Waterfall Hero Hikes: Falls Lake Trail Sections 16 & 17 Hike

Sections 16 & 17 of the Falls Lake Trail is about 2 miles from Cheek Road to Redwood Road in Durham County. As an out-and-back hike, it's 4.2 miles round trip or half that for a shuttle hike.

Length: 2.1 (shuttle)/4.2 (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: 36.04301,-78.76050 (Cheek Road) / 36.05095,-78.77284 (Redwood Road)

Directions:

Section 16 trailhead is along Cheek Road just before the bridge over the lake. From Durham, go east on E Geer Street for about a mile and turn right on Cheek Road. Drive 7.7 miles and pull off on the right just before the bridge over Falls Lake.

To arrange a shuttle, turn around and go about 0.3 miles and turn right on Hereford Road. Go about 0.7 miles and turn right on Redwood Road. Go about 0.2 miles and pull off on the right just before the causeway.

Map:

Hike Description:

The trail begins across Creek Road. The trail heads into the woods and skirts an open area then curves to the left and leads to the western end at Hereford Road.

Cross the causeway on Hereford Road to the trailhead for Section 17. The trail ducks into the woods after the guard rail and immediately bears left where right goes down to lake level. The trail passes a clearing and swings around a small cove.

The area opens up a bit and the trail turns left to follow another old road. There is a new campsite right here, made possible by the NC Wildlife Resource Commission.

Continuing straight past the campsites, there is an old chimney.

The trail then passes right by an old barn.

The trail then comes at Redwood Road at the end of Section 17. If you shuttled, your car will be here. Otherwise, turn around and go back the way you came.