![]() | Eno RiverMap and Brochure |
Map and Brochure of Eno River State Park (SP) in North Carolina. Published by North Carolina State Parks.
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There are approximately 31 miles of hiking trails within Eno River State Park. These trails vary from easy to moderate in difficulty and vary in
length from 0.5 mile to 3.75 miles, although much longer hikes can be accomplished by combining trails. Sections of trails around the river
are subject to flooding when the river runs high. Watch for slippery conditions. The trails are marked with blazes painted on trees.
Cole Mill
Blaze: yellow ●
Bobbitt Hole
Buckquarter Creek
Blaze: red ●
Pea Creek
Blaze: blue ●
This trail, starting at the south end of the Cole Mill parking lot, goes down
to the river, follows it under the Cole Mill Road bridge and intersects with
a short loop that follows the river and Pea Creek, and returns through the
upland forest. The round trip from the parking lot is 1.3 miles.
Dunnagan
Park Hours:
North Carolina State Parks are open every day, with the exception of
Christmas Day. Park hours vary with the seasons.
Please visit the North Carolina State Parks website or contact the park
office for the most current information about seasonal hours, activities,
alerts, camping fees, programs, rules and weather.
Contact Information:
Eno River State Park
6101 Cole Mill Road
Durham, NC 27705-9275
919-383-1686
eno.river@ncparks.gov
www.ncparks.gov
N.C. Division of
Parks and Recreation
Dept. of Natural and
Cultural Resources
1615 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1615
919-707-9300
Rains can turn the river into a raging torrent, yet it quickly settles into a
gentle current. It is a chain of rapids, pools and riffles meandering through
forest on a bed of rock.
Eno River State Park lies here, in the beauty of more than 4,000 acres
of natural resources. Five accesses—Cabe Lands, Cole Mill, Fews Ford,
Pleasant Green and Pump Station—offer entry into this largely unspoiled
river environment.
Blaze: red ●
This 1.8-mile loop is accessed from the Pea Creek Trail by crossing the
creek on a footbridge. From there, it's an easy 0.75 mile along the river and
paralleling the river on the adjacent ridge.
Pump Station
Blaze: red ●
This easy hike is known as the best spring wildflower trail in the park. It
begins at the Nancy Rhodes Creek bridge on Rivermont Road and makes a
1.5-mile loop. The foundations of Durham’s first water pumping station are
at the northeast section of the loop near the river.
Laurel Bluffs
Blaze: yellow ●
The Laurel Bluffs Trail has three distinct parts, all of which are part of the
Mountains-to-Sea State Trail. The eastern portion is 2.2 miles long and links
Pump Station Trail to the eastern boundary of the park at Guess Road. The
middle section is 2.5 miles long and links Cabelands Trail to Pump Station
Trail. The western part of the trail is 1.4 miles long and links Eno Quarry Trail
to the Pleasant Green Access.
Mountains-to-Sea
Blaze: white ●
The Mountains-to-Sea State Trail (MST) will eventually span the state of
North Carolina, connecting the Great Smoky Mountains with the Outer
Banks. Currently, Eno River State Park has 7.5 miles of trail connecting
Pleasant Green Access (in the western part of the park) with West Point
on the Eno City Park trails (at Guess Road). Sections of the MST trail are
always marked with white circles.
Cox Mountain
The Eno River is a swift, shallow stream flowing from northwest Orange
County into Durham County for 33 miles. There, it joins the Flat River to
become the Neuse River and flows into Falls Lake. Its waters roll through
wilderness, passing historic mill sites, river bluffs covered with flowering
shrubs and fords used by early settlers.
Blaze: red ●
This self-guided nature trail has information stations posted about Eno
River ecology. Eno Trace turns west off the Cox Mountain Trail on top of
the bluff between the picnic area and the river. Round trip from the picnic
area is 0.5 mile.
This 1.65-mile loop extends the Cole Mill Trail upriver, intersecting the
western section of Cole Mill Trail twice. A short spur at the southern end
of the Bobbitt Hole loop dead ends at the hole.
GPS: 36.0783, -79.0050
Eno River State Park is located in Durham and Orange counties, northwest of Durham and east of Hillsborough. Five access areas may be
reached from I-85 by exit 173 Cole Mill Road or exit 170 U.S. 70 West.
Eno Trace
This trail is a 1.2-mile loop beginning at the Cole Mill picnic area from
either end of the parking lot. Most of the trail is an easy hike along the
river with a short climb through the upland forest. Scenic laurel-covered
bluffs dominate the opposite river bank.
Blaze: blue ●
Begin this hike in the Fews Ford picnic area. It is a 4.1-mile loop. The hike
can be lengthened by adding the Fanny’s Ford Trail loop, which intersects
from the northeast. The trail passes beside the picnic area, heads down to
the river and crosses the river on a suspension foot bridge. The trail climbs
270 feet in elevation from the river to the hilltop. A long steep climb and
descent is required.
