Lake Crabtree

Hike: The Lake Trail
Nearby Town: Cary, NC
Elevation (Max): ~300'
Elevation Gained: ~160'
Mileage: 6.06
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Take Exit 285 off I-40. Turn west on Aviation Pkwy (away from the airport). Entrance to the park will be on the left across from Gateway Centre. Park in the last parking lot and the trailhead is off the driveway connecting the lot to the park road.
Web Site: http://www.wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree/default.htm

If you're looking for an escape from the subdivisions and office parks of Cary and Morrisville, greenways are great options, but an even better one may be Lake Crabtree park. The blue-blazed Lake Trail hikes around the entire perimeter of Lake Crabtree negotiating trails in the woods, boardwalks over low lying areas, and paths along some busy roads and behind office parks in Cary and Morrisville. The first part of the trail is also a mountain biking trail so watch out for bikers especially around the hills near the beginning. The trail splits a couple times, but you can keep from getting lost if you stay right at all splits to remain along the lake.

A view toward the dam

Not long after descending the hills at the beginning, the trail comes to the Heather Carr Memorial Overlook which provides a place to sit and observe the lake--Heather Carr was essential in creating the Lake Trail. The trail then curves along the lakeshore, right next to I-40, and then up the dam that creates Lake Crabtree. At this point, the trail joins Cary's Black Creek Greenway which is a paved path.

Dam outflow

Another observation deck/gazebo is on the greenway with a water fountain (and doggy water fountain). When the greenway reaches Weston Parkway (it's the bridge above), the Lake Trail splits off on a bridge over Black Creek on the right. From this point onward, the trail can be poorly marked, yet I never got lost just using my gut, and I trust most people will have the same luck. Like I mentioned before, as a general rule, go toward the lake at junctions and Ys ,and you will be okay.

Black Creek

Low-lying area

Hidden trail directly next to Evans Road

The trail winds through low lying areas that would probably be wet during rainy times but were completely dry when I went through. The trail then walks along Evans Road on a path tucked in some small trees before emerging to cross Crabtree Creek over a bridge. Next, the trail walks between the offices at Southport and the Lake for a little while before turning into the woods and emerging to walk along Aviation Parkway. Unlike Evans Road, the trail along Aviation Parkway is exposed with no tree cover and was extremely hot when I did the hike in the middle of summer. The trail then turns right into the woods and soon emerges into an open field which leads to a parking lot. If you parked here, then congratulations, you've completed the Lake Trail. If you parked by the trailhead, though, you need to walk right along the park road a bit to return to your car. A hike around Lake Crabtree is an interesting mix of urban and natural, and it provides a nice, new perspective of some areas that many of us drive by everyday. Below are several pictures and a GPS-generated map of the hike.

Bridge (above) over Crabtree Creek (below)

Boardwalk leading to Aviation Parkway

Goals--Update

Well I've gone about 10 months without providing an update on the progress I've made on my goals. So here it is (green=complete, blue=in progress, red=incomplete):

33. Submit to a photo contest
54. Maintain hiking log and blog
55. Hike another 100 miles (starting distance: 96.25 miles)
56. Buy new hiking boots (lighter, better fitting)
57. Buy new sleeping pad or tent
58. Go to Crabtree Creek in Umstead after a heavy rain when the creek is high





59. Go winter camping--in the snow
60. Traverse the American Tobacco Trail (can be in sections)



61. Bike the paved portion of the ATT with E
62. Backpack for three nights in a row or more
63. Kayak at least once per year (below pictures from Platte River in Michigan)



64. Camp in three seasons
65. Go on a Presidentials crew reunion hike each year
66. Summit a greater than 10,000 foot peak
67. Visit two of the following parks: Yosemite, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Tetons, Rocky Mountain, Bryce Canyon
70. Begin section-hiking the AT
76. Hike a southern bald (below pictures at Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain in Pisgah National Forest in western NC--full post on this amazing trip coming soon!)




98. Walk every greenway that is a mile or longer in Morrisville, Cary, and Raleigh
100. Compete in a Backwoods Orienteering Klub race (BOK race in Umstead State Park)



101. Compete in a Great Urban Race (Charlotte GUR--we came in about 250th out of 500 teams)

Eno River-Buckquarter Creek/Holden's Mill

Hike: Buckquarter Creek/Holden's Mill Circuit
Location: Eno River State Park
Nearby Town: Durham
Elevation (Max): 669'
Elevation Gained: 465'
Mileage: 3.9
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Take Exit 170 from I-85 onto US-70 W. Take first right onto Pleasant Green Rd. Turn left on Cole Mill Rd and follow to the parking at Piper Cox House.
Web Site: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/enri/main.php

This circuit connects two loop trails that meet at Buckquarter Creek. The hike begins next to the Piper Cox House. Trail maps are available at the trailhead. It is a short walk down to Fews Ford on the river where Buckquarter Creek goes right. Quickly the loop begins. Going right takes you up on a hill above the river, going left walks right along a path on the side of the bluff above the Eno. I went right to save the better scenery for later.

The start of the hike

Lots of green

The trail meets a Y, where you should stay left to reach the farthest point of the loop. Here, you can either continue for a shorter loop, or cross the bridge over Buckquarter Creek to add in the Holden's Mill Trail. The loop for Holden's Mill begins immediately after crossing the bridge. Again, you can go either way, but I chose right first to come back along the river. The trail then begins a long, but not-too-steep climb up a ridge to the top of a hill above the Eno. Unfortunately, at least in the summer, there are no views although I did spot a deer hightailing it in the other direction. The trail emerges in a power line cut that provides some views, then descends to a small creek. At this creek, you can either cross for a quick loop out to the ruins of Holden's Mill or continue on this side of the creek for a shorter hike.

Crossing Buckquarter Creek to the Holden's Mill Trail

I crossed the stream to go to the mill. The trail splits for another loop, and I, again, went right. The trail rises up a small hill and then looks down on the mill. There are three large stone walls visible, which seem to have been the mill and the water wheel canal. Also visible down next to the river are the remains of a dam. Continue along the trail and it will drop you down to the river, along which you will hike all the way back to your car. The lower side of the loop takes you to the remains of the dam. The trail down here is sometimes hard to distinguish as it climbs over boulders, and even where it is obvious, it is narrower and a little more overgrown with grasses, but just stay along the river, and you are sure not to get lost. Just use your common sense on where the trail should go and you'll be fine--I never got lost with this method. At the point where it seems like the trail goes down the mill canal, stay right to walk along the river and not in the mill canal. This trail will eventually take you right up to the ruins where you could explore them, if you wanted, but I didn't because I'm sure snakes just love hiding out in all those rocks.

I love the Eno

Holden's Mill

Continue along the river in a really neat section with lots of boulders that reminds me a lot of rivers in New England. The trail returns to the small creek where you should go right to finish the Holden's Mill Loop. The trail continues over large boulders, crosses under power lines, then turns up Buckquarter Creek to cross back over the bridge to return to Buckquarter Creek Trail (go right to finish the loop), which follows the river. The trail here is exposed and can get quite hot on a sunny summer day, but it is pretty scenic too as it rises right above the river climbing over stone stairs, walking along a beautiful cascade, and over wooden stairs before returning to Fews Ford, from where it is a short walk to your car.

Big rocks on the Eno

Buckquarter Creek Trail rising above the Eno

The great swimming spot on the Eno

Below is a GPS-generated map of this hike.