Saxapahaw Hikes

Saturday, we took Harper for a hike in the small town of Saxapahaw.  We parked at Saxapahaw Island Park to first hike around the island in Haw River.

The water level in the river was very low and the fish weir was visible.  In higher water, it would be completely submerged.

Further on the loop, we had a nice view of the rivermill that is now apartments.

At the north end of the island, we were able to get into the riverbed and view the dam upstream.

After finishing the loop, we walked into town and had breakfast at the general store.  Then we headed over to Saxapahaw Lake and hiked the Scout Loop.

On the hike back, we got on Haw River Trail and headed across the bridge to go northbound.  There was a marbled orb weaver spider along the road.

The trail ran through the grounds of Saxapahaw Campground and to the dam.

The newest section continued past the dam for another 3/4 mile along the lake.

Where the trail ended, we turned around and headed back to the car.

For lunch, we stopped at the Eddy before heading home.

Haw River Hikes

Sunday, I headed to Alamance County for some hikes along the Haw River.  My first stop was at Saxapahaw Island Park.  The short Saxapahaw Island Loop was a short trail around the perimeter of the island.

The river was very rocky and scenic in the vicinity of the island.

After finishing up the loop, I got on the Haw River Trail.  Heading northbound, the trail ran behind a private campground then ended before reaching the dam.  Going the other way, it passed behind the Saxapahaw Rivermill and continued following the river downstream for more than a mile.

The lower portion went through farm land that had been cleared to benefit wildlife.

After reaching the current end of the trail, I turned around and headed back.

From here, I drove a few miles north Swepsonville River Park and another access point to the Haw River Trail at Big Alamance Creek.  This section is about 1 mile along the west side of the river.

There were some rocky parts where I could get out in the river.

After hiking under the bridge to the end, I headed back.

There was one more section I wanted to visit before leaving and parked at the Longmeadow Trailhead in Graham.  This section is almost 2 miles, crossing under I-85/I40.

It looks like the northern terminus of this section is less than a mile from Red Slide Park, so hopefully the segments can be connected in the near future.

By the time I finished around noon, it had gotten quite hot and I was ready to return to air conditioning.

Haw River MST Hike

Sandy had Sunday off again, so we took Alex for another #mst40hike at Haw River.

We parked at Great Bend Park and started off on the Highland Trail from the parking area and then got on Island Trail at the Glencoe Mill Dam.

We followed the trail down the little island formed between the river and millrace, then returned and got on the Haw River Trail towards Glencoe.  The trail follows streets through the historical village past old mills and the Textile Heritage museum.

At the Glencoe Paddle Access, the trail returned to natural surface and stayed close to the river.  In another mile, we came back out at the road near the Carolina Mill.

After crossing two streets, we then followed the trail along the shoreline of Stony Creek Reservoir and to the turnaround point.

We turned around here and hiked back.

Before leaving the area, we stopped at Red Slide Park.  I had never finished hiking the southernmost part of the Seller's Falls Section, so we hiked northbound along the Haw River.  We crossed the river on US-70 at the Three Governors Bridge and then followed the river up on the river left side.

We went a little past the bridge over Boyd Creek and then turned around.

We stopped for lunch at Bright Penny in Mebane for some great beer and pizza and then headed home.

Haw River Trail

Sunday, I headed to Burlington to hike a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail following the Haw River Trail.  I parked at the Indian Valley Drive Paddle Access, the northern terminus of the trail.  The trail followed the river closely then led along Whispering Wind Road and then around the perimeter of a golf course.  After this, it came to Great Bend Park.

The river was really scenic.  Further into the park was the Glencoe Mill Dam, a beautiful old dam just upstream of Glencoe.

I walked the short Island Trail out to the end and then left the park.  From here, the trail led through Glencoe and then back along the river.  Some pretty bloodroot was blooming along the trail.

Past here, the trail crossed two streets and then along the shore of Stoney Creek Reservoir.

After the marina, I followed streets to a bridge over the river just down from another dam.

I got off the road one last time to head into the woods towards the Haw.

The next couple miles were more rural, staying close to the river and away from roads.  After going 6 miles or so, I turned around and headed back.