Fanny’s Ford
Blaze: purple ●
This trail is accessed by hiking the Cox Mountain Trail from the picnic area
north to the Fanny’s Ford loop. This trail is a 1.01-mile loop, but the round
trip from the picnic area is 2.85 miles. The hike is generally easy with gentle
hills and flat terrain along the river.
Blaze: red ●
This 1.5-mile loop begins at the Piper-Cox Museum parking lot and turns
upriver at Few’s Ford. The most spectacular rapids on the river are viewed
from a rock outcrop along the trail. A staircase takes hikers over the outcrop.
Holden Mill
Blaze: yellow ●
This 2.6-mile combination of two loops continues west from the
Buckquarter Creek Trail from a bridge spanning the creek. Round trip
from the Piper-Cox House parking lot is 4.1 miles. The smaller western
loop is an easy hike around the stone remnants of Holden’s Mill. The
river segment is characterized by rock outcrops, giant boulders and
frequent rapids.
Fieldstone
Blaze: Blue ●
This 0.6-mile trail connects Holden Mill Trail to Ridge Trail as it rolls through
old farm fields some of which are full of old field stones.
*Ridge
Blaze: blue U
Make your visit a safe and rewarding experience. Some of our
regulations are posted for the protection of our visitors and our
park. A complete list is available at the park office. To prevent
accidents, please remember these safety tips.
Bicycles are not permitted on Eno River State Park trails.
No motorized vehicles other than official state park vehicles
are permitted on state park trails.
Pets must be on an attended leash no longer than 6 feet.
Fires are permitted only in the fire rings at the camping and
picnic areas.
Take only photographs, leave only footprints. The removal or
damage of any plant, animal, rock or artifact is prohibited.
Dispose of trash in the bins provided.
Alcoholic beverages are dangerous in the wilderness and
prohibited in N.C. state parks.
The river and streams are not tested for drinking purposes.
Drink only properly purified water. Water fountains and
spigots are at the picnic areas and the park office.
Chiggers and ticks are seasonally plentiful in weedy areas of
the park. Avoid them by staying on the trails. Check for ticks
after passing through bushes or tall weeds.
Poison ivy is plentiful in some areas of the park. Learn to
identify and avoid it. Stay on maintained trails to avoid
exposure.
The Ridge Trail is part of the old Ridge Road to Roxboro. Hikers may see
what remains of three 19th-century homes along this 1.27-mile route. It
starts at an intersection with the Buckquarter Creek Trail and provides
access to the Shakori and Knight trails. This trail can be combined with
Shakori Trail to make a loop.
Trails are often slippery when wet, particularly near the river.
*Shakori
There are no protected swimming areas in the park. All
water bodies are natural and have subsurface hazards. Avoid
water when thunder or lightning are present.
Blaze: yellow U
This 1.04-mile hike intersects with the Ridge Trail at the south and northwest
ends. It joins with the Ridge Trail to make a loop.
*Knight & Piedmont
Blaze: red U
Cabe Lands
Blaze: red ●
Knight and Piedmont trails are primarily accesses for neighborhoods off
Pleasant Green Road but any hiker may use them. The Knight Trail turns
east off Ridge Trail and goes up a steep hill 0.34-mile to the park boundary.
The Piedmont Trail is 0.18-mile of utility right-of-way, which crosses the
Knight Trail. There is no parking access to these trails.
This is a 1.2-mile loop starting from the Cabe Lands Access parking lot.
Stone foundations and the millrace earthworks of the old Cabe Mill are
visible from the trail, especially when the leaves are off the trees. This
stretch of river is known as Cabe’s Gorge and is a particularly rocky area.
Eno Quarry
Blaze: blue ●
This trail starts from the upper loop of the Cabe Lands Trail and descends a
gentle ridge 0.38, mile crossing Rhodes Creek at the base of the Eno Quarry.
The trail continues with a 0.42-mile loop around the quarry rim. Caution
should be taken around the quarry. It is dangerous with steep drop offs
and no shallow areas, and the depths at the banks generally exceeding
25 feet with maximum depths of 60 feet. There are hidden hazards below
the surface near the banks. Banks are difficult to climb. For safety, stay
on the marked trail. There are openings on the bank suitable for fishing.
*These trails exit the park. Enter private property with permission only.
Watch your step. Footing is rough and uneven on the trails.
Off trail exploring and orienteering are permitted, but it is
recommended to attempt these activities only with persons
trained in wilderness land navigation.
Camping requires a permit and fee. Camping is allowed only
in the backcountry sites off Bobbitt Hole Trail in the Cole
Mill Access, the backcountry sites off Fanny’s Ford Trail, the
group camp at Buckquarter Creek and the group camp at
Cox Mountain Trail at the Fews Ford Access. Registration is at
the park office.
Check with park staff regarding other North Carolina State
Parks regulations. More detailed information regarding
camping, educational programs, fishing, picnicking, facilities,
nature and history can be obtained from staff and park
publications.
Contact park staff for other safety tips or an explanation of park
rules. See the Division’s website for a full listing of rules and
regulations at www.ncparks.gov
Roy Cooper
Governor
Susi H. Hamilton
Secretary
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20,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $1,310.83 or $0.07 per copy. 04/19
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