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PENNY'S BEND AREA NOTE: The City of Durham's RIVER FOREST trail leads from Hwy 501 east to River Forest Park, but is also the same course as the Mountains-to-Sea trail. See that trail description to follow the River Forest Trail through this area! |
Trails in the PENNY'S BEND AREA are accessed from the parking area located at the southwest corner of Old Oxford Road, at Snow Camp Road, which is south of the far eastern end of Infinity Road. Park in that lot and go to the northwest corner to access the trails. There is a very short river access trail leading straight south, used mostly for fishing. These trails are located on U.S. Corps of Engineers property, and are not quite as developed, or blazed, as the other trails on the Eno. The Riverbend Trail completely circumnavigates this large elbow bend in the Eno River. The Ridge Trail (at Penny's Bend - as opposed to the trail of the same name in the Cole Mill Area) cuts down the middle of the bend on high ground, and joins with Riverbend Trail as it runs upriver on the Eno on the western side of the tract. See our separate section on how the Mountains-to-Sea Trail traverses this section. |
| RIVERBEND TRAIL: | NOTE: All trails marked with an asterisk (*) require access to it from another trail. Consult the maps to determine how best to reach this trail, or read the trail description for options and recommended combined trails. Mileages given here ADD to the distance required to access the trail from another. |
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The Riverbend Trail is part of a fairly new trail system located along a prominent oxbow bend in the Eno River and managed by the NC Botanical Garden. After parking in the only lot available for these trails, located at Old Oxford and Snow Hill Road, head to the northwest corner of the lot, nearest the road, and you'll find the trailhead sign. It briefly passes a Nature Trail with posted signs as it continues over a wooden footbridge over the outlet creek from the pond nearby. (The farm houses and outbuildings are on USArmy Corps of Engineers property, but appear to be occupied). The trail follows the Eno upriver as it makes a easterly bend in the river, then you will see a trail fork, with one fork angling uphill. You may see the farm outbuildings through the trees on your right. This trail meets a gravel road at the top of the hill. Look to your left and you should see an old trailer, head that way - just beyond the trailer, it splits again, with the Ridge Trail continuing straight, and the combined Ridge/Riverbend Trail veering right through the open field, headed toward a line of trees. Follow this trail into the woods, but keep an eye out for a Red Blaze on the left, on one of two close trees, with the trail splitting off in between the trees. If you continue straight on this seldom used access road, you will hit Wanderlust Lane. You've missed the cut-off! After going between these trees, it quickly reaches a large outcrop of rock overlooking the Eno River - this is called Little Hanging Rock. The trail passes to the right of the rock formation, angling downhill to the river. Be careful - this is a little blazed trail. Immediately prior to hitting the river, you will see the Mountains-to-Sea Trail headed off in a northerly direction. After you hit the river, it will turn downriver to the south, and follow it to a point just before it vears southeast and eventually northeast. You will see the intersection of the Ridge Trail, where it came from that old Trailer. The Riverbend continues along the river, will pass two splits uphill, to access the Ridge Trail, and eventually re-crosses the footbridge and meets the parking lot.
It is a fairly uneventful trail, but very quiet, as it is seldom used. In the spring, it is teaming with wildflowers.
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