Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest

Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest is a 245-acre forest owned by North Carolina State University in western Wake County between Cary and Raleigh near William B. Umstead State Park. As a teaching and research forest, its primary mission is education, but the public access is allowed for hiking, picnicking and nature viewing.  Richland Creek Trail, part of Raleigh's Capital Area Greenway, runs through the forest.  However, no dogs or bicycles are allowed in the forest. The forest is named for Carl Alwin Schenck, a German forester who came to the United States in the late 19th century to work at George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate. Considered the father of American forestry, Schenck established the Biltmore Forest School, the first school of forestry in the United States.

Directions:

GPS: 35.81629,-78.72051

From I-440 in Raleigh, take exit 4 for Wade Avenue towards RDU Aiport. Turn left onto Wade Avenue and go about 1.5 miles to the Edwards Mill Road exit. Turn right on Edwards Mill Road and then left on Reedy Creek Road. In 0.3 miles, turn left onto Schenck Forest Access Road and the entrance will be on the right.

Map:

Trails:

Several miles of trails and roads run through the forest for hiking.  No dogs or bicycles allowed on the trails.

Francis L. Liles Trail:

Francis L. Liles Interpretive Trail splits from the main access road near the parking and leads through the forest and terminates at Loblolly Trail.   Interpretive signs are located along the trail so visitors can learn about forestry practices.

Loblolly Trail:

Loblolly Trail follows a segment of Richland Creek Trail, part of Raleigh’s Capital Area Greenway, through the forest and connects with William B. Umstead State Park.  See Umstead Loblolly to PNC Hike for more description of this trail.

Service Road:

The main service road leads from the gate at the parking area across the forest, bisecting it.  A picnic area is just off this road in the first quarter-mile.  There are several interpretive displays along the road to learn about forestry in practice.

Hikes:

Umstead Lobolly to PNC Hike follows Loblolly Trail through the forest.

Wildlife:

Spurred butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum)

External Links:

North Carolina State University Forests website: https://schenckforest.ncsu.edu/