3 Best Hiking Trails in Cary, NC

“Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve has an elevation gain of 230 feet and typically takes approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes to complete. The preserve offers environmental education activities for people of all ages year-round. Visitors can explore 3 miles of mulched nature trails, which showcase the area's natural history and diverse plant and animal life. The preserve features a playground near the nature center and several informational exhibits along the trail. The Stevens Nature Center hosts interactive nature exhibits and historical displays from North Carolina's Piedmont region. Throughout the year, the center offers educational programs for all ages, providing opportunities for nature interpretation and environmental learning.”

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“William B. Umstead State Park spans 5,599 acres and ensures hiking, horseback riding, biking routes, boat rentals, camping, picnic spaces, and educational programs. The park is part of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile-long network of pathways connecting Maine to Florida. Before settlers arrived, the area now known as Umstead State Park was undeveloped and inhabited by various wildlife, including American bison, elk, bobcats, and wolves, in the dense oak, hickory, and beech forests. Later, Native Americans settled in the area, establishing trade routes nearby.”

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“Crowder County Park encompasses 33 acres of landscaped grounds and hardwood forests. The total length of the trail is 0.9 miles, with an elevation gain of 49 feet, forming a loop. This trail typically takes about 18 minutes to complete and is generally considered easy. The park features a boardwalk, playground, trails, amphitheater, and picnic shelters. Visitors can rent canoes and rowboats at Big Lake within the park. Kids can have fun playing creative musical instruments in the play area. Crowder County Park offers plenty of options for visitors of all ages. Dogs are welcome on the trails but must be leashed.”

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