ENO TRAILS - Public Hiking Trails on the Eno River

Jay P. Schwantes
Jay@EnoTrails.com

"Greybeard"

;

This website is my attempt to develop accurate trail maps and impart a little of the information I have researched into the history and conditions of the many trails in the Eno River watershed. I have attempted to include "Social Trails" (unauthorized or unblazed) as well to help in connecting multiple individual trails together. It is a fluid work in progress, and descriptions as well as maps will be continually updated.

I can often be found leading hikes along the Eno, as a part of local hiking-related Meetup Groups, with friends, or at times just because someone asked. I'm typically happy to get on the trail and tell people what I've found.

While I am former Trail Steward with the Eno River State Park Stewards program, assigned to the Quarry Trail; a member of the Eno River Association and former Land Steward for one of their properties, the Confluence; and a member of the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, I am not representing any affiliation between this site and any of these organizations, though all are recommended for your support.

There are several MEETUP groups that I used to belong to that frequent the Eno River trail systems:

Signing up for these hiking enthusiast groups is easy and you will be welcomed to join them - some just enjoy the hikes or other outdoor activities, some participate in trail development and maintenance. You should consider helping out, or just join them for a different perspective on these hikes.

For more information on the Eno River State Park, visit the NC Division of Parks and Recreation's Website for the Eno at:
http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/enri/main.php

The Eno River State Park has volunteer opportunities as well. And when hiking in the State Park in the Cox Mountain Trail Area, at the end of Cole Mill Road, stop in to the Headquarters for the park, located in the Ranger Station - there is much information to be gotten in there as well.

There is one or two spots in this trail guide site that directs you through a short segment of private property. It is my assumption that you have gotten permission to do so, and your tresspass is not my intent or my fault. I fully respect private property landowner rights and privacy, and any direction on my part through private land is documented and warned as such. Both Durham and Orange county have tax records on public GIS mapping programs online that assist you in obtaining ownership details, and my suggestion is not to tresspass until and unless you have obtained permission. (My lawyer made me say that... OK, I don't have a lawyer, but you get my point.

Please feel free to add your dime to the conversation, identify some locations I missed or haven't seen yet, or just ask questions about recommended trailheads or shuttle points. I'm happy to help. - Jay

If you enjoy hiking on the Eno River, please consider the efforts that went into procuring these lands for your enjoyment, and donate some of your time, energy and funds to this excellent organization.

The Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail organization does much the same as the Eno River Association, by organizing a trail that will eventually go from the mountains of North Carolina to the Outer Banks. Some of it is already constructed along the Eno River. Join and help!

Some of the Eno River is protected by the City of Durham at the West Point on the Eno City Park. This is a highly recommended visit, especially when they put on interprative demonstrations, often on weekends or holidays. Check their shcedules.

By Jay "Greybeard" Schwantes