Raleigh Crabtree Valley Hike

Crabtree Creek Trail is a nearly 17-mile trail following its namesake and a major corridor in the Capital Area Greenway.  The Crabtree Valley segment follows the creek from Lindsey Drive downstream past Crabtree Valley Mall to Century Drive.  It's a 2 and 1/2 mile out-and-back hike or nearly 5 miles as a shuttle.

Length: 2.4 miles (shuttle)/4.8 miles (out and back)
Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Capital Area Greenway
Trail Users: Hiking, dog walking, bicycles and other non-motorized uses are permitted
Dogs: Must be on a leash
Features: Creeks, Forest, Shopping
Crowds: High
Warnings: Area is subject to frequent flooding.  Don't attempt to walk through flooded trails.
Trailhead GPS: 35.84172,-78.70562 (Lindsay Drive) / 35.83882,-78.67255 (Century Drive)

Directions:

From I-440 in North Raleigh, take exit 7 for Glenwood Avenue/US-70 W/NC-50 N.  Get on Glenwood Avenue and go 2.1 miles and turn left on Hollyridge Road.  Go 0.6 miles and turn left on Oak Park Road.  In another 0.6 miles, turn left on Lindsay Drive and park at the end.

To arrange a shuttle, backtrack to Glenwood Avenue and turn right for US-70 E.  In 1.9 miles, turn left at the light onto Lead Mine Road.  Make the first right onto Century Drive and then turn left into the parking lot.

Map:

Hike Description:

Follow the path down to the trail and go left, where right heads upstream towards Duraleigh Road.  See Crabtree Creek West Hike for for information.

The trail follows the creek downstream for 0.9 miles then crosses the creek on a bridge and continues.  At about 1.5 miles, the trail crosses under Edwards Mill Road and runs past Crabtree Valley Mall.

At 2 miles, House Creek Trail splits off at the McDonalds.  The trail then passes under Blue Ridge Road where there are markers showing flooding in the area after hurricanes.  The high water markers give a concrete sense of how high Crabtree Creek has gotten during past hurricanes and major flood events.

This area is subject to frequent flooding after heavy rain events.  Don't ever attempt to hike flooded trails.

The trail passes under Glenwood Avenue after 2.3 miles and shortly after is a spur trail to Century Drive.  If you shuttled, your vehicle will be here; otherwise turn around and head back the way you came.

External Links:

Raleigh Parks website: https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/places/crabtree-creek-greenway-trail