Crabtree Creek Trail West Hike

Crabtree Creek Trail is a nearly 17-mile trail following its namesake and a major corridor in the Capital Area Greenway.  The western most segment was the final portion of the trail to be completed in summer 2024.  Running from Ebenezer Church Road to Lindsay Drive, Crabtree Creek West is a 4-mile out-and-back hike or 2 miles as a shuttle hike.

Length: 2.1 miles (shuttle)/4.2 miles (out and back)
Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Capital Area Greenway
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Must be on a leash
Features: Creeks, Forest
Crowds: High
Warnings: None.
Trailhead GPS: 35.84526,-78.72386 (Ebenezer Church Road) / 35.84172,-78.70562 (Lindsay Drive)

Directions:

From I-40 east, take exit 289 for Wade Avenue and take the first exit for Edwards Mill Road.  Turn left on Edwards Mill Road and go 1.5 miles then turn left on Duraleigh Road.  In 0.3 miles, bear left on Ebenezer Church Road and drive 1.6 miles to a parking lot on the right just before the bridge over Crabtree Creek.

To arrange a shuttle, leave the parking lot and go left on Ebenezer Church Road.  In 1.6 miles, turn left on Duraleigh Road and go another 1.6 miles and turn right on Weaver Drive.  In 0.1 miles, turn right Oak Park Drive and then in 0.5 miles turn right on Lindsay Drive.  Follow to the small parking area at the end.

Map:

Hike Description:

The hike starts at the western terminus of Crabtree Creek Trail, adjacent to William B. Umstead State Park.  Following the creek downstream, it leads away from Crabtree Creek and crosses Richland Creek Trail on a bridge.

At 0.5 miles, the trail climbs up a ridge over an elaborate switchback structure.

 

There are more switchbacks as the trail continues up, reaching Duraleigh Road at 1 mile. 

Turn left and follow the sidewalk along Duraleigh Road for another 0.4 miles and turn left off the sidewalk just before the bridge over Crabtree Creek.  The trail descends and passes underneath the road at 1.5 miles.

At 1.7 miles, the trail crosses the river again on a suspension bridge, the last piece of infrastructure to complete the trail.

It is another 0.4 miles to Lindsay Drive where another bridge leads over the creek.

This marks the end of the hike.  Crabtree Creek Trail continues downstream towards Crabtree Valley Mall.  If you shuttled, turn left at the bridge to reach the parking area; otherwise, turn around and head back.

Blog Entries:

29-Jun-2024: Crabtree Creek West

External Links:

Raleigh Parks website: https://raleighnc.gov/parks/places/crabtree-creek-greenway-trail