Waterfall Hero Hikes: Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area (Alamance)

Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area is a 1,000-acre Alamance County nature park providing public access to the county's largest Natural Heritage Area. The Cane Creek Mountains are a Piedmont mountain range in southwest Alamance County that is highly eroded with the highest point at 987 feet. It is a new park, having opened in May 2020 and currently consists of several miles of hiking trails through the Piedmont hills and streams.

Contact Information:

5075 Bass Mountain Rd

Snow Camp, NC 27349

Directions:

From I-85 in Burlington, take exit 147 and turn onto NC-87 south. Follow NC-87 for 5 miles and turn right on Mount Herman Rock Creek Road and then bear left on Bass Mountain Road. Go 2.7 miles and turn right into the park at the Pine Hill Trailhead. Follow the gravel entrance road for a half-mile to the parking at the end. The Oak Hill Trailhead is another mile down the road.

Map:

Trails:

Heartleaf Loop:

Heartleaf Loop is an easy 1-mile loop that follows Northern Approach Trail for part of the way but avoids the steep climb.

Longleaf Loop:

Longleaf Loop is a 1-mile loop for the north end of the parking area that loops through an area being replanted with longleaf pine.

Northern Approach Trail:

Northern Approach Trail is a 2.5-mile loop that includes some steep and rocky sections climbing up the Cane Creek Mountains.

Pioneer Camp Trail:

Pioneer Camp Trail is a 3 1/2 mile trail starting from the Oak Hill Trailhead that winds through the southern end of the preserve and the remains of the old camp.