Take a walk through the Raleigh Trail Systems!

If you’re trying to socially distance yourself but still want to get outside, try visiting the many parks with trail systems around Raleigh! The following spots don’t even have a playground, so you don’t have to worry about the kids picking up any unwanted germs! Also consider going on a treasure hunt while you walk!

American Tobacco Trail

22-mile-long rails-to-trails, perfect for hiking! You will also probably see lots of wildlife during your trek. The trail is gravel in some parts so not completely stroller friendly, but you could manage.

NC Museum of Art Park and Trails

The Park’s trail system leads visitors through natural areas and to commissioned works of art. Designed for hiking, walking, and jogging only, the unpaved natural trails allow visitors to deeply experience art and nature.

E. Carroll Joyner Park in Wake Forest

Three Miles of Paved Walking Trails and restored farm buildings to explore

Turnipseed Nature Preserve

265-acre Nature Preserve open for hiking and nature exploration.

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve

Surrounded on three sides by the Neuse River, Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve consists of primarily undeveloped pastures and woodland areas. The Meadow Loop Trail is approximately .9 miles long and the River Walk Trail is approximately .6 miles long.

Lake Johnson

Approximately 2.8 miles of paved greenway loops around the east side of the lake and is a part of the Walnut Creek Greenway Trail

William B. Umstead State Park

More than twenty miles of hiking trails provide access to most of William B. Umstead State Park. Visitors may choose between a short stroll along a nature trail or a more extensive hike into the woods.

Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve

Three loop trails under 1 mile in length have been created on the 157-acre property. In addition, the Mountains-to-Sea Connector links the preserve’s trails with the Mountain-to-Sea Trail that follows the south shore of Falls Lake.

Historic Yates Mill County Park

The centerpiece of the 174-acre park is Historic Yates Mill, which is the last operable water-powered gristmill in Wake County

Prairie Ridge Ecostation

**Currently closed**
The Prairie Ridge EcoStation Trail is an easy half-mile trail that meanders through a variety of habitats including bottomland forest, prairie grassland, ponds and stream. A diversity of plants, animals and other life can be found among the myriad habitats of this special place.

The following parks and green spaces also have playgrounds onsite, but you should be able to deter the kids from playing on them once you start out walking on a trail!

Harris Lake County Park

The Peninsula Trail consists of four loops. These loops give hikers a choice of what distance to hike. The entire trail is nearly 5 miles in length and can take more than two hours to hike. If you’re interested in mountain biking, this park also has a lot of skills trails!

Lake Lynn

2.8 mile greenway trail around Lake Lynn

Shelly Lake

2 miles of paved scenic greenway trails around the lake. You will see lots of ducks!

Durant Nature Preserve

There are five miles of trails that explore the park’s 237-acres. Hike along a stream, through hardwood and pine forests, past wildflowers and ferns, through wetlands and alongside two lakes

Green Hills County Park

Hike or bike to the top of the old landfill heap and enjoy spectacular views! On a clear day, you can see the Raleigh downtown skyline. You may access the top of the landfill from the “Top of the Hill Trail” gravel trail located near the park entrance sign