I attended the Fall Salamanders Program yesterday and saw two large marbeled salamanders! It was a beautiful day for an outdoor learning experience with our salamander expert Stephanie. We hiked into the woods and she knew exactly where to look for the stunning little creatures. I have hiked the Preserve and it is lovely and a good workout with steps and small hills. There is a great visitors center with info and bathrooms too. Hemlock Bluffs is a small park that makes a huge impression. You should definitely check it out and have fun! read more

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This place is designated as a preserve. This means that there are ample paths and boardwalks, but you aren't supposed to go off of them. The bluffs are a couple of stories high; even without greenery in full bloom. It's tough to see all the way down. The area serves as a safe harbor for numerous birds, and with the geography of the bluffs you get a lot of echoing birdsong. It's a free space, and there are educational and playground facilities at the entrance. read more

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Nice shaded pathway especially during the summer. Very dog friendly. There are stairs at certain sections of the loop. Great place for an outdoor casual walk. Would recommend this especially if you want to be outdoors, but it's too sunny. read more

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I love this nature preserve! It has some great trails!!! Beautiful trees and a creek! Great place to connect with nature!!! God bless! read more

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve - Ferns on trail! - Hiking Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Great place to go for a hike with friends/family/grandkids to get outdoors. Bring your bug spray, hat, comfortable shoes/hiking shoes. I will try out walking sticks next time. Fall is the perfect time to start. read more

I enjoyed this park as a free gym and a great way to boost my physical activity. I'm in love with all of the natural features of this park and the overall design. A great park to safely enjoy nature. Plenty of up-and-downhill spaces here. The fall foliage was beautiful on the day I visited. There are plenty places to sit, read a book, or have lunch. read more

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It was a nice shaded path even though it was summer and high humidity. Path has a nice loop you can go through. There are stairs and view points throughout the paths. There's a small exhibit you can walk into that you can capture some AC. Bathrooms available. read more

If you have ever wanted to take a long walk in the woods and see nature up close without getting lost then this is the place to go. Parking is free and they have a nice visitor center that we saw only from the outside. We came on a day that had a little misty rain so there weren't many people. The wooden walkways, stairs and bridges along with the pathways that are just the areas through the trees are excellent ways to feel like you are walking in a forest....which you pretty much are doing. We saw some birds and squirrels and even a few deer. This is definitely worth a visit when you come to the area. It is free and you get to see some really beautiful nature sights. read more

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We love Hemlock Bluffs! The nature play area is a great spot for kids. There are several different trail options and it is very kid friendly. Staff does a great job maintaining the trails. read more

This is one of my favorite parks in Cary. It is always clean and welcoming. The trails, though short, are wonderfully marked and shaded. There are messages throughout the park to learn about nature and how to be environmentally aware and active. There is a great children's nature trail and garden. There is a posted scavenger hunt that the children can do. The hydration station has a water fountain, water bottle refill, and water for dogs. This park is a great escape from busy life and a jump into nature. read more

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We came to this cute little spot in the late fall. It was moderately busy on a Sunday afternoon, but parking was easy and plentiful. The nature center was closed on our visit, but they had bathrooms available which is always a plus. We did a couple of the trails, they had some incline, but nothing too crazy. I believe we did about two of them in under one hour. This would be a great place to take kids for their first "hike." I'd recommend a good pair of sneakers for your trip so you don't fall. This is probably not the best place to take someone who has mobility issues as it can be a bit steep plus other natural debris. Is this my favorite spot to wander through the trees? No, but it's nice to see a preserve like this over another new development. I personally prefer the Lake Johnson trail in Raleigh, it's a similar experience to this, but the path is paved. read more

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Hemlock Bluffs is an excellent location to enjoy a hike that feels like I'm in the mountains. The hike with a brisk walk takes an hour doing all the trails. The trail is moderate and well maintained. The view is beautiful, lots of rocks, bridges and big trees. The preserve offers wonderful amenities for families like plenty of seating and picnic tables along the way. Also bathrooms and play area for small children. Parking in the very front. Dog friendly. read more

Visited on an unseasonably warm Saturday in January. It had rained quite a bit the night before, but the trails are covered in mulch so there were only a few spots with puddles. The wooden boardwalk areas were a little slippery though. We hiked around for about an hour on a few different trails. All of the trails loop back around close to the main entrance so you can't really get lost. There are also quite a few overlook spots along the trails which are nice! I didn't realize that hemlocks aren't common in this area, and that they are mainly in western NC. There are a bunch of fun facts along the trails, and inside the Nature Center. The Nature Center is free to go into and has a few interactive displays. They host a bunch of programs at the Nature Center, and I'd love to bring my son to one in the future! read more

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It's neat to have this nature preserve in Cary. There are three trails to choose from: chestnut oak loop, swift creek loop and beech tree cove loop. We did the swift creek trail and it was about 0.8 miles. It has overlooks as you travel down the long stairway, they were just okay but I saw a deer so that was cool. I also highly recommend bug spray because the mosquitos are savage. read more

