Waterfall Hero Hikes: Harris Lake County Park

Harris Lake County Park is a Wake County park in the southwestern part of the county. The park is located on a peninsula in Harris Lake, which acts as the reservoir for the Shearon Harris Power Plant. In 1985, the county signed a lease with Progress Energy for a 680-acre park on the lake. Construction began in 1997 and the park opened to the public in 1999. The park is located in the town of New Hill in the southern Research Triangle region. Long before the land was purchased by Progress Energy, the area was farmland. The Womble family lived on these lands since the 18th century. Remnants of old homesteads can still be seen within the park.

Contact Information:

2112 County Park Dr.
New Hill, NC 27652

Phone: 919-387-4342
Fax: 919-387-4349

Directions:

The entrance to the park is located off US-1 south of Apex. Take exit 89 and turn left on New Hill-Holleman Road. Go approximately 3 miles and the entrance to the park is on the right. Use the map below to generate customized directions.

Map:

Hiking:

Cypress Tree Trail

Length: 0.2 miles

Blaze: Yellow

Cypress Tree Trail makes a short loop around a pond and provides access to the amphitheater.

Peninsula Trail

Length: 5 miles
Blaze: Orange

The Peninsula Trail trailhead is at the Day-Use parking area and runs along the peninsula that juts out into Harris Lake, providing views of Harris Lake and the Shearon Harris Power Plant along the eastern end of the peninsula. The trail runs through a variety of forest habitats and old farm ponds.

Red Fox Run

Blaze: Red

Length: 0.4 miles

Red Fox Run is a short double-loop trail, partly following the start of Peninsula Trail, with interpretive displays about the park's plants and animals.