Map of bike paths / walking paths in the Durham & Chapel Hill area

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Recreational trails for walking and cycling in Durham & Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Durham and Chapel Hill are located in Central North Carolina. These cities are part of what is known as "The Triangle" along with the City of Raleigh to the east.  Durham plays a large part in the health care industry and is home to Duke University and North Carolina Central University. Chapel Hill is located to the southwest of Durham and is home to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Other communities in the area include Blands, Oak Grove, Bethesda and Clegg.

There are numerous regional recreational trails in this part of North Carolina. These trails travel through the urban centers, follow along creeks and rivers, follow an abandoned railroad corridor or run alongside major roadways. These are recreational trails for bike riding, walking and running and are used for getting some exercise, commuting to work or school, enjoying nature or for taking in some sight seeing.

American Tobacco Trail

The American Tobacco Trail is a 22.6-mile long paved and compacted screened stone pathway that runs from Downtown Durham to the outskirts of Apex. The trail was constructed along the abandoned railroad corridor known as the New Hope Valley Railroad. The route of the trail includes the urban area of Downtown Durham, the residential suburbs and the beautiful hardwood forests of the North Carolina countryside. The trail was constructed and is maintained by the Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Read more about the American Tobacco Trail

Third Fork Creek Trail

The Third Fork Creek Trail is a 3.75-mile long paved pathway that extends from C. E. Jordan High School on Garret Road to Southern Boundaries Park on 3rd Fork Road north of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in the southwest part of the Durham urban area.

Al Buhler Cross Country Trail

The Al Buhler Cross Country Trail is a three-mile long gravel trail for running and walking that wraps around the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Course. The running track is to the southwest of the Duke University campus.

Eagle Spur Trail

The Eagle Spur Trail is a 2.5-mile long pathway to the south of Stagecoach Road in Blands. The trail follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way through the thick hardwood forest and provides access to Jordan Lake.

Bolin Creek Trail & Battle Branch Trail

There are two separate sections of paved pathways along Bolin Creek. One section is located in Calvander and the other section is located in Chapel Hill.

The Bolin Creek Trail in Calvander is 1.3-miles long and is located north of Hogan Lake and stretches across Lake Hogan Farm Road. The trail wanders through the natural areas adjacent to residential neighborhoods.

The paved section of Bolin Creek Trail in Chapel Hill is 1.5-miles long and spans between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Community Park off of E. Franklin Street. The trail wanders through dense forest away from streets and traffic. At Community Park a connection can be made to the Battle Branch Trail, which is an unpaved pathway that wanders through the forest ending near Park Place and S. Boundary Street just north of the UNC campus.

Resources

Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the recreational trails located in Durham & Chapel Hill, North Carolina.