find it. Pin your ears back and go.
The trail is finished and fabulous!
You can now bike or run or hike almost 45 miles round trip. The southern 7.5 miles is not paved, but even just staying on pavement you can now bike almost 30 miles round trip on the trail. The bridge over I40 is quite beautiful and spectacular. If you are biking for speed and training, just don't expect to go fast on a beautiful Sunday afternoon as it has been quite buzy the past few Sunday afternoons with bikers and walkers and runners and skateboards and roller bladers and dog walkers of all shape, size, color, and age. It has been great seeing so many people out using the trail. Just goes to show the bridge was a great idea and worth every penny. If you build it, they will come.
Just some information - the directions and parking given for Antler point dr. is not 100% accurate. I parked there and then asked a resident for the entrance. He informed me nicely but curtly that my car would probably be ticketed or towed and that the entrance was one more street down off Fayetteville Road. He was correct - but the entrance was not a street just the next drive past Antler point on the right. There is parking there.
I am going to pass on a lot of info about the American Tobacco Trail. I live about a half-mile from the trail and have been riding it regularly for 13 years, dating back to the days when the railroad bridges had rotted away and I came home with bloody legs from riding through thorny overgrowth. Area governments and volunteers have done a fantastic job of developing the trail and more is yet to come. I ride it for enjoyment and to commute to downtown Durham, so I may not review it as a “destination ride”, but I know it very well, so here goes.
The trail is divided into two sections. The southern section, about 14 miles from the southern trailhead to Renaissance Parkway, is largely through rural woodlands. The first 7 miles are paved with crushed granite screenings. This is a good riding surface that is fairly smooth and doesn’t get muddy or rutted. I ride it on my road bike with 700 x 28 Gatorskins with no problem. Mountain bikes and hybrids are obviously fine. North of New Hope Church Road, it is dual surface, with 2/3 pavement and 1/3 screenings. North of the Durham County line is all pavement, with narrow (maybe 18 inch) screenings shoulders for joggers. There is a little jog in the trail where you have to go a few hundred feet on Massey Chapel Road to continue on north. The maps pretty clearly mark the services available. Note that the bathrooms at the southern terminus and the White Oak Chapel lot are new pit toilets and there is no water available. There is a newly installed water fountain at the Pittard Sears Road lot. The southern section is a pretty straight, flat ride through quiet woods with a little bit of housing to be seen through the trees on occasion. Deer are very common. Road crossings are usually quiet. When you get to Renaissance Parkway, you suddenly hit civilization and run into the parking lot for the Streets of Southpointe mall. The new bridge carrying the trail over I-40 opens on October 12, 2013. Traffic on the trail is pretty evenly divided between walkers and cyclists. Horse traffic is allowed but minimal, and I have never had any issues with horseback riders. The trail can be used as access to gamelands. I have seen hunters on their way a handful of times but this is not cause for concern. As with most trails, weekend traffic is a lot heavier.
The northern section runs for about 6 miles. It starts at a parking lot just north of the intersection of Highway 54 and Fayetteville Road, and ends in downtown Durham at the front of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. (This is the new stadium, not the old one from the movie. That refurbished stadium is a few blocks further north and worth a stop.) This section is all asphalt and goes mostly through residential areas with good tree buffers. There is nothing spectacular about it but it is a great way to get through the city without messing with traffic. There are more road crossings and since this is in town, the roads are busier. Several of the busiest crossings have stoplights with a special button for trail users to get the light. This is a well-used section of the trail and you are more likely to see skaters and residents from surrounding neighborhoods. For me this section of the trail is to get me to downtown. I can ride to a ballgame or any of the great downtown restaurants. The American Tobacco Entertainment District, adjacent to the ballpark, is a fantastic area of reclaimed tobacco warehouses with lots of great eateries, bars and a very popular outdoor concert venue under the Lucky Strike water tower. Don’t miss this destination. Durham was just named “Best Foodie City” by Southern Living magazine and for good reason. “Ride to eat/eat to ride” is my motto.
After the trail officially ends by the ballpark, you continue north through downtown on the city streets. It’s busy, so be careful. Just west of the intersection of Morris Street and Trinity Street, you can pick up the North/South Greenway, which is a collection of joined trails. I have been north on the Ellerbe Creek Trail as far as the Museum of Life and Science. This is a fantastic interactive museum for kids and adults. Their massive butterfly house is worth the trip. Check this place out. I have not been further north. I guess my assignment is to hit those sections and report back.
Here is the link to the trail website with maps. http://www.triangletrails.org/
If you are coming from a distance to ride the trail, search me on facebook at “Brent Curtis Durham”. I’d be happy to give you more tips on riding and other destinations and activities. Now turn off your computer and go ride!
The trail is mostly flat and very easy to run on. You have a cross over some back roads but there is not much trafic. If you run 10k's that have some hills, you can run at least 10 miles (5 out and 5 back)on this trail with no problems, non-stop. There are mile markers on the trail. I like to start at the South Entrance.
My ten year old son rode 23 miles on the southern part of the trail. Fall colors were wonderful. We had a great time. What a great place to make great memories with the family.