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This is a great place to get out and enjoy nature. The trails are relatively easy but there is one part of the loop that will include a huge walk up several sets of wooden stairs. There are viewing platforms where you can enjoy the view or sit and rest. There is a small playground for the kids and there is also a nature center with limited hours. read more

This a lovely park, well laid out and so beautiful! My first visit was during COVID-19, so I wasn't allowed inside the visitor center, but look forward to going back and exploring! read more

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

This is a hidden gem in Cary. Shaded walking trails that will give you a great workout. The trails are hilly. Some trails have stairs that allow for the best type of training. Be advised that it doesn't open until 9 AM. Dogs are allowed on the trails. It's a wonderful little park tucked away in Cary. Shhhhh.........don't tell anyone ! read more

Great place for a nice shady hike, children's nature center and book share, children's garden, clean restrooms and a covered shelter area. Several overlooks with seating. Very relaxing area and a good place to walk your dog. read more

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Looking to kill some time, walk off some all the good food we'd been enjoying, and wanting to savor the beautiful North Carolina weather, we made our way to the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. With GPS, it was easy enough to find. They have their own parking lot and it's free to visit the Bluffs. Coming from the West Coast, I think we had a slightly different expectation or definition of a "bluff", but regardless, it was a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. We walked one of the "loop" trails and took in the fresh air. If I lived in the area, this would definitely be my place of meditation or self-reflection; it was so quiet and secluded. read more

Beautiful park! The weather today was gorgeous and we hadn't been here yet, so we jumped in the car. The trails are well maintained, it's quiet and very peaceful. I look forward to visiting alone and taking in the view on one of the plentiful benches, and in the fall when the leaves turn. Very shady and gorgeous scenery. A previous review mentioned lotsa spider webs. That much is true, so watch your hands on the railings. There are lots of activities at the park for children, which I look forward to researching later on next summer for my son. read more

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Wonderful experience! Plenty of parking, and the trails were very well maintained. Will definitely be back.

Had read about this park many years ago and finally visited on Labor Day. There is a park center but I can't comment on it because it was closed today. It seemed to feature space for classes and maybe some exhibits. While's it's always nice to get out into nature, to be honest it's similar to many other parks with walking trails. There paths are set back from the creek, so you really can't explore there. To be honest, it was often hard to distinguish the hemlocks from the other trees, I guess you have to be an arborist to really appreciate them. All in all not a bad place for a shady hike, but nothing extraordinary either. read more

I am hesitant to write a review for Hemlock Bluffs because I want to keep it a secret for myself and family. They have a cute children's garden that I would be interested in getting my son active with when he's a little older. We have only gone during the winter and can hike all three trails in about 1 hour/ 90 minutes. There is far amount of uphill and downhill so that might be a consideration for folks. Lots of families walking around. Most people I have seen there are wearing masks. Really cute place to get outside! read more

Came here with a big group of people ready for an awesome hike. Unfortunately, I didn't read the earlier Yelp reviews about the mosquitos. Basically, our entire group was like a walking buffet line for those pesky mosquitos. Pro tip: Do put on bug repellent before you enter any trails, at least during the hot days. I have about 12 bites as evidence during my brief 20 minute walk. The scenery itself is gorgeous. You go down these wooden stairwell and you're surrounded by beautiful nature. I'll definitely be back in the future, next time armed with bug repellent! read more

Well, the park was nice, but also nothing super special. We went in the winter so all the trees were barren - there was not a single leaf to be seen. Quite a few trails through the woods. We also saw a squirrel! Was super cute :) Have a visitor center there and quite a few hikers! read more

Beautiful park. Conservatory habitat, learning experiences for everyone. Peaceful pLace to visit in cary, NC read more

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What a great place for all ages. Nice walking trails for different abilities and informative rooms for learning about nature. I'd highly recommend for those that want to get away for a while yet be close to home. read more

Nice easy trails for everyone in the family. Clean and lots of garden flowers to see near the center. I have a video of the Chestnut Oak Loop Trail which is the left side of the park: https://youtu.be/iW16Y9dMJwc read more

Well kept trails! Beautiful nature preserve right in Cary.Trails are easy to moderate, with boardwalks, stairs and mulched trails.

I used to visit Hemlock Bluffs pretty regularly while living in Cary for a quick mid day hike or to walk our pup. The park is ideal for a quick trip given its easy accessibility (right off of Kildaire Farm Road) and ample parking. The nature preserve itself is a little oasis in the middle of the ever increasing hustle and bustle of Cary. Though the preserve is by no means huge or expansive, it does offer three loop trails (Chestnut Oak, Swift Creek, and Beach Tree Cove) which are all mild in terms of intensity and range from 0.8 to 1.2 miles in total loop distance. Some portions of the trail are boardwalk (which is always awesome) and all are well-maintained. There are also numerous observation decks that allow you to look down into valleys or off into fields of wildflowers. Don't be surprised should you run into a few of nature's critters such as chipmunks, foxes, rabbits, snakes, or skinks as you traipse through the preserve. While you won't be doing any cross country hiking here, you definitely can get in a few good miles. There is also a small education center and gift shop for your perusal. Plus there are some volunteer opportunities here, and I believe Hemlock Bluffs is one of the local spots that REI has funded for preservation and maintenance activities (nice!). Hemlock Bluffs is one of those gems that are all so important to preserve in the face of ever increasing industrialization. Kudos to the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs group for doing what they do to ensure that preservation! read more

