Jordan Lake Educational State Forest

Jordan Lake Educational State Forest is an North Carolina State Forest in Chatham County along Jordan Lake.  It is one of the newest of North Carolina's Educational State Forests, located between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.  The forest offers a number of self-guided interpretive trails as well as ranger-led classes with an emphasis on forestry and forest management, as well as ample picnic sites.

Contact Information:

2832 Big Woods Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Phone: (919) 542-1154
Email: JordanLakeESF.ncfs@ncagr.gov

Directions:

From Chapel Hill, head south on US-15/501 for about 6 miles and turn left on Jack Bennett Road.  Go 2.4 miles and turn right on Big Woods Road.  Drive 3.6 miles and turn left into the forest.

Map:

Trails:

Forest Demonstration Trail:

Forest Demonstration Trail is the longest trail in the forest at 2 miles.  It makes a loop along the peninsula with several spur trails that lead out to views of the lake.

Low Lands Trail:

Low Lands Trail is a 1/2 mile partial loop that leads through an low lying area along the lake.

Talking Tree Trail:

Talking Tree Trail is a short interpretive loop with talking tree exhibits.

Wildlife Trail:

Wildlife Trail makes a short loop at the north of the forest.

Wildlife:

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Blog Entries:

12-Jun-2022: Summer Hikes at Jordan Lake

External Links:

North Carolina Forest Service website: https://www.ncesf.org/jordanlake.html