Are you looking for a quick nature hike in the city of Raleigh? Durant Nature Preserve is worth checking out. You’ll find about five miles of trails in this 237-acre park.
If you are not from Raleigh and are just traveling through, Durant Nature Preserve is a great place to stop and stretch your legs. Located just 3 miles off I-540 (westbound, take exit 20, eastbound, take exit 14), it is easy to access if you need a break from driving. We often look for places like this when we are on a road trip. Plus, it is pet-friendly and has picnic areas.
Durant Nature Preserve
We love loop trails. The lakeside loop is one of our favorites when we don’t have much time and we need to hike. The following is a brief overview of the trail.
Lakeside Trail
The lakeside trail is a little over a mile starting from the trailhead. From the parking area, it is about 1.5 miles in total.
From the parking area, take the access road down to the lake. As you make your way to the trailhead, check out the pollinator garden :).
The trail starts at the lake in the woods.
As you hike along the south side, you’ll see the fishing pier and boathouse across the lake.
The trail is easy and well-maintained with nice vantage points along the way. There is plenty of shade to enjoy during the hot summer months.
The trail opens up a bit as you cross over the dam.
The north side of the trail also has nice views of the lake.
Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the flora and fauna along the way.
As you make your way back towards the end of the loop, you’ll pass by the group camp area. Here you can take a short trail back to the parking area.
The Raleigh area has miles upon miles of hiking trails. Some estimates put that number at over 200 miles, including the metro area and state parks. Here is a sampling of some of the areas where you can get on the trail when visiting Raleigh:
If you are looking for a hiking challenge to keep you on the trail more often see our posts:
Happy Trails!!