We decided to tackle this area on the lazy day after the 4th of July festivities and weren't disappointed. On a sleepy Monday late morning, hiking the Cox Mountain Trail with our single Chi-wiener dog in tow presented us with some beautiful, quiet and serene sceneries for the three of us - worthy for the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Chapel Hill and Durham...makes it a nice 30 minute excursion from our home. The hiking itself is pretty trivial and won't challenge you if you're used to more scenic and or grueling hikes such as those in Yosemite, the Sierra-Nevadas, the Cascades, or the Appalachians. The highest point in this part of the park is Cox "Mountain" - a whopping 250 ft of elevation change from the parking lot to the top near the electric wire towers at ~700 ft above sea-level. The close by Occoneechee Mountain State Natural area has the title for the highest point in Orange County at 867 ft. But rumour has it that the Cox Mountain Trail is slightly more challenging (steeper) than the one to the top of Occoneechee Mountain. This might be splitting hairs. We have yet to verify this - but will update accordingly when we do venture that way. The great thing about this park when we hiked was that it was not crowded on the trails. The watering holes and river seem to draw a majority of the crowds - esp. in the summer. There is camping (group sites available) and some picnic sites near the bottom. It's very dog friendly and we passed by several other dog owners as well that day. Our little pint sized runt had no problem scaling all 250 ft to the top. Everything is very accessible. The trails are wide and well-marked throughout the park. Our venture up/down and around the Cox Mountain trail took a leisurely 1.5 hours for something like 4+ miles with some side excursions. 90% of the trail is shaded except for small patches near the top when you have to traverse near the electric wire towers - maybe 100 ft at most? On a cooler than average July 5th (mid 80'sF), it was muggy, but pleasant with a pair of light synthetic hiking pants and t-shirt. The views aren't that great if you're expecting big open vistas....everything is pretty much hidden between the trees and the river is really the focus of this park. If you want better vistas, I'd opt for the longer drive (1.5 - 2 hours) to the next closest mountain at Hanging Rock State Park. There you can gain some decent elevation and views as well as their own set of swimming holes. Overall, 4 stars for providing a quick (30 minute) get away for all of us Triangle trapped individuals. Moderate/easy hikes....and while we never tried out the river, there seems to be many good ops for swimming here if you so choose. The one star deduction is just b/c it's not that challenging of a hike and the views weren't as amazing as one would hope at the top. Still worthy of a quick jaunt - maybe even as a decent trail running op for those so inclined....pun intended. ;-) read more

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I loved hiking in Eno River State Park and was amazed that there are about 30 miles worth of trails. I went in February so it was a bit gray and I want to come back in the spring when everything is in bloom and more lively. We did the Cox Mountain trail and everything was clearly marked with the colored trail markers and signs. The round trip was about 3.75 miles and you go along the river and cross over the old swing bridge. We passed a lot of fellow hikers and people with dogs so it was a great place to be outdoors. Parking was easy and there is a shelter with restrooms. read more

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Eno River State Park is simply a phenomenal resource that we are blessed with here in Durham. The trails, picnic areas, camping sites, and swimming access points are all phenomenally well-maintained within the park, but above and beyond that the Eno River Association does oh so much more for the park and community as a whole. From the annual Festival for the Eno to hosting numerous programs within the park, this organization brings it! Plus they foster numerous volunteer opportunities and support/maintain a number of other nature preserves outside the confines of the Eno (ie, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Little River Regional Park, and Penny's Bend Natural Area). Yeah, the Eno River Association is pretty badass when it comes to protecting the natural lands around us. As for the park itself, it is divided into the Eastern Section (Cole Mill, Pump Station) and the Western Section (Fews Ford, Cabelands) with numerous access points to each part of the park (though there are two primary points of access overall). Many of the trails follow the Eno River itself, and thus are not all that strenuous or demanding given the lack of elevation change but do offer scenic views of the river and surrounding woodlands. Each of the numerous trails have their own character and something different to offer. As for some of the highlights, the Pump Station trail offers (yup, you guessed it) a close up view of some of the remnants of one of Durham's earliest pump stations, the Eno Quarry trail circles a beautiful (and refreshing in summer!) quarry, and the Cox Mountain trail offers a more demanding loop trail should you be in the mood for such a challenge. With an abundance of hiking trails, campsites, and picnic tables or shelters, there is quite a bit to keep you occupied at Eno River State Park! read more

