Falls Lake Trail

The Falls Lake Trail, part of Segment 10 of the statewide Mountains-to-Sea Trail, runs for more than 60 miles along the southern shore of Falls Lake in Wake and Durham Counties.  The trail is conveniently broken into 23 sections by road crossings allowing for hikes of any length.  But whatever the hike, scenic views of the lake are assured.  Falls Lake and the surrounding land is protected from development by the Army Corps of Engineers who manage the Falls Lake Dam.  Most of the land is leased to the state as Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land, managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, as well as to other state and local agencies.  Since most of the trail runs through game land, wearing blaze orange during hunting season is recommended.

Map:




Trail Sections:


The trail is conveniently divided into 23 sections for easy day hiking.  The sections are listed below.  Note that there are different definitions of the sections, so these may be different from what you see on other websites or kiosks at trailheads.  I define a section as part of the trail where you can legally park a car at either end.  If the section of the trail has another name, I try to include that as well.  The trail sections go east to west, starting at the Falls Lake Dam in North Raleigh and ending at Penny's Bend Nature Preserve in Durham.  The Mountains-to-Sea Trail continues eastbound from the dam along Neuse River Trail, part of the Capital Area Greenway.

Section 1:


Length: 3.5 miles
East Trailhead: Falls Lake Tailrace Parking on Falls of Neuse Road (35.93992,-78.58070)
West Trailhead: Raven Ridge Road at Honeycutt Creek (35.92844,-78.60581)

Section 1 is the easternmost section and runs from the Falls Lake Tailrace at Falls Lake Dam to Raven Ridge Road near Annie Louse Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 1 Hike for more information.


Section 2


Length: 2.5 miles
East Trailhead: Raven Ridge Road (35.93039,-78.60755)
West Trailhead: Possum Track Road at Red Fox Run (35.94508,-78.59030)

Section 2 of the trail runs from Raven Ridge Road to the end of Possum Track Road.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 2 Hike for more information.


Section 3


Length: 3.0 miles
East Trailhead: Possum Track Road at Red Fox Run (35.94508,-78.59030)
West Trailhead: Possum Track Road (35.95253,-78.61120)

Section 3 of the trail runs from the end of Possum Track Road to the causeway over Cedar Creek.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 3 Hike for more information.


Section 4


Length: 2.8 miles
East Trailhead: Possum Track Road (35.95482,-78.61307)
West Trailhead: Bayleaf Church Road (35.96386,-78.63264)

Section 4 leads from Possum Track Road to Bayleaf Church Road.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 4 Hike for more information.


Section 5


Length: 1.4 miles
East Trailhead: Bayleaf Church Road (35.96386,-78.63264)
West Trailhead: Six Forks Road (35.95616,-78.64292)

Section 5 leads from Bayleaf Church Road to Six Forks Road.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 5 Hike for more information.


Section 6


Length: 3.3 miles
East Trailhead: Six Forks Road (35.96035,-78.64511)
West Trailhead: Six Forks Road (35.97180,-78.65431)

Section 6 runs from Six Forks Road to Six Forks Road, passing through Blue Jay Point County Park.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 6 Hike for more information.


Section 7


Length: 2.4 miles
East Trailhead: Six Forks Road (35.97576,-78.65657)
West Trailhead: Durham Highway (NC-98) (35.97893,-78.63449)

Section 7 leads from Six Forks Road to Durham Highway/NC-98.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 7 Hike for more information.


Section 8


Length: 3.5 miles
East Trailhead: Durham Highway/NC-98 (35.97893,-78.63449)
West Trailhead: New Light Road (35.99552,-78.66339)

Section 8 leads from Durham Highway/NC-98 to New Light Road, passing through Shinleaf Recreation Area.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 8 Hike for more information.


Section 9


Length: 0.5 miles
East Trailhead: New Light Road (35.99552,-78.66339)
West Trailhead: Ghoston Road (35.99911,-78.66866)

Section 9 is a short hike between New Light Road and Ghoston Road.  See Falls Lake Trail Sections 9 & 10 Hike for more information.


Section 10


Length: 2.6 miles
East Trailhead: Ghoston Road (35.99911,-78.66866)
West Trailhead: Creedmoor Road/NC-50 (36.01240,-78.68914)

Section 10 leads from Ghoston Road to Creedmoor Road/NC-50 at the Falls Lake State Recreation Area Visitor Center.  See Falls Lake Trail Sections 9 & 10 Hike for more information.


