TAKE IT OUTSIDE
Triangle region offers some of the best outdoor trails

by L. Haywood Coffey

There's no shortage of nature trails throughout the Triangle, from those with endless miles of hiking and cycling trails to those ideal for sitting back and taking in nature's beauty. There's bound to be something for everyone, so whatever your pleasure, grab your sneakers and hit one of these featured trails.

Triangle-wide
In the Triangle, perhaps the most well-known trail is The American Tobacco Trail, which spans 22 miles and offers cycling, hiking and incredible scenery. What many don't know is that sections of the trail in Durham County, as well as the Dunn-Erwin Trail in Harnett County, are part of the East Coast Greenway, a new countrywide off-road path measuring 3,000 miles from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Fla.

Orange/Durham counties
In Orange and Durham counties, the well-traveled and well-known Eno River State Park travels along the Eno River for more than 30 miles. There are 21 developed trails throughout the park, all unique and worth exploring.

Eno River State Park, which offers primitive camping, fishing, canoeing and hiking, offers day hikers excellent opportunities, including a variety of trails, a swinging bridge, and paths that range from beginner to advanced. Most trails travel along the river with well-marked dirt paths and solid rock, but be aware that heavy rain can transform what already is a fast-moving river into a raging torrent that, while impressive, can be unsafe. However, it's still worth a visit after rain to see nature at its most impressive.

The Eno River Association offers guided wildflower hikes along the river each spring, while the Eno River Watch water quality-monitoring program welcomes volunteers to participate in its continuing programs.

Durham
In Durham, Duke Forest — owned by Duke University — comprises almost 8,000 acres, which are divided into six sections over four counties. The forest, which encompasses land from recovered farms and woodland purchased since the mid-1920s, also is part of Duke's forestry program.

While there, hikers can find educational materials and explanations of how forestry is conducted at ranger stations, as well as on the trails themselves. In addition to hiking and nature, there is something for every cyclist at Duke Forest, with at least 15 miles of trails, some casual and others that will challenge the most extreme cyclist.

Haw River Trail
The Haw River Trail, which stretches from Chatham to Forsyth counties, features a series of trails that connect the Triangle and Triad. Visitors can take part in a variety of activities on the trail, including fishing, paddling, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, camping and horseback riding. For paddlers, it offers calm stretches and rapids, while remaining an impressive home for all sorts of wildlife. Historic textile mills, Native American structures and small towns give the trail its unique character.

Hillsborough
The Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail in Hillsborough — home to one of the original NASCAR tracks — now is home a three-mile wooded nature trail on a 44-acre land tract and near Ayr Mount, a structure built in the early 1800s. Inside Ayr Mount, visitors can pore through antiques unique to that historical era, as well as more than 50 etchings by native North Carolina artist Louis Orr, making this trail site ideal for nature and art lovers alike. While there, be sure to take the PoetÕs Walk trail.

Carrboro/Chapel Hill
In Carrboro, there is Adams Tract, which is accessible via Wilson Park and features a stunning, winding, and seemingly endless trail. Hikers and cyclists will find abundant flora and fauna, in addition to a train trestle and what appears to be the foundation of an old mill. In 1950, Dr. J. Edison Adams, a University of North Carolina professor of botany, purchased the land and restored the homestead on the property.

Not far from the Adams Tract Trail is an unusual trail situated alongside the Chapel Hill Library. Pritchard Park offers a one-mile loop around the library and two connecting side trails that funnel back into the main pathway. For those who love books and hiking, this unique combination can't be beat. Be sure to look for the small stream running along this undulating trail.

Chatham County
In Chatham County, Jordan Lake is an outstanding hiking and cycling location, as well as an ideal spot to watch bald eagles. The site, which attracts more diverse wildlife than just about any other spot in the region, has more than 12,000 acres of water and is surrounded by more than 32 acres of game land and recreation areas, including, overnight camping, fishing, boating, hiking, cycling, and wildlife.

Pittsboro
Perhaps the most spectacular sights to be seen when hiking are a bit south of Pittsboro, just off Highway 15-501 at White Pines Nature Preserve, where the Rocky River converges with the Deep River. The sight of two rivers coming together like a street corner is one that must be experienced.

Photographs cannot convey the feeling one gets when seeing this spectacle of nature. There also are several stands of white pines, which typically are found in cooler mountain climates. Other plants generally found only in the North Carolina mountains such as Catawba rhododendron also grow at White Pines because of its unique ecology. Its hiking trails offer beautiful views of the forest and river, and range from high overlooks to low-lying areas along and adjacent to the rivers themselves. This truly is the must-see hiking area of the Triangle.