I've been wanting to check this place our for awhile and came in May. It was the perfect weather to go (high 70s). The routes are very easy to walk (no uphills) and you're essentially hiking across the river. We came early afternoon and there weren't that many people so it was nice to have the place for ourselves. We also crossed the river, having to take off our shoes since there aren't really rocks scattered in abundance that allowed us to skip across. I'd definitely come back here just for a leisure stroll and to enjoy some greens and nature! read more

The Eno is a great place to experience the natural life of North Carolina's forests. Make sure to pick a hike of the right difficulty level for you, and enjoy! read more

Really beautiful. I've been meaning to check out the Eno for years. About a week ago, I finally made the trek out to this area of Durham. Quite scenic, even just driving through the neighborhoods to get to the park! There are approximately 28 miles of hiking trails within Eno River State Park. These trails vary from easy to moderate in difficulty and vary in length from 0.5 miles to 3.75 miles, although much longer hikes can be accomplished by combining trails. The trails are marked with blazes painted on trees. We opted to do the Buckquarter Creek Trail. It's blazed with red dots. This 1.5-mile loop trail begins at the Piper-Cox Museum parking lot and turns upriver at Few's Ford. The most spectacular rapids on the river are viewed from a rock outcrop along the trail. A staircase takes hikers over the outcrop. The trail was very easy to follow, clearly marked, and gave us a view of the river, little falls and rapids, and many kinds of trees and other nature features. We also saw people playing in the river, wading in the water, and just relaxing on the shorelines. Made me want to get in too! Some people had dogs, but they were all very well-behaved and on leashes. It just seemed like a really happy place. Everyone was very friendly, and we even encountered a park ranger on the trail who was happy to provide any guidance. We didn't need any, but he had a nice chance to talk with a family and the kids marveled at meeting a real State Park Ranger. Definitely will be going back to explore more of the Eno! read more

Eno River State Park - Headed off to Buckquarter trail! - Parks Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Love this place. My favorite time at the Eno is in the fall - the leaves are really beautiful. There are tons of trails, but we usually start with the Buckquarter Creek Trail. If we want a longer hike we head up to the Ridge Trail and loop around on the Shakori Trail. Otherwise, the Holden Mill trail also connects. The Buckquarter trail often has a lot of other people, but as you head out on some of the connecting trails there are generally less and less people. We try to get outdoors almost every weekend, so it's really great to have the Eno in Durham. I should note, that most of the trails I named I think of as being fairly easy...some sloping ups and downs, but not really strenuous. If you start taking a lot of the connecting western trails, you can be out in the woods for a long time though, so bring some water (or a picnic). If you just go on the Buckquarter or Buckquarter & Holden trails, the distance isn't lengthy - but it's a nice option when you have less time on a particular weekend. read more

Eno River State Park - Fall '08, RidgeTrail/Shakori Trail - Parks Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Finally got the chance to check out Eno River this weekend, which had been on my to do for such a long time! I loved my little hike through the area. We parked and started right off the main entrance, though the park is so big, I imagine there are other places to hike as well. There is a little watering hole as people have mentioned which is great for getting your feet wet and getting your little pup out for a swim. I love the trees and and the greenery is so thick and pretty, it makes me feel so lucky to live near such a great outdoors! You forget that Downtown Durham is only 10-15 mins away! The trails are well marked and trees are dotted so you don't get lost. I love that they actually feel like real trails, with rocks and steep inclines here and there. It's a great work out. Definitely need a carrier for the baby! I will definitely be checking it out again so I can see what other trails are available. I recommend going in the morning when it's not too hot. read more

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This is definitely a popular spot for many so it was hard trying to find a nice private spot for a group of three and a dog. We had to walk quite a ways along the river to reach a spot and even still, we were a little annoyed by a group of very rowdy teenagers next to us. Nonetheless, we enjoyed ourselves a lot. We were able to hang our hammocks up on the trees and sit and swim a bit in the river which is shallow. Our dog really enjoyed splashing around and because he doesn't know how to swim just yet, it was great that he had plenty of shallow area to play. The bridge was a fun photo op and fun to cross. Due to the crowds, we may opt for less traveled parks, but this was a fun experience. read more

