North Carolina Museum of Art

The North Carolina Museum of Art is located in Raleigh near the intersection of Wade Avenue and Blue Ridge Road in Wake County. The museum houses a large permanent collection, including American, European, Egyptian, and modern pieces. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts special exhibitions. Surrounding the two buildings is a 164-acre park with hiking trails through a variety of ecosystems found in the Research Triangle region dotted with works of art, showcasing the intersection of nature and art.

Map:

Trails:

There are over three miles of paved and unpaved trails through the museum park as well as connections to Reedy Creek Trail, part of the Capital Area Greenway for a longer hike.  Additionally, the long-distance East Coast Greenway runs through the museum park.

Blue Loop:

The Blue Loop is a 1-mile greenway trail that makes a loop around the park and connects with many of the other trails.

East Coast Greenway:

The East Coast Greenway is a planned greenway trail along the east coast of the United States from Maine to Florida, with the section in North Carolina a designated State Trail.  The trail runs along through the museum grounds, following the Blue Loop and Reedy Creek Trail.

Lower Meadow Trail:

Lower Meadow Trail is a half-mile partial loop that extends the Blue Loop through the open meadows and sunflower fields.  Bikes are not permitted on the Lower Meadow Trail.

North Loop:

North Loop is a paved half-mile loop around the northern part of the park circling around the pond and the East Building.

Parking Loop:

Parking Loop makes a half-mile loop running along the edge of the main parking lot and around the ellipse, connecting to Blue Loop.

Pond Loop:

Pond Loop is a short loop around the museum pond, connecting with North Loop.

Reedy Creek Trail:

Reedy Creek Trail, part of the Capital Area Greenway, runs along the southern boundary of the museum park and connects with other trails. 

Sculpture Walk:

Sculpture Walk is a quarter-mile paved path around the West Building with views of the outdoor sculptures and Rodin Garden.

Upper Meadow Trail:

Upper Meadow Trail is a short dirt trail that bisects the Blue Loop.  Bikes are not permitted on the Upper Meadow Trail.

Woodland Trail:

Woodland Trail is a half-mile loop on a natural surface through forested area off Blue Loop.  Another Woodland Trail connects Reedy Creek Trail to Lower Meadow Trail.

Artwork:

Cloud Chamber for the Trees and Sky:

Gyre:

Rodin Garden:

The Rodin Garden is a collection of Rodin's sculptures in a garden setting outside the West Building.

Wind Machine:

Wildlife:

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

External Links:

North Carolina Museum of Art website: https://ncartmuseum.org/