Hiking Guide

The Chapel Hill area offers many lovely spots for walking, hiking, and outdoor recreation. Read on for a composition of the nicest and most convenient areas for these activities.

Duke Forest

Duke Forest occupies over 7,000 acres of land in central North Carolina and has been used for teaching and research purposes for decades. Its lovely trails are open to the public, and many of them are accessible from Erwin or Sunrise Road in Durham and eastern Chapel Hill. A particularly beautiful trail follows the New Hope Creek for over a mile, winding through the woods with minimal elevation, and has a multitude of places hikers can stop for a snack or to wade in the creek. The gentle bubbling of running water is a perfect companion for the lone hiker, and the trail is well-maintained, peaceful and relaxing. Spring is the perfect time to take advantage of Duke Forest, as the full tree cover provides shade but temperatures aren’t yet too hot. You can access Duke Forest through the Hollow Rock Nature Park or by parking at the intersection of Sunrise and Whitfield Roads.

Hollow Rock Nature Park

This new area of trails has only been open to the public for less than a year, but it is one of the most beautiful places to enjoy nature in the Triangle Area. Abundant parking is available off of Erwin Road, and visitors can choose from various trails that intersect with New Hope Creek. The park is perfect for those who want a gentle walk or a forest to explore with kids. There is little to no elevation and the trails are relaxed. The Headlands Trail winds for slightly over a mile through the gentle woods, and blueberry bushes can be spotted along the side of the trail. The park is a perfect place to venture with kids, as it is virtually flat and not too long. The Nature Park has ample parking and provides visitors with cans of bug spray at the trail head, as insects can be abundant in late spring and summer.

Eno River State Park

The Eno is most similar to a large national park, with its multiple areas of trails, one uniting river, and campsites. The park covers over 4,000 acres in Durham and Orange counties, just minutes away from more urban areas. Canoeing and kayaking are also available at select spots on the river. Over 30 miles of trails are available, making the Eno one of the largest outdoor recreation areas in the Chapelboro area. The stunning Few’s Ford area of the park offers trails, including loops, that follow the river and lead to campsites; most notable is the Buckwater Creek Trail. A walk along the river in late afternoon or evening is charming, as the sun goes down and illuminates the trees and water with its golden rays. The park also offers more strenuous trails for hikers looking for a higher level of difficulty, such as the Cox Mountain Trail. Trails connect in various places, allowing you to lengthen or shorten a hike as you choose. The Eno is a good place to venture with kids, and popular with teens and adults as well.

 Johnston Mill Nature Preserve

Johnston Mill is located close to Hillsborough and Durham and occupies 295 acres of land owned by the Triangle Land Conservancy. The terrain resembles Duke Forest, and the park is similarly diverse in its range of forest experiences. Trails wind through leafy green forests and border the New Hope Creek for some stretches, often breaking into open fields, as the area was previously farmland. The Beech Loop Trail takes hikers away from the creek through a forest of sweetgum, tulip poplar, red cedar, and black walnut trees. There are remnants of humanity’s role in the land’s past, as the area was owned by the Johnston family who ran a mill –hence the preserve’s name. Crumbling stone walls and ruins of two mills are present on the land along Johnston Mill’s three and a half miles of trails. There is more elevation gain available at the preserve than at some other areas in the Chapelboro area, and the trails tend to be longer, intersecting in several places that can afford hikers a lengthier and more strenuous experience. A lovely place to bring kids, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve’s tranquil setting provides varied terrain and trails for fun for the whole family.