This preserve is a great place to walk, jog, and bird. Although they don't allow bikes or horses…read morefor the trail - they do allow LEASHED dogs. (DO NOT HAVE UNLEASHED DOGS ON THE TRAIL- it's irresponsible regardless of how good they are) There are coyotes out there and a fair amount of wildlife. The trail we went on was about 2miles long and has water areas, the path is very obvious and there is signage. Highly recommend it- only down side it the parking lot is quite small.

Beautiful trails! We really enjoyed our hike. We had 3 kids with us and they had the best time…read moreexploring! Definitely recommend hiking shoes if it's been a bit wet out - the trails were pretty muddy the day we visited.

Nice trail to run on! Our group ran early evening and there were other runners out and some people…read moreon walks with their dogs. The section we were on was pretty flat besides one small hill. It does also have some boards to cross over in various areas. Some of the boards felt like they were giving a little while we were running.

I've owned a house in Woodcroft for several years and finally moved into it last December. I have…read moreseen the entrance to Third Fork Creek Trail on Woodcroft Parkway hundreds of times, but it looked kinda primitive or overgrown. Slurve me, nothing could be further from the truth. This trail is like a four-lane interstate compared to some of the other trails I've ridden. Wide boardwalks, concrete or wooden bridges with permanent bollards to keep ATVs off, and very shady going for much of the distance from Woodcroft Parkway to Southern Boundaries Park. The ride was maybe 30 minutes, despite mapping apps saying it would take 90. A beautiful, relaxing ride, or a great place to get some distance in. It's mostly flat, wide, and well-paved. Few roots or other breaks in the pavement. It runs along the creek, so be aware it floods easily, but the city crews do an excellent jobs of clearing out the debris and mowing the grass shoulders. Fantastic for families (many of the bridges have no railings, but they are less than a foot off the ground in most places. Bring a change of shoes/clothes for your more adventurous kiddos!) Wildlife abounds, so pay attention so you don't hit a deer or a turtle! Highly recommended!!!

Little River Regional Park is a nice little spot that is actually a cooperative project between…read moreDurham and Orange counties and situated a bit outside of the hustle and bustle of the triangle area. The park is not huge, but it does offer roughly 7-8 miles each of hiking trails and mountain biking trails (not too shabby!). There is also a butterfly garden, group campsite, playground, and picnic area on site so most of your bases are covered if you want to have either a leisurely or intense afternoon out in the park. My first time at the park I was pretty shocked that such a natural area could exist just off of Guess Road (yes, the character of Guess Road here differs greatly from that near the I-85 exit in Durham). This park is quiet, uncrowded, well-maintained and very serene. I have never taken on the mountain biking trails myself, but I've heard that they're in tip-top shape, single track, and pretty challenging the further you get away from the trailheads. Presumably like these mountain bike trails, the hiking trails are very well-maintained, well marked, and at least a step up from an easy stroll in the park at most parts. The trails offer nice views of both the North and South Rivers, and they're loop trails which is always a plus! Per the park's brochures, hikers can also hike the mountain bike trails but must yield to cyclists and be aware of their surroundings. For the runners out there, there is also a Little River trail run each year (7K and 10 mile distances) with proceeds benefiting the park itself. Maybe knowing that you're helping to sustain a beautiful natural area will make running 10 miles in January less painful? I have my doubts... If you're willing to take a trek a bit down Guess Road, this is definitely a park worth checking out!

Lovely park with gorgeous trails. Quieter than Eno with good maintenance, frequent benches, and…read moreaccessible bridges.

Awesome trails, well marked, a great workout, lots of beautiful nature! I love hiking near water,…read moreand this has a gently and rocky creek. There's parking along the side of Mt Sinai rd. It was very quiet on a Saturday morning. A lovely hike that was a loop.

I've been on this trail plenty of times. However this was my first time hiking to piney mountain…read more It was a moderate hike with lots of deep roots and rocks. You have to look where you're going or you could fall and get hurt.

Amazing little trails tucked into Durham! Has its own parking which is great but does fill fast…read more There's a lot of amazing wildlife to see from crawfish to many species of birds. The first time I went was with Audubon for a walk and saw red headed woodpeckers and others. The downside and why it gets minus one star- the ease of flooding in this area means some trails may not be accessible after a heavy rain. Also during warmer months the mosquitoes are insufferable even with bug spray. But there are trails for dogs, bikers and walkers.

Small but easy to walk for people like me that aren't physically fit. I enjoy just walking outside…read moreand getting fresh air in the autumn months.

I started coming to the Beaver Dam entrance of Falls Lake since there is a public beach, as well as…read moreaccess to the lake where you can open water swim. I have been practicing some open water swimming here. It is populated but has plenty of parking, making it feel family friendly and safe. On warmer weekend days I've seen families come out and have a BBQ. It's the perfect spot to enjoy the summer if you do not have access to a pool or can't make it down to the beach.

It's always nice going out to the Falls Lake area to hike. There are many trails for that and for…read moremountain biking too. Some of the trails are easy while others more challenging. Some off shoot trails go along the shorelines and people come out here to fish or put a kayak in the water. There are plenty of birds and other wildlife to watch in the lake areas. Just a historical note. The Falls Lake area is part of the Neuse River system and is the main supply of water for Raleigh & Durham. It was created in the 70s to supply drinking water for a quickly expanding area of the state. Many valley, farms, and pasture lands were flooded to create it. In times of drought it's not uncommon for the top of an old barn to be seen in the water.

Discovered this trail on my way to work and had to check it out! It's nestled in a neighborhood and…read morethere is a small playground nearby. The trail is safe, paved and has areas you can sit and relax if you get too tired! They also give you the history of the neighborhood! Good for walking, biking or running.

Since moving from Berkeley, California to North Carolina, my family -- including our high-energy…read moreBasenji -- has been on the lookout for good walking trails. Back in Northern California, we were spoiled with countless dirt trails that often allowed off-leash dogs. To our surprise (and horror ), North Carolina has no off-leash options. That said, the Ellerbee Creek Trail has become our go-to spot. While it's not ideal for our dog due to the leash requirements, it's a paved, 1.5-mile trail that's great for casual walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Coming from dirt paths, the smooth pavement is gonna take some getting used to, but we appreciate it -- especially since it rains often here and this trail doesn't get muddy are slippery. We take our dog on the trail twice a day, and we're truly grateful to have it nearby. It's not a mountain trail, but it's clean, safe, and accessible.

Wonderful trails for biking, hiking, walking (and also some trails are sign-posted to allow…read morehorses). Not crowded. Miles & miles of trails. Picnic tables and pavilions. Creeks and streams. Lakes and ponds. Boating. BE AWARE of closed trails, bridges, etc...stop by the park office AND check the website for closures.

Umstead is a great park with plenty of parking locations and different trail options. I hope to try…read moreout all of their walking trails. I've done at least 2 of their trails with the last being the Pott's Branch Trail. Pott's Branch is one of their easy trails at 1.3 miles. I recommend you wear tight/well fitting sneakers or boots as there are a lot of roots on the trails and you don't want to slip. Umstead does a great job of marking the trails and there were even paper maps available.