Describing the bushwhack from the north, take the Eno Trace Trail from the Cole Mill Road Loop Parking area, and stay close to the river until it turns left, headed uphill, (where it eventually returns to the beginning). At that point follow the river bank downriver. There is a well-used trail at this point, but it is unblazed and follows the rivers around a left-hand bend. Follow the trail south under the powerlines until it heads uphill to the left away from the river.

Alternatively, you can follow the wide mowed grassy trail from the parking lot west (left) out past the Maintenance shed and through some trees where it hits the same powerline. Continue straight ahead (or left if you did the alternative) under the powerlines - you'll be in a cut headed nearly due south - I suggest walking just inside the trees to avoid overgrowth, and go sideways to the river to see how it looks if you want, but rejoin the cut or inside the treeline to travel south.

If you have a GPS and can estimate your location after you cross the old Cabe Ford (there is a Cabe Ford Road that no longer crosses the river, but there is some old bridge foundations still visible there), there is a very small cemetery a few hundred yards away from the river, south of Cabe Ford Road (see map). I've not seen it yet, but it is the historic cemetery for the slaves of the Cabe family.

Where the river makes an easterly oxbow bend, the powerline cut crosses over to the other side, so you will need to follow the river into the woods. As it makes the sharp southerly turn, you will cross a small creek, but upcreek about 40 yards it is much shallower and crossable. At that point, stay high. If you follow the riverbank, you will get stuck at some steep rocks on the bank. In the center of that oxbow bend there is a larger creek - go upstream a little way to a very easy crossing over some bedrock. This is a good snack spot or even a soak in the deep pool below the rocks and falls if the creek is running. Staying high headed south you will reach the property line for a house at the end of Shady Lane. This house has a large pond at the edge of the State Park Property lines. . You will come back into the powerline cut at that point, and walk down it, with the River a bit further to your right. Feel free to explore to the river, but it is a bit non-descript at that point.

Eventually, you end up going through some scrub brush along the river to a point where you approach some old farm buildings, with tractors visible along a grassy access road from Pleasant Green. THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY, but a short 400 foot stretch of it. Eno River State Park has obtained permission to travel on it but only if you remain within 50' of the river. I will take no responsibility for your tresspass. ALTERNATIVELY you can follow your GPS carefully, and follow the parcel lines to Pleasant Green Road directly opposite Riverbend Drive. Public land stops about 25 feet short of Pleasant Green Road at that point.

At Pleasant Green Road head south to the Parking access area, or, if you are following the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to the Quarry from here, that trail is seen underneath the far southern end of the bridge, on that other side of the river. It cuts through tall grasses, with a bushhog cut through the grass where the trail is.

In the near future the MST should be going through this bushwack.

CAUTION: All trails involving what I'm calling bushwhacks, are not sanctioned by the State Parks or Eno River Association authorities, but being Public Lands on State Property, are accessible to the public for exploration. These trails are NOT patrolled or maintained. Use at your own risk with a hiking buddy.