Came here a while back with a group of like minded hikers! Our goal was to do the Cox Mountain trail. Somehow, we ended up meeting at the wrong building and needed some instructions on getting back on track. Thus, starting quite the memorable adventure. If you plan on taking the Cox Mountain trail, you want to park by the Fews Ford picnic area. Let's just say our group had to take the scenic route to find the trail again. The trail starts with this amazing suspension bridge which definitely swings as you walk across it. The distance of this trail is 3.75 miles. I really like this trail because the type of terrain really varies so you get a nice mix of scenery. Pro tip: We went early October and there were still mosquitos around so bring bug spray. Also be sure to pack plenty of water. We 'accidentally' took another scenic detour which added about 2 miles so we did a total of 5 miles that day. read more

Great park for a quick hike, a getaway trip, a dog walk, a swim, or even fishing. The surprising part is that it's so close to Durham and Chapel Hill, but it feels like a state away. We went on Labor Day weekend around 10am and it wasn't packed at all. We left around noon and it was starting to get busy in the picnic areas, but the trails were still pretty empty. read more

This is a great park but I had a negative experience last night with the park ranger. It was my second time visiting, first time fishing the Pleasant Green area. I got locked in the parking lot at 7:30pm which I noticed after returning to my truck at 7:45pm. I'll admit I did not check the closing time on the front sign...but I tried staying in line with sunset and vacating before dark. Lesson learned big time on this one. Myself and a couple in another vehicle got locked in. We called the ranger via number on dash slip, he showed up just after 8pm and lectured us about how he could issue us trespassing tickets/misdemeanors. It was literally my first time in that park of the park, the couples first time in the park, and this guy is threatening us with misdemeanors, THEN wanted to know why exactly we were in the park. And we did not get spicy with him in any way. I get that park rangers deal with these things frequently. What would be more helpful is: 1) the mention of trespasing past park hours, and gate closing on visible signage 2) mention of this on the website; maybe it is hidden there somewhere, but it definitely isn't under the Eno River section 3) law enforcement weigh infractions & demonstrate respectable communication methods for minor first time offenses I do take responsibility for not reading the sign and knowing exactly when the park closes, but come on... His approach left a very poor taste in my mouth and I don't know if I'll come back to this park, unfortunately. read more

First time I've been and it was really fun. Walking across the swinging Bridge was a lot of fun, with a really nice view of the river. Great for hiking, pick-nicking, walking and super scenic! read more

Eno River State Park - Parks Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

One of my favorite places to enjoy nature! Even during the winter, when vegetation is dead, I still find so much beauty here. I recently enjoyed the Mill loop trail, it took you up the local mountain or large hill, and back down to the river to the mill. The beautiful swing bridge has also been revamped. I can't wait for this summer, I will enjoy wading in the water and am considering going camping here! There is a decent sized parking lot, during the summer it can be crowded. The water fountain is shut down during the winter, the bathrooms have remained opened. read more

Eno River State Park - Parks Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I love taking my dog to this park. They have multiple trails to pick from whether you're in the mood to walk along the creek, full on woods, or by the lake. Each one varies in difficulty, which is also nice. My favorite part of the park is their swinging bridge. The scenery is just beautiful year round. read more

Eno River State Park - Parks Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I did the Cox Trail and this was my first ever hiking experience. It was definitely interesting, but I did not come prepared. I underestimated what 4 miles would be like... lol. Interesting hike overall. Took me about 2 hours with only 1 break. It was extremely slippery since the past few days it had rained and it was extremely muddy. In all honesty, I would have done a shorter trail because there wasn't much to see on the Cox trail besides trees and mud haha. Worth to try at least once though! It was peaceful though. Beware of ticks! read more

These directions lead to nowhere. No parking. Just private property signs telling you not to enter.