Section 11


Length: 5.3 miles
East Trailhead: Creedmoor Road/NC-50 (36.01300, -78.68963)
West Trailhead: Boyce Mill Road (35.99104,-78.71965)

Section 11 leads from Creedmoor Road to Boyce Mill Road in Wake and Durham Counties.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 11 Hike for more information.


Section 12


Length: 1.9 miles
East Trailhead: Boyce Mill Road (35.99104,-78.71965)
West Trailhead: Wake Forest Highway/NC-98 (35.98065,-78.73705)

Section 12 runs from Boyce Mill Road to Wake Forest Highway/NC-98.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 12 Hike for more information.


Section 13


Length: 3.5 miles
East Trailhead: Wake Forest Highway/NC-98 (35.98184,-78.74384)
West Trailhead: Baptist Road/Rolling View Recreation Area (36.00404,-78.72802)

Section 13 runs from Wake Forest Highway/NC-98 to Baptist Road in Rolling View Recreation Area.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 13 Hike for more information.


Section 14


Length: 4.4 miles
East Trailhead: Baptist Road/Rolling View Recreation Area (36.00404,-78.72802)
West Trailhead: Jimmy Rogers Road (36.01323,-78.77771)

Section 14 runs from Baptist Road in Rolling View Recreation Area to Jimmy Rogers Road across the bridge over Little Lick Creek.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 14 Hike for more information.


Section 15


Length: 4.2 miles
East Trailhead: Jimmy Rogers Road (36.01323,-78.77771)
West Trailhead: Cheek Road (36.04301,-78.76050)

Section 15 runs from Jimmy Rogers Road to Cheek Road in Durham County.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 15 Hike for more information.


Section 16


Length: 2.8 miles
East Trailhead: Cheek Road (36.04301,-78.76050)
West Trailhead: Hereford Road (36.04625,-78.76918)

Section 16 runs from Cheek Road to Hereford Road.


Section 17


Length: 1.3 miles
East Trailhead: Hereford Road (36.04625,-78.76918)
West Trailhead: Redwood Road (36.05095,-78.77284)

Section 17 runs from Hereford Road to Redwood Road.


Panther Creek Loop Trail


Length: 2.7 miles
East Trailhead: Redwood Road (36.05095,-78.77284)
West Trailhead: Redwood Road (36.05230,-78.77693)

A sinkhole opened in the causeway on Redwood Road between Sections 17 and 18, closing the road.  I think it formed after Hurricane Matthew in October 2016.  For a while, you could still hike the road, though it was closed to vehicular traffic.  Some time in 2017, the road was removed so it was closed to both vehicles and pedestrians.  The road was rebuilt in 2018 and the detour is no longer necessary for hiking the MST.  While the road was closed, there was a 2-mile trail blue-blazed detour around the closed causeway. Coming from the east, the trail ducks into the woods across Redwood Road from the Section 17 west trailhead.  Regular blue blazes make the trail easy to follow.  In about a mile, the trail crosses Panther Creek, which will require getting your feet wet.  After crossing, the trail comes turns right to follow an old abandoned railway for just over a mile back to Redwood Road.


Section 18


Length: 0.5 miles
East Trailhead: Redwood Road (36.05222,-78.77665)
West Trailhead: Hickory Hill Boat Ramp (36.05813,-78.77521)

Section 18 leads from Redwood Road to Hickory Hill Boat Ramp.  See Falls Lake Trail Sections 18 & 19 Hike for more information.


Section 19


Length: 0.8 miles
East Trailhead: Hickory Hill Boat Ramp (36.05813,-78.77521)
West Trailhead: East Geer Street (36.06337,-78.78671)

Section 19 leads from Hickory Hill Boat Ramp to East Geer Street.  See Falls Lake Trail Sections 18 & 19 Hike for more information.


Section 20


Length: 1.4 miles
East Trailhead: East Geer Street (36.06337,-78.78671)
West Trailhead: Tom Clark Road (36.06042,-78.80593)

Section 20 leads from East Geer Street to Tom Clark Road.  See Falls Lake Trail Sections 20 & 21 Hike for more information.


