People (I’m people) will tell you that you should spend more time outside. Take a hike. Go camping. Whatever it may be. But sometimes it’s hard to figure out where these trails are. Or you’ll find one, get 5 minutes away from the parking lot, lose service and find that your GPS has dropped you off on the side of the road with no actual trail in sight. People also tend to think there aren’t any trails near cities.
That isn’t the case though. You’d be surprised to learn that trails pop up all over the place in my college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The area is full of hike and bike trails galore.
For those interested in learning why walking is so good for our health, head over to this website and read up on how you can make the most out of walking!
Since I mentioned getting outside in last week’s post, I want to follow up with a couple of options for people living in Chapel Hill and Orange County. Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation maintains a system of approximately 17.6 miles of greenways and trails, while there is a multitude of different forests that stretch from Chapel Hill to Durham and Raleigh. Carolina North Forest, Duke Forest and Eno River State Park are just some of the many.
I chose two different parts of the woods, as they say. One hike took me on Morgan Creek Trail, which is only 6 minutes away from the heart of downtown Carrboro. Funny enough, Chapel Hill’s notorious Franklin Street quietly turns into Carrboro's sleepy Main Street after you pass Crook's Corner. If you like good southern cooking, and who doesn’t?, make a stop at Crook's Corner on your way out of Chapel Hill. They claim creator of shrimp n' grits. (We're all skeptical, but it's delicious either way, so we'll bite).
Morgan Creek Trail is convenient, an easy hike and has multiple loops to choose from. There’s a parking lot off of Fordham Blvd. (NC 54). Though it sneaks up on you, so make sure you’re paying attention. The parking lot entrance is just past Kingswood apartments and once you're there, you can choose to go right and forage around on slightly confusing trails, or you can head left towards Merritt's Pasture. If you choose this route, you'll walk on a flat paved path that branches into a few spur routes such as Fan Branch Trail. The trails are clearly outlined and directions are easy to stay on track.
I decided to walk the Merritt's Pasture Trail. Now that is a lovely sight. A large hill leads up to a picturesque tree that offers shade to a long wooden bench. The trail itself loops around the pasture, up to the bench-tree combo, around back into the woods and all the way down to the North Carolina Botanical Gardens. The NC Botanical Gardens are a treat all in themselves, so if you have time to make an afternoon of it, you could hike this trail and take time to explore the gardens at the end. The path is a 2.3 moderately trafficked trail that features a river and is accessible year-round. I noticed many bikers and families with dogs, so it’s an inviting place for your animals too!
For college students or parents with small children, this hike is perfect. It isn’t strenuous and is close to town. Merritt’s Grill, a sandwich hot spot in Chapel Hill, is also a quarter mile away, so after your hike, stop by and refresh your taste buds with a chilled drink and a mile-high stacked sandwich.
While this hike was fun enough and included a surprise visit from a fluffy golden retriever, it wasn’t my favorite. It ran beside the highway in some places and unsurprisingly, wasn’t as disassociated from nearby houses and traffic. An excellent place to go for a quick hike, but the other option is much better if you have the time.
Duke Forest offers more of an intimate experience with nature. At least that’s how it felt to me. I drove about 15 minutes out of town down Martin Luther King Blvd. and parked on the side of the road at the entrance of the Duke Forest Korstian Division. The trail I embarked on is called the Rhododendron Bluff Circuit. You can find it on AllTrails, which is the hiking app I use to find different hikes and avoid getting lost. It has been a real lifesaver so far. Plus, it’s free ladies and gentlemen!
This hike was incredible. It was one of the best days I’ve had in a while — literally all thanks to the rushing water features, the eye-catching plants and the soul-warming sunshine. I set off and was immediately nestled in the woods with no cars, buildings, or roads nearby. The trail is 2.9 miles long and has 219 feet of elevation gain. That’s if you decide to skip the Piney Mountain trail, which was about a half mile walk up and down a “mountain.” I'm from western NC, so eastern NC mountains more closely resemble large hills to me, so imagine air quotes with that description. Still, it was a nice leg workout and certainly brought you up out of the valley.
Starting from the Rhododendron trail, it’s only possible to reach the top of piney mountain by crossing the creek. Thankfully there was a fallen tree that offered a walkway when I was there. Otherwise, it’s quite impossible to get across the river without getting your feet wet. And let me tell you, that water is cold right now, so don’t do it. Your toes will thank me later.
Within a half mile, you’ll walk right up on a river dotted with rocks to sit and soak up the sun on. Little waterfalls and big boulders overlook the water, so there are even more places to perch along the river. The trail appears to end at some rocks on the river, but if you want to climb over them, you can keep going. Just follow along with the water, and you’re set.
This trek was overflowing with mossy patches, butterflies and ferns quietly unfurling in the fresh spring air. The hike was exceedingly rewarding, and I ended up spending five hours on the trails, so an afternoon can indeed slip by under the trees. There were also many more paths to venture on.
These are two options in the area, but there are other forests to investigate, no doubt. Walking is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health, so why not chose to do it outside? Gyms are stuffy, smell like greasy men and block pretty much all encounters with the sun. Now walking outside is a whole different ball game that excites a whole different set of senses.
Walking briskly for just 30 minutes a day can increase cardiovascular fitness, reduce excess body fat, boost muscle endurance and strength and strengthen bones, not to mention it can also lower your risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, some cancers and type 2 diabetes. It's free, relaxing and can be done without a pricey gym membership or equipment.
Take a break to explore; find the time to walk with nature.
Comments