Wonderful riverfront park with hiking trails, camping and picnic areas. If I had one thing to say its the parking. The road in and out out is very narrow. You will have to hunt on the weekend to find a spot and if you don't, turning around in the tight area is challenging. They will occasionally post a Park Ranger out front limiting incoming traffic when its slammed but before they get there, you might find yourself doing a 23 point turn to get back out of the park if its full. read more

Great trails to hike or for a leisurely walk through the forest. One of the trails goes right alongside the Eno River. There are also picnic shelters and plenty of maps. There are various entrance points to the park from different streets. It is a large state park. read more

Enjoy this amazing state park multiple times a week either alone or with family. Grateful for the nature

You can't go wrong with the Eno! So many options... sit in the river, swim in the river. Go for a hike... long hikes with dogs. So many things to explore in this awesome park not that far out of downtown Durham. read more

This really is a gem of a park. On a beautiful Memorial day my wife and I decided to walk some trails around the Eno. As far as parks go this is a really nice park. It was quite crowded around the watering holes though we had no issue finding parking. The river and trails itself are well maintained and clean. If you like trails and light (to moderate) hiking this place has a bounty of options. If you're willing to hike or walk for a while you can find some really nice secluded areas to picnic. read more

It's a very nice park the trails are Nice and big but the park can get a big busy it's perfect to with dogs or family l live near the park so l go their a lot l love their park it's amazing.... read more

One of the best parts of Durham! I love that our new house is in walking distance of the pump station trail. The trails are well kept with nice bridges and you can't beat the views! Worth a visit. read more

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I come here for the fishing, not to eat, but catch-n-release. My last trip here, I caught over 20 carp, 3 bluegill, and 3 catfish all in less than a 2 hour span, my buddy caught more because he's a better fisherman. The fish are really too small to eat and bluegill and carp are lousy eating anyway, the carp are usually 4-7 inches and the bluegill about the same, the cats are about 10-15 inches, which I, along with many others, consider too small to eat. The number of these tiny fish are incredible here, I joked around and told my buddy that I can count to 5 and I'll catch a fish, I made it to 4 before the bob went under. The fish here are dumb, which is good, because I'm a terrible fisherman, despite my love for the sport. Watch out for water moccasins though, some of the more remote spots along the trail will have them, I lost one of my carp while reeling in, the moccasin just snapped into it and didn't let go, so I guess I also caught a snake in the 2 hours I was there. I've been here a few times so far and every time is the same experience, bait cast, fish on, reel in, back in the water. And over and over and over again. If you're looking for eating sized fish, this hole ain't for you. But if you're wanting to try fishing without being frustrated by the boredom of just sitting there for hours on end, this is your place. Hint: use redworms with no bigger than a size 6 hook. read more

Granted I went to this park on a gloomy day in the fall. I'm from California so my standard for hikes and trails is very high. I was very unimpressed with the Eno River trails. Me and my friends walked in a big circle which they call a trail here for two hours, it was extremely easy, the scenery was literally the same from start to finish, there was a cool little part in the trail where you had to walk along a log over a 10ft foot pond, but it was still pretty lame. Leaves covered the entire trail in the fall and there were loud "scrunchy" noises with every step which got quite annoying after a while. I definitely do not recommend this place. read more

We walk our dogs in the part of this park every day. Very peaceful and well maintained. Many trails to enjoy.

There are several access points to the trails of the Eno and I recommend trying all of them. The river runs throughout Durham with the park being split into an Eastern and Western section; there are several points of interest like the mill, waterfalls, and Bobbitt's hole (a spot where the water pools and you can easily go swimming). The trails are well-kept, and since there are so many to choose from, you don't even have to contend with tons of people on the same path. Dogs are required to be leashed, but often you'll see them loose with their owners who let them run ahead or go for a dip. Fishing is permitted, and you can also arrange to go paddling in certain areas. read more

I'm a pretty big fan of this park. If you go to the entrance around Hillsborough, it's easiest to get to the area where you can splash around in the river on a hot day. Running water means it's better than a swimming pool. You can even head up the trail a bit when the immediate area gets too crowded. Speaking of the trails, they're beautiful and as challenging as you want them to be. There are longer and more difficult ones for some serious hiking, as well as one particularly nice one for a leisurely stroll by the water. You can also mix and match, so that there are plenty of trips you can take where you won't have to see the same scenery twice for a long time. read more

I love Eno River State Park. I mean, I totally pink puffy heart this place. There's an almost endless selection of trails. There are ruins of old mills, lost cemeteries and someone put a big river smack in the middle of it all. And it's Springer Spaniel approved (at least, the Springer Spaniel that owns this particular reviewer), so it gets 5 stars hands-down. read more