Section 21


Length: 1.0 mile
East Trailhead: Tom Clark Road (36.06042,-78.80593)
West Trailhead: Red Mill Road (36.05931,-78.81688)

Section 21 leads from Tom Clark Road to Red Mill Road.  See Falls Lake Trail Sections 20 & 21 Hike for more information.


Section 22


Length: 4.8 miles
East Trailhead: Red Mill Road (36.06058,-78.81749)
West Trailhead: Red Mill Road (36.08442,-78.82442)

Section 22 leads from Red Mill Road at Ellerbe Creek to Red Mill Road at Eno River.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 22 Hike for more information.


Section 23:


Length: 4.0 miles
East Trailhead: Red Mill Road (36.08442,-78.82442)
West Trailhead: Old Oxford Highway (36.07183,-78.86307)

Section 23 leads from Red Mill Road to Old Oxford Highway at the western terminus of Falls Lake Trail.  Segment 10 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail continues westbound across the road in Penny's Bend Nature Preserve.  See Falls Lake Trail Section 23 Hike for more information.


Hikes:


Here is a list of hikes with detailed descriptions following Falls Lake Trail from east to west:

  1. Section 1 leads about 3.5 miles from Falls Lake Dam to Raven Ridge Road.
  2. Section 2 leads about 2.5 miles from Raven Ridge Road to Possum Track Road.
  3. Section 3 is about 3 miles from the end of Possum Track Road to the causeway over Cedar Creek.
  4. Section 4 is about 2.5 miles from Possum Track Road to Bayleaf Church Road.
  5. Section 5 leads 1.3 miles from the Yorkshire Center at Bayleaf Church Road to Six Forks Road.
  6. Section 6 is about 3 miles from Six Forks Road to Six Forks Road through Blue Jay Point County Park.
  7. Section 7 is about 2.5 miles from Six Forks Road to Durham Highway/NC-98.
  8. Section 8 leads about 3.5 miles from Durham Highway/NC-98 to New Light Road, passing through Shinleaf Recreation Area.
  9. Sections 9 & 10 are about 3 miles from New Light Road to Creedmoor Road/NC-50 at the Falls Lake Visitor Center.
  10. Section 11 is over 5 miles from Creedmoor Road to Boyce Mill Road.
  11. Section 12 is a 1.5-mile stretch between Boyce Mill Road and Wake Forest Highway/NC-98.
  12. Section 13 is about 3.5 miles from NC-98 to Baptist Road in Rolling View Recreation Area.
  13. Section 14 is about 4.5 miles from Baptist Road in Rolling View Recreation Area to Jimmy Rogers Road.
  14. Section 15 is about 4.5 miles from Jimmy Rogers Road to Cheek Road.
  15. Section 18 & 19 are about 1.5 miles from Redwood Road to East Geer Street.
  16. Section 20 and 21 makes a 2.5 mile hike from East Geer Street to Red Mill Road.
  17. Section 22 is about 4.5 miles from Red Mill Road at Ellerbe Creek to Red Mill Road at Eno River.
  18. Section 23 is about 4 miles from Red Mill Road to Old Oxford Highway at Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, the western terminus of Falls Lake Trail.


Camping:


There are several options available for camping in the area.  Hiking the trail from east to west, the first camping area is along Section 4, about a mile from Possum Track Road.  A blue-blazed spur trail to the right leads under a half-mile to a camping area close to the lake.  This area is managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and its a privilege to camp on their land, so please obey all the rules so that camping will continue to be allowed.


The next place where camping is allowed is at Shinleaf Recreation Area, part of Falls Lake State Recreation Area.  Year-round backpacking sites are available just off Section 8 in Shinleaf and registration is required.


Rolling View Recreation Area, also part of Falls Lake State Recreation Area, is the next camping spot, located between Section 13 and Section 14.  Registration is required for camping here.

The next place where is camping is allowed is a small site right off Section 17.  This one is on NC Wildlife Resources Commission land and there is no fee or registration required to camp here.


The last camping area is the Ward Family Campground, about 1 mile west of the Section 23 east trailhead.  This campground is on private property, but the owners are nice enough to allow hikers to camp on their land.  No fee is required, but campers are asked to register in the MST logbook.  Be sure to be respectful and obey all the rules while camping on private property.


Blog Entries:




External Links:

Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail website for Segment 10 - https://mountainstoseatrail.org/segment/10/

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