Waterfall Hero Hikes: Brumley Nature Preserve

Brumley Nature Preserve is a 613-acre preserve in Orange County just southeast of Hillsborough that is owned by Triangle Land Conservancy. The preserve opened to the public in April 2017 and has miles of hiking trails as well as multi-use trails for mountain biking. The land was purchased by George and Julia Brumley when it was threatened with development and TLC purchased the property in 2010.

Location:

South Parking:
3055 New Hope Church Rd. Chapel Hill, NC 27514

North Parking:
3620 Old State Hwy 10, Chapel Hill, 27514

Map:

Trails:

Conservation Corps:

Length: 0.5 miles

Blaze: Red

Use: Hiking and Mountain Biking

Conservation Corps makes a half-mile loop starting at the intersection of Springhouse Loop and Running Cedar Trail. Atamasco Alley splits off from Conservation Corps to extend the loop.

Dairy Farm Trail:

Dairy Farm Trail is a 1-mile loop trail for hiking only, access from the north part of the preserve. The trail begins at the end of Stony Creek Bluff Trail and makes a loop around old farm ponds. Cedar Grove Trail is accessed from this trail.

Grand Oak Loop:

Length: 0.3 miles

Blaze: Red

Use: Hiking only

Grand Oak Loop is a short hiking trail that splits off from Walnut Grove Trail.

Lava Loop:

Lava Loop is a half-mile hiking trail that starts from the expansion parking area in Brumley South. The trail makes a short loop through an area of unusual volcanic rock outcrops. Black Cohosh Trail is accessed from the loop.

Stony Creek Bluff Trail:

Stony Creek Bluff Trail is a 1-mile hiking trail that starts from the north parking area. The trail passes an old cemetery and the Cemetery Connector Trail then heads into the woods towards Stony Creek. The trail follows the creek for a ways on a bluff high above. It then passes through open fields, intersecting with the other end of Cemetery Connector Trail and terminates after crossing a bridge over Stony Creek. Dairy Farm Trail picks up from the end of the trail.

Walnut Grove Loop:

Length: 0.7 miles

Blaze: White

Use: Hiking and Mountain Biking

Walnut Grove Loop is a multi-use trail starting from Wood Duck Way that makes a 3/4 mile loop. The trail provides access to Grand Oak Loop and Springhouse Loop Trails.

Wood Duck Way:

Length: 1.2 miles

Blaze: Blue

Use: Hiking and Mountain Biking

Wood Duck Way is a multi-use trail starting from the main Brumley South Parking area and makes a loop just over a mile. The trail starts at the same points as Kids Loop and Chimney Swift Circle and intersects with Walnut Grove Loop and Chimney Swift Circle about half way through the loop. There is the remains of an old car off the trail.