On our way from Virginia Beach to Charlotte, we stopped to stretch our legs and take a short hike along the Cole Mill Trail at Eno River State Park in North Carolina. This park offers a wonderful respite for anyone living in the urban areas of Durham and Orange Counties. It was one of our favorite places that we happened upon while in North Carolina. The trails are easy to follow, easy to walk along, and the scenery provides visitors with so much nature to look upon!
Eno River State Park
The Eno River is part of the Neuse River system, the longest river contained within North Carolina, that flows into Falls Lake. Eno River State Park is a preserved section of the Eno River natural environment that anyone can enjoy. This park offers hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, several historic sites, and if the conditions are right, canoeing and kayaking along this beautiful waterway. There are two historic cabins located off the Fews Ford Access area.
Along the state park, the Eno River is relatively shallow and provides visitors with easy access to all sorts of wildlife. We spotted turtles sunning on the rocks. Fisherman can find a huge variety of fish amongst its shallow water, including bass, sunfish, and crappie. The rare Roanoke Bass can also be found here.
Hiking
There are six different hiking trails with approximately 30 miles of walking available for visitors at Eno River State Park. The nice thing about these trails is that most of them loop and meet up with other trails, so you can hike for as long or as short as you want to. We were going to do the 1.2 mile Cole Mill Loop with our son, but it started to rain so our hike was cut short. The Cole Mill Trail follows along the Eno River and takes you up through a forested area before looping back to the trail head.
Besides the Cole Mill Loop, there is the Bobbitt Hole Loop, the Pea Creek Loop, and the Dunnagan Loop. Each trailhead offers maps and descriptions of the hiking trails.
Where is it Located
Eno River State Park is located at 6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham, North Carolina right in the heart of the state. You can easily access it off of Pleasant Green Road north of Eno just off of I-85. Cole Mill Road will take you to Old Cole Mill Road, and that leads you to the parking area along the Eno River.
Since the park follows along the Eno River, there are five different access areas for visitors; Cabe Lands, Cole Mill, Fews Ford, Pleasant Green, and Pump Station.
Maps
There are great maps available of the Eno River State Park online. You can find a nice overall map of the park with the five different access areas here, and you can find a more detailed trail map here.
