Length: 1.6 miles (loop)
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Must be on a leash
Features: Lakes, Forest
Crowds: High
Warnings: None
Trailhead GPS: 35.92351,-78.59966
Directions:
Wilkerson Preserve is located in North Raleigh near Falls Lake. From I-540 in North Raleigh, take exit 14 for Falls of Neuse Road. Go north on Falls of Neuse Road for 1.7 miles and turn left at the light onto Raven Ridge Road. In 0.3 miles, turn right onto Awls Haven Drive into the park and continue to the parking lot.
Map:
In the following map, the hike is shown in green and follows the loop in the counterclockwise direction.
After passing the Office Connector to the right, the trail ends back at the office to finish up the loop.
Raleigh Parks & Recreation website: https://raleighnc.gov/places/annie-louise-wilkerson-md-nature-preserve
From the parking area, pick up Hidden Rocks Trail opposite the park office. The trail heads into the woods, passes a powerline clearing and then reaches the rocks at the southeastern corner of the nature preserve.
The large boulders are the trail's namesake.
The trail continues through the woods, looping around and meets up with Pond Loop Trail in about 0.7 miles. Turn right to hike through a grassy area leading to the pond.
The trail crosses a dam on the north end of the pond and then loops back around.
At the next intersection, go right towards the office, then right again on Epps Forest Loop to hike through the open meadow. Milkweed is planted here to support monarch butterflies.
After passing through the meadow, the trail heads back into the woods. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail connector splits to the right and leads to Falls Lake Trail. Go left to stay on Epps Forest Trail and continue through the oak-hickory forest.
There are tree identification posts along the trail that are keyed to a brochure available at the office.
The large boulders are the trail's namesake.
The trail continues through the woods, looping around and meets up with Pond Loop Trail in about 0.7 miles. Turn right to hike through a grassy area leading to the pond.
The trail crosses a dam on the north end of the pond and then loops back around.
At the next intersection, go right towards the office, then right again on Epps Forest Loop to hike through the open meadow. Milkweed is planted here to support monarch butterflies.
After passing through the meadow, the trail heads back into the woods. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail connector splits to the right and leads to Falls Lake Trail. Go left to stay on Epps Forest Trail and continue through the oak-hickory forest.
There are tree identification posts along the trail that are keyed to a brochure available at the office.
After passing the Office Connector to the right, the trail ends back at the office to finish up the loop.
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