What a shame that the reviewers "Linda and Bill" ("Nice Trail, but....") missed the BEST part of the trail--the southern part. They apparently went only on the northern, much more urban section of the trail, which is split from the southern end by I-40. The southern end features a beautiful tree-shaded trail with about four miles of paved path. Every weekend my wife and I travel 40 minutes with our hybrid bikes to bike 24 miles on the southern end. Even in the hottest weather, the shaded trail is a joy to bike. Bikers, joggers, and walkers are frequently encountered, but the trail is so long (13.5 miles one way) that you don't feel crowded at all. I wish "Linda and Bill" had seen this part of the trail.....
We were heading to Emerald Isle, NC from Virginia and decided to stop in Durham to check out the American Tobacco Trail along the way. It’s easy to find this trail. Set your GPS to the Durham Bulls Stadium, 508 Blackwell St., Durham, NC. Turn left on Blackwell St. to the bottom of the hill. Parking is behind the large while satellite dishes. The trail begins in front of the satellite dishes. The trail is 6.5 miles long, well marked and beautifully maintained, but there are 17 road crossings in the 6.5 miles. The trail runs through the suburbs of the city of Durham. You ride past some nice housing developments, but there’s nothing scenic on this route. The people of Durham are fortunate to have a nice trail in their back yard, but if you’re exploring the country checking out scenic rail trails as we are, this one was nothing exceptional.
You can now ride from the unimproved Massey Chapel Rd. crossing to the end in Wake County. The trestles are completed and this is about a 13.5 mile section. A great ride.
http://www.triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM
I submitted a photo in the greensboro rail trail system, it's a bike at a map shelter with the name of Amercian Tobacco trail on it. This picture should go under the American Tobacco trail Durham County.
Sorry, Lorraine
"I went to the middle section in early January 2007 on a beautiful 65 degree day. There is a park (athletic fields, etc.) almost adjacent to the trail but for some reason the gates were closed so I parked on the shoulder of Scott King road where there is ample room. The trail runs north and south of this access point but my odometer (accurate to mile markers on other trails) measured the length at only about 3 miles. Trail surface appears to be old railroad bed(?) so I recommend a bike with front suspension and tires at least 1.5” wide. About a half mile south of SK road the bridge over the creek was out. About a mile north the trail leaves the old railroad bed and follows a creek around a new neighborhood. At this point it was a mess of mud and difficult to traverse. I gave up after only about a ¼ mile. This trail has potential if they put a bridge over the creek (assuming there’s more trail to the south) and put some type of paving or crushed stone on the muddy part but for right now it’s too short."
"I rode some of the Wake County portion on Saturday October 14th 2006. The trail wasn't very crowded. There were walker, joggers, a couple horses and a few other bikers. The Wake Couny portion is about 5.5 miles long.
The trail is wide, dry and clear of debris. The surface looks like almost white sand but feels like pavement. Bicycle tires don't leave tracks and hoof prints from a couple horses in front of me were hard to see.
There are three large, well marked parking areas in Wake County. Each has a supply of trail maps which are much more detailed than any found on the ATT web page.
The southernmost is at1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd. For those who like numbers it's located at N35.71366 W78.94357 and is 280 feet above sea level. This area has restroom facilities.
The middle is located at 1017 Wimberly Rd. N35.76110 W78.92106 255' ASL. This is the smallest of the three (but still big) and has no restroom.
The northernmost is at 1305 White Oak Church Rd. N35.78669 W78.92225 377' ASL. There is a restroom facility here also. The trail north from here heading towards Chatham County is blocked first with a gate and then a large section of fence that extends into the woods on either side. It is marked NO TRESPASSING.
I also looked at the Chatham County trail which is not much more than a dirt path through the woods. Road crossings are marked with signs stating ""Irregular Surface"" and ""Trail Construction In Progress"". There is no parking lot at any crossing but you could probably stick 2 or 3 cars off the side of the road at some of these crossings. I only saw one mountain biker using this trail.
In Durham County the sections of the trail I drove by are paved but were very urban. "
"Inline skater review of ATT paved portion on 09/23/06.
PROS:
Pavement is in excellent condition except for less than a 1/4 section at the south end adjacent to the parking lot.
Pavement markings are excellent with center lines, 1/2 mile markers, all crosswalks marked, and crossing street names painted on the trail at each crossing.
Signs include stop signs before each crossing and updated trail information signs at each end.
CONS:
Road crossings are very frequent, which makes it difficult to get into a good pace except for two longer sections between roads. Most crossings are posted with stop signs for trail users and require the a complete stop due to limited visibility of the road from the trail crosswalk approaches.
The trail was relatively clear of debris except for pine straw at the south end and a 3/4 mile section with tiny loose rock washed onto the trail.
Each bridge has a plank surface. The surface is easy enough to coast over, but may be a bit rough for beginner skaters.
No water or rest room facilities are part of the trail; however, it passes near a number of stores and fast food restaurants accessible with a very short street skate.
