Shelley Lake Park

Shelley Lake is a 144.8-acre Raleigh park in northwestern Wake County along Millbrook Road, between Creedmoor and Six Forks Road in the Research Triangle region.  The 53-acre lake is surrounded by 2 miles of paved greenway trails and boardwalks.  The trail around the park as well as several connecting trails are part of the Capital Area Greenway.  Additionally, the Sertoma Art Center is located in the park, along with basketball courts and playgrounds.  Crabtree Watershed Dam #13 was constructed in 1975 to dam Lead Mine Creek for flood control.  The building of the dam created Shelley Lake, which is now used for both flood control and recreation.  The park was established in 1972.

Contact Information:

1400 West Millbrook Road
Raleigh, NC 27614

Phone: (919) 996-2329

Directions:

There are two entrances to Shelley Lake - a parking lot below the dam on W Millbrook Road (1140 W Millbrook Rd) and a parking lot at the Sertoma Art Center (1400 W Millbrook Rd).  Both entrances are along W Millbrook Road, between Creedmoor Road (NC-50) and Six Forks Road.  There is also limited street parking at approximately 6320 Lakeway Drive and at 6344 Rushingbrook Drive.  Use the map below to generate customized directions to either of the park entrances.

Map:

Trails:

The trail around the lake and connecting trail are part of the Capital Area Greenway.

Lake Park Trail:

Length: 0.5 miles
Surface: Unpaved

Lake Park Trail is a half-mile unpaved trail that leads from Shelley Lake to Rushingbrook Drive.  The trail begins near where the connector trail from Sertoma Art Center parking reaches Shelley Lake.  The trail crosses an unnamed tributary of Mine Creek and passes behind some homes and the Lake Park Swim Club before terminating at Rushingbrook Drive.

Mine Creek Trail:

Length: 4.1 miles
Surface: Paved and unpaved trail

Mine Creek Trail leads 4.1 miles from the confluence with Crabtree Creek to Sawmill Road.  In Shelley Lake Park, it enters the park from Millbrook Road and leads along the eastern shore of the lake.  At the north end of the lake, Mine Creek Trail splits right and continues following the creek upstream.

Shelley Lake Loop:

Length: 2.1 miles
Surface: Paved and boardwalks

Shelley Lake Loop is a 2-mile loop around the lake.  It is designated as a National Recreation Trail.  See Shelley Lake Loop Hike for more description of this trail.

Snelling Branch Trail:

Length: 0.8 miles
Surface: Paved trail

Snelling Branch Trail is a paved trail that runs from Shelley Lake to Optimist Park.  The trail starts on Shelley Lake Loop/Mine Creek Trail at the northeastern part of the loop and follows its namesake upstream.  Snelling Branch is a very small tributary and only flows after a good rain.

Hikes:

Shelley Lake Loop Hike is a 2.2-mile hike around the lake.

Sertoma Art Center:

The Sertoma Art Center, located at Shelley Lake, is a community center opening in 1979 with a focus on visual and performing arts.  The center has a studio for independent work and offers a number of classes and workshops. View the center's website for a list and schedule of classes.

Wildlife:

Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)

Great egret (Ardea alba)

Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)

In spring of 2018, a pair of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nested high in the trees along Shelley Lake.  The nest is very high up and hard to see clearly, but it was exciting to see the eagles here.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

External Links:

City of Raleigh website: https://raleighnc.gov/places/shelley-lake-park