Falls Lake Trail Section 22 Hike

Section 22 of the Falls Lake Trail is about 4.5 miles from Red Mill Road at Ellerbe Creek back to Red Mill Road at Eno River.  As an out-and-back hike, it's 9.2 miles round trip or half that for a shuttle hike.

Length: 4.6 miles (shuttle)/9.2 miles (out and back)
Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Must be on a leash
Features: Lakes, Creeks, Forest
Crowds: High
Warnings: Part of the trail passes through game land where hunting is permitted. Wear blaze orange during hunting season.
Trailhead GPS: 36.06058,-78.81749 (Red Mill Road South) / 36.08442,-78.82442 (Red Mill Road North)

Directions:

Section 22 is along Redwood Road.  From Durham, get on I-85 north and go about 4 miles to exit 182 for Red Mill Road.  Turn left on Red Mill Road and 1.1 miles to a pull-off on the right just after the bridge over Ellerbe Creek.

To arrange a shuttle, continue on Red Mill Road for 1.7 miles and turn left into a small parking area for the trail.

Map:

Hike Description:

Section 22 starts on the north side of Ellerbe Creek past the gate and runs along the creek right next to an open field.  Shortly after, the trail crosses a small stream.  In years past, this could be a tricky stream crossing to stay dry, but a bridge has been built making it much easier.  This area is prone to flooding.  The trail then comes out in a powerline clearing and can be difficult to follow, so pay close attention to the blazes.  Back in the woods, the trail continues to follow Ellerbe Creek passing the remains of an old railroad trestle that has mostly collapsed.

About a mile form the trailhead, you'll start to see railroad tracks approaching from right.  The trail passes through a powerline clearing and then runs past an old barn covered in ivy and other abandoned buildings and there is a old washing machine right along the trail.

At 1.8 miles, the trail crosses railroad tracks and then descends towards the lake, another area prone to flooding.

At just over two miles, cross a powerline clearing with the last views of the lake - the trail now begins to follow Eno River upstream.  There are some nice views of the river that is more of a lake at this point.

The trail runs through the woods for a while, eventually coming out in an open field.

Pay attention to the trail stakes to follow the trail across the field and then back into the woods.  The last past of the trail is through a rather swampy section of trail.  A couple small footbridges have been built to more easily cross the difficult parts while staying dry.  The trail ends back at Red Mill Road, about a mile and a half north of the starting point.  If you shuttled, the car will be here; otherwise, hike back.

Blog Entries:

19-Feb-2017: Early Spring at Falls Lake

External Links:

Mountains-to-Sea Trail website: https://mountainstoseatrail.org/the-trail/segments/falls-lake-day-hikes/fallslake-dayhike-17/