Durant Nature Preserve

Durant Nature Preserve is a 237-acre Raleigh Park in northern Wake County near I-540 and US-1 in the Research Triangle region.  Formerly the Occoneechee Council of Boy Scouts' Camp Durant, the park was purchased by the city in 1979.  In 2010, the park was designated as a nature preserve to protect the area's natural resources and promote environmental education and recreation.  The park features two lakes, environmental education, playgrounds, picnic shelters, and five miles of hiking trails.

Contact Information:

8305 Camp Durant Rd
Raleigh, NC 27614

Phone: (919) 878-9116

Directions:

There are two entrances to the park - the north entrance on Camp Durant Road just off Durant Road and the south entrance on Spottswood Street just off Gresham Lake Road.  Both have parking lots with ample parking.  From US-1 just north of I-540, go east on Durant Road for 1.1 miles and gravel Camp Durant Road will be on the left.  Follow this road to the end for the north parking.  For the south entrance, take US-1 just north of I-540 and turn left on Gresham Lake Road.  Go 0.6 miles and turn right on Burwell Road.  In 0.4 miles, Burwell Road cuts to the left and becomes Spottswood Street.  The south entrance to the park is on the right.

Map:

Trails:

There are more than 5 miles of trails throughout the preserve.  Mountain biking is also permitted on some of the trails when conditions are dry.  Additionally, Simms Branch Trail, part of the Capital Area Greenway, runs along the northern border of the park.

Beaver Pond Trail:

Length: 0.3 miles
Blaze: Black

Beaver Pond Trail is a short trail that connects with Border Trail, running along the south shore of the upper lake.

Border Trail:

Length: 1.9 miles
Blaze: Red

Border Trail runs along the border of the preserve, connecting from White House Road to the south parking lot.  There is a stream crossing near the southwest corner of the loop that may be difficult in high water.

Lakeside Trail:

Length: 1.1 miles
Blaze: Blue

Lakeside Trail makes a loop around the lower lake, following the shoreline closely.

Nature Trail:

Length: 0.2 miles
Blaze: Pink

Nature Trail connects Lakeside Trail with White House Road.

Order of the Arrow Trail:

Length: 0.4 miles
Blaze: Turquoise

Order of the Arrow Trail connects White House Road with Border Trail.

Pine Ridge Trail:

Length: 0.2 miles
Blaze: Maroon

Pine Ridge Trail connects Charlie's Service Road with Secret Creek Trail.

Secret Creek Trail:

Length: 0.6 miles
Blaze: Green

Secret Creek Trail leads from the north parking lot to the picnic area following Simm's Branch.

White House Road:

Length: 0.6 miles
Blaze: White

White House Road leads from the north parking area and passes between the upper and lower lakes, ending at Border Trail.

Points of Interest:

Whale Rocks:

Whale Rocks are a series of large boulders in Simms Branch that resemble a whale.  The rocks are along Border Trail in the northwest of the park.

Wildlife:

Mushrooms growing along the trail.

Eastern spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) are one of the first wildflowers to bloom in spring.

Atamasco lilies (Zephyranthes atamasca)

External Links:

City of Raleigh Parks website: https://raleighnc.gov/places/durant-nature-preserve