The trails are great. Steps are kind of steep. Most overlooks are accessible by stroller. I really enjoyed the boardwalk along the creek. I loved taking my kids here. Friendly staff. This place makes it easy for science lessons with my kids. Playground is for small kids. If you have older kids download the Explorer booklet online before you come. They will have plenty to do. read more

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve - The boardwalk beside the creek has the best views. Watch your step. - Hiking Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Don't forget your bug repellent! Apart from those bugs trying to find a feast, this is a really nice spot to hike and get away from all the cars, a nice retreat. There are several walking trails, some with lots of stairs. The path we took had lots of stairs and some "rest stops" with benches. Just remember that you'll need to retrace your steps back up when you're ready to go! Once you're on the trails, you really can't hear cars or any road noise. It's crazy to think you're near one of the busier streets in Cary! Lots of trees, lots of flora all around. I'm excited to visit at different times of the year to see how things change. The children's path wasn't complete when we were there, but I think it'll be a great spot for kiddos to go on a short exploration outdoors. The little statues they're putting in look like fun too. Really, though, this is a *NATURE* preserve, so there are bugs here. There are even creepy crawlies so keep an eye out if you're squeamish and don't want one attached to your shoe or something. Bug repellent is a must here too. I saw some signs for children's classes involving the various animals here - without even attending, I know it would be a huge hit for any kid interested in the outdoors (so most kids!). I really like this spot. Lots of opportunity and inspiration for some good pictures too. There are so many trees that dappled light isn't really an issue, but the light does stream in nicely at certain times in the day. A great spot for an easy hike or stroll through nature! read more

I have been traveling to different parks and trails and so far this one is the most shaded. More of a hiking trail and I loved it. Easy access great workout. I walked the entire park and burned 700+ calories in less than 2 hrs. Something for everyone. read more

So I went here after the town of Cary spread the news of this new children's nature area... I was pumped.. I could take my 2 year old and he would have a blast... Oh was that one of the most underwhelming things I have seen. Do not make the trip just for that... First the park opens at 9am.. If you want to beat the heat and humidity, this is not the park to go to. If you have a stroller, you have limited options. The nice thing is the trails are very well maintained. Lots of signs and benches which is very nice. It appears to be dog friendly which is also very nice. If your kids are a bit older, this place is very nice.. read more

This should rename this place Mosquito Acres. I'm all for a good nature walk but the mosquitos were so thick we were inhaling them as we breathed. read more

My family is new to the Raleigh area, moving from the SF Bay Area. As such, we're hugely into the outdoors, and are enjoying exploring all the "RTP" has to offer. After 16 years of golden hills and chaparral, we feel we've moved to the jungles, ha ha. A friend recommended Hemlock Bluffs both for its gentle hikes and varying flora. So far we've visited twice and I know it'll become a favorite both for it's easy accessibility right within Cary as well as the great paths and beauty. We can't wait until fall color comes in and also to see how it changes when all the deciduous leaves are off the canopy. The Nature Center is a great resource for learning about the animals and history of Kildaire Farms, too. My children particularly enjoy the "recycled garden," full of ideas for clever repurposing of ordinary items into quirky garden features. I include many photos of the recycled garden and Hemlock Bluffs' trails here: http://muffeeeeeeee.blogspot.com/2013/09/family-hike-hemlock-bluffs.html http://muffeeeeeeee.blogspot.com/2013/08/recycled-garden-hemlock-bluffs.html read more

Great place to take both kids & dogs! I noticed they also offer summer & track out camps which I think is great!

Recently visited the bluffs for the first time in 15 years with my fiancé... seems so much bigger when you're a kid. Was a great little walk I think 1.6 miles total. Great if you're looking for a nice nature walk in the middle of Cary read more

This is my new park. I recently moved to the neighborhood and happily visited Hemlock Bluffs. The trails are very well-maintained, and while they are not too challenging, they are beautiful and not too busy. There are some overlooks that I'm excited to see change with the seasons. I like to combine the loops on either side of the nature center and make it a 2 mile walk. I haven't been into the nature center, but they have a compost display outside, and a cool recycle garden. You have to see it to appreciate it. Even the doggie pick up bags are just repurposed grocery bags stuck in empty water bottles along the trail. There are garbage cans throughout the park too. Some parks just have them at the parking area, but they are all along the trail here, which is convenient. I will definitely be frequenting Hemlock Bluffs. read more

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve - The Recycle Garden - Hiking Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

What a beautiful nature preserve!y family and I went for a hike the other day and we had the best time! The trails are clearly marked and located through out are information plaques with the different plants and wildlife found there. Plenty of parking and conveniently located off of Kildaire Farm Road. They have bathrooms and a visitor center in the front. read more