10 Favorite Fall Hikes in Raleigh, NC

Fall Hikes in Raleigh 

Are you searching for the best fall hikes in Raleigh, NC, this fall? Here are ten great hiking trails in Raleigh to admire the fall colors.

One of the best aspects of living in Raleigh, North Carolina, is having access to nature and outdoor activities. Walking trails, family-friendly parks, natural areas, and well-maintained greenways surround Raleigh and the Triangle area, making it a great place to call home. 

Whether you love hiking, running, or participating in fun recreational activities such as kayaking or canoeing, Raleigh has many beautiful parks and trails that offer paved and unpaved trails, some of which surround a lake. 

While hiking is a fun activity enjoyed throughout the year, fall in Raleigh and the rest of North Carolina is a fantastic time to get outdoors due to the colorful and breathtaking fall foliage. This is also a time to work on your home's curb appeal and decorate with locally grown pumpkins.

Best enjoyed in Raleigh from mid-October to late November, the hiking trails in the area are full of hardwood trees that provide stunning red, orange, and yellow leaves once the days in autumn are cooler. 

Check out these favorite fall hikes in Raleigh 

1. William B. Umstead State Park 

Address: 8801 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27617 

Hours: 8 AM to 8 PM daily 

William B. Umstead State Park is a beautiful state park in the Raleigh area known as a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Offering 5,579 acres of woodlands for hiking, biking, picnicking, camping, freshwater fishing, and horseback riding, it is a must-visit for all things nature and outdoors. 

As one of the best places to see the fall leaves in the Triangle, visit this park from mid-October to late November to enjoy peak fall color while hiking one of its many trails. The Sals Branch Trail is 2.8 miles and is an easy-to-moderate hike located on the northeastern side of the park. It is great to take during the fall for the colorful leaves. 

Featuring three artificial fishing lakes and lots of outdoor space, there is no better place to hang out and enjoy the cooler weather surrounded by colorful red, orange, and yellow leaves. After your hike, make sure to check out one of the many best Halloween attractions in Raleigh. 

2. Lake Johnson Park

Address: 4601 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606 

Hours: 7 AM to 9 PM daily 

Lake Johnson Park is located near the North Carolina State University campus and features over 300 acres of land surrounding a 150-acre lake. This popular recreation area is frequented by college students, families, and young professionals because it has 5.4 miles of hiking trails, boat rentals, picnic areas, and fishing opportunities. 

With many large and beautiful trees surrounding the lake, this is a picture-perfect park to enjoy fall color while walking along its three-mile paved loop. There are also plenty of natural surface trails that are safe and dog-friendly and back up to neighborhoods and apartment complexes. 

Before visiting, make sure to bring your camera so that you can capture the peak fall color. Walking or running along Lake Johnson Parks trails is a great way to experience fall in Raleigh. 

3. Eno River State Park 

Address: 6131 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC 27705 

Hours: 7 AM to 7 PM daily 

Eno River State Park is located in Durham and is about a 40-minute drive from Raleigh. Situated in Durham and Orange counties, this beautiful state park is a great place to visit in the Triangle area and features five access points along its namesake river. 

Offering free entrance for day use, this 4,319-acre park features acres of woodlands perfect for hiking and camping. During the fall months, this is a beautiful place to witness the colorful fall foliage that North Carolina is known for. 

Created in 1973, Eno River State Park is a protected natural area and preserve popular for its hiking trails along the river. Picnic tables are also available, and many visitors love canoeing and fishing. 

The Fews Ford access is 13 miles, the Cole Mill access is six miles, and the other is 11 miles. Due to erosion issues, some trails may be closed, so check ahead of time before visiting. 

4. Durant Nature Preserve 

Address: 8305 Camp Durant Road, Raleigh, NC 27614 

Hours: 7 AM to 8:30 PM daily 

Durant Nature Preserve is located in North Raleigh and is a 237-acre preserve with beautiful woodlands, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, lakes with fishing opportunities, picnic shelters, and diverse wildlife. 

Boasting spectacular pine trees and a variety of colorful plants, this is the perfect spot to admire fall colors while walking, running, or jogging along its many trails. All trails are open, dog-friendly, and peaceful, making Durant Nature Preserve a great place to visit throughout the week. 

5. Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve 

Address: 2616 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518 

Hours: 9 AM to 7 PM daily 

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve is located in the town of Cary and is a unique natural area and nature preserve. Home to a community of Eastern Hemlock trees and other mountain plant species, this is a great spot outside Raleigh to experience fall foliage. 

Considered a joint project between Cary and the North Carolina State Park System, this nature preserve covers 140 acres in the Research Triangle region and is a great place to walk, run, and bring your dogs. 

Four trails are located here: the Swift Creek Loop Trail, the Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, the Beech Tree Cove Trail, and the West Hemlock Overlook. The Chestnut Oak Loop Trail is the longest, at 1.2 miles. 

6. Hanging Rock State Park 

Address: 1790 Hanging Rock Park Road, Danbury, NC 27016 

Hours: 7 AM to 10 PM daily 

Hanging Rock State Park is in Danbury, North Carolina, about a two-hour drive from Raleigh. It is a 9,011-acre park in Stokes County, North Carolina, perfect for a day trip. The park is known for its miles of hiking trails, mountain views, and waterfalls. 

Many people love coming to Hanging Rock State Park for hiking, camping, mountain biking, picnicking, fishing, and swimming. It's a great place to bring the whole family, especially in the fall when the leaves change color. This is an entertaining outdoor area with lots of recreational activities. Some trails are even open to horseback riding. 

7. Raven Rock State Park 

Address: 3009 Raven Rock Road, Lillington, NC 27546 

Hours: 7 AM to 8 PM daily

Raven Rock State Park is located in Harnett County, about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh. Covering 4,810 acres along the banks of the Cape Fear River, this picturesque state park is located in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. It is best known for its beautiful rock formations. 

Offering 26 miles of hiking trails, 13.5 miles of biking trails, eight miles of horseback riding trails, and paddling, fishing, and picnicking opportunities, Raven Rock State Park features many fun outdoor activities that everyone will enjoy. 

It also features camper cabins, tent sites, a visitor center, picnic shelters, and an amphitheater, making this park a great place to visit and stay the night in the fall when the trees are extra colorful and pretty. 

8. The American Tobacco Trail 

Address: 1309 New Hil-Olive Chapel Road, Apex, NC 27502 

Hours: Dawn to dusk 

The American Tobacco Trail, which crosses Durham, Chatham, and Wake Counties, is a 22.6-mile walking trail in the Triangle. It is part of the Rails-to-Trails project, meaning that it runs along an abandoned railroad bed that was originally built for the American Tobacco Company in the 1970s. 

This trail is used frequently by walkers, joggers, cyclists, and even horseback riders. The American Tobacco Trail is lined by tall trees and is known for offering stunning fall foliage, making this a great place to walk and take pictures in October and November. 

9. Shelley Lake Park 

Address: 1400 W Millbrook Park Road, Raleigh, NC 27612 

Hours: 7 AM to 8 PM daily 

Shelley Lake Park is a popular park in central North Raleigh. It is a great place to hang out and spend time with friends and family outdoors. This 53-acre