"
"We drove up from Florence, South Carolina to expereince the bicycle friendly communities of Carrboro and Cary. The American Tobacco Trail was used by a small number of people on a cool Monday in March. We saw lots of birds and enjoyed the tall trees along the way. There were several places to stop along the way for coffee of meals. A friendly dog followed us down the trail. We rode from the trail head downtown to the Southpoint Mall. We delayed out coffee break until we got back to Starbucks at American Tobacco. It is only open on week days. The trail is in excellent condition and easy to follow. It has a few difficult road crosssing but using the signals worked. I wish we had a nice 7-mile trail like that in our community. "
"We drove up from Florence, South Carolina to expereince the bicycle friendly communities of Carrboro and Cary. The American Tobacco Trail was used by a small number of people on a cool Monday in March. We saw lots of birds and enjoyed the tall trees along the way. There were several places to stop along the way for coffee of meals. A friendly dog followed us down the trail. We rode from the trail head downtown to the Southpoint Mall. We delayed out coffee break until we got back to Starbucks at American Tobacco. It is only open on week days. The trail is in excellent condition and easy to follow. It has a few difficult road crosssing but using the signals worked. I wish we had a nice 7-mile trail like that in our community. "
"The trail continues when the American Tobacco Trail gets to the Durham Bulls Stadium downtown. At that point it becomes the North-South Greenway and continues almost to West Point on the Eno River; another ~10 miles of paved trail!
Now, almost half is sidewalk that runs along a road, there's a patch of gravel when you ride under I-85, and a block where you have to ride in the street (but it's wide with little/slow traffic), but my son & I have been enjoying it all year and hope to see you out there!
It's not too tricky to follow, but here are some landmarks to help your first time... When the ATT ends at the Bulls stadium, continue up Blackwell St and through downtown as straight as possible until you get to the downtown YMCA, where you'll notice green paver bricks which you follow (through Durham Central Park and past the Old Bulls Ballpark) about 7 or 8 blocks to the beginning of the ""off-road"" paved trail (nearest road intersection is W. Trinity & Orient). This will take you to West Club Blvd. which you follow under I-85 to Northgate Park. Next you'll get to Rock Quary Park (or the Museum of Life & Science if you take a right at the fork in the path), which takes you to the National Guard Armory and the County Stadium. Take the sidewalk along Stadium Dr. heading west (left), up the big hill, across Carver & Kenmore until the sidewalk (on the left/west side of the street) veers into the woods. This takes you to Whipporwill Park, and the trail continues another 1 1/2 miles north to Horton Rd (& Guess Rd where there's a shopping center).
In a couple of years we have been promised that the trail will continue North to West Point on the Eno (& beyond), and that a bridge will be built over I-40 to Southpoint Mall (connecting to trails in Apex, Cary and into the Raleigh Greenway system) in the opposite direction. But in the meantime, don't think of it as ""just"" 7.7 miles of paved path, like the description says. Think of it as a 35 mile paved round trip tour. And say hi to me and the boys when you see us, the second is just old enough to start joining us!
8/16/05
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"Warning - this section is not paved, and a combination of weather and horses have made it quite bumpy for bikes. We rode the entire 5.5 miles both ways on hybrid bikes and, while the scenery was quite lovely, my bones are still clattering. Too bad that it's not nearly as bike-friendy as the 7 miles north of I-40. I wouldn't ride it again unless it's either paved or else horses are restricted to a trail separate from bikes."
"The doggies and I have enjoyed the northern paved Durham section of the trail for over a year now, but the new sections more recently opened are even better since there's a lot less people using them for now. South Point Mall has encouraged a spate of housing development at the northern portion of the southern Durham segment, but blissful serenity and nature takes over roughly a mile further south. Unfortunately, quite a few people with dogs don't follow the rules and keep them on a leash as requested. This has been a bit problematic at times for me on my bike and my dogs who run in front of me on a tugline in harness.
My dogs aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a lot easier to effect a successful ""on by"" (and avoid serious injury) if people keep their dogs close to them and under control when we're passing. Some dog owners are very considerate, but I don't think the ones who let their dogs charge up the trail in front of them unleashed to say ""hi"" to my fur girls realize the safety risk to both us and their dogs. Be aware please!
The southern end of the southern Durham segment ends at a an old railroad trestle over a stream/river. Very scenic - see picture.
We were the only trail users on the rainy day we visited the Wake portion of the trail. The cinder trail covering is great for bicycling and it's nice that there are so many benches to stop for a break along the way. I look forward to exploring the ever increasing segments of the trail as they open and feel lucky to live where such a good idea was brought to life!"
"I'm not terribly keen on multi-use paths, but my Siberian Husky and I have enjoyed this trail quite a bit. There is little traffic to worry us and the trail is not crowded on weekdays when she runs alongside me on my bicycle. The ATT does pass through what are considered some of Durham's 'rougher' neighborhoods, but I've never had any trouble. If you worry about such things, have a human or canine companion join you.
The newest segment of the trail runs alongside the Woodcroft subdivision in south Durham and there's a McDonald's at the far south end (Southpoint Crossing Shopping Center) if one is hungry after the trek."
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