A beautiful park with trails hugging the river. It's especially beautiful to go in the spring after a big rain. The water gets deep and rapid then. There's a fun suspension bridge you can cross. There seems to be plenty of parking and lots of friendly people. But remember, if you bring your dog, keep it on a leash. I've heard the park rangers are not shy about giving tickets. read more

I love love love Eno River. This is a great park over in Durham because it has all the things I love: trails that aren't too short and aren't too long, lots of hills and rocky terrain, the beautiful river with rushing water, and of course the awesome footbridge! Everything was easy to access (bathrooms, parking) and there was sufficient signage so you didn't get lost. We took our puppy when she had a lot of energy and the trails are actually quite a challenge. Once we finished, our pup was sleeping exhausted for 3 days! The bridge is so much fun to cross and take pictures over, but my favorite spot are the rocks in the river that you can jump to and sit on, literally sitting in the middle of the rushing river. Beautiful, refreshing, and makes you feel happy you spent the day outside appreciating nature rather than staying indoors on a couch. I would come to this park every weekend if I lived closer, it truly is a gem. read more

They have a couple different trails and it seems like all of them are beginninger friendly. They also have camping grounds if you want to camp out. They have a log cabin you can walk through that is gorgeous. Also they have a bridge you can walk over that moves and shakes when you walk over that is fun. The have bathrooms. I don't think they are missing anything. Would definitely recommend. read more

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Loved this hike!!!! Let me preface this by saying: I'm not a super outdoor-sy person. I just haven't had a lot of exposure given that I grew up in an urban city, so I don't have the guts to venture out into the wilderness on my own. So is the plight of the city mouse. Anyway, my Dad came to visit and he happens to be very comfortable in nature, so we decided to explore the Eno together. It was AMAZING! We looped a bunch of the western trails together to make about a 9 mile hike. We started around 9AM and took a break to eat lunch by the river where a bunch of families were wading in the refreshing water. I took my dog - who was thrilled to have so much attention and exercise. The trails were well marked - especially for a novice like me. I'll definitely be back. Eno River State Park hiking will now make it onto my short list of things to do on a good-weather weekend. Great hiking - even for a city girl. read more

If you are looking for something local to do in Durham and have never been to the Eno River State Park, you are missing out. The park has so many trails and the river is great to dip your toes in. All the trails are maintained and marked for easy navigation. The waterfall is simply beautiful and a great spot for some photo's. Check it out soon! read more

I really love when I get the chance to go to the Eno River, it's such a nice place. I have been here on a few field trips and it reminds me of being in the mountains and all of the trees and natural areas surrounding the Eno are very pretty. There are several entrance points to the Eno River but I have only entered in through the West Point entrance which is off of Roxboro Street in northern Durham. There are other entrances in other parts of Durham as well as Hillsborough. The Eno River offers trails for hiking, places to rent a kayak or a canoe and areas where you can even get in the water to swim. There are a few waterfalls and a nice swimming hole called Bobbitt's hole near the Cole Mill entrance. I often see people bring their dogs here and it is also very common to see lots of kids swimming and wading in the water when it is warm enough outside. There is a cool bridge near the West Point entrance area that is nice to check out if you are doing a hike along that part of the river. I am really looking forward to going back to the Eno River this fall, to see the changing colors on the trees! read more

Decided to hike/run here instead of the Buehler trail at Duke and so glad I did. Beautiful, peaceful trails and amazing scenery. More hiking than running though - lots of roots and rocks so set your expectations. Great maps outlining your various options for trails available at the park office. read more

I love that this isn't so far away from me! There are different trails to take and I recommend the ones along the river, it's too beautiful to pass up! Plus there are rocks in the river that make it easy to walk out on and get a better view. Definitely a must to check out if you love the outdoors! read more

What a great place. Plenty of options for walking, hiking, wading, critter watching, botany or whatever floats your boat--oh yeah, paddling options too. And picnicking. And camping. And volunteering. Yea, plenty of activities to fill plenty of weekends. A true gem in Durham that kept polished by the Eno River Association (The folks that hold Festival for the Eno each year (2019 will bring us the 40th!) read more

Visited here today... the trails are nice and marked well. A lot of the trails run next to the river which is cool. They also have trails that run deep in the woods. Lots of wildlife especially near and in the rivers. I'll be back for sure only did 6.5 miles out of the 31 possible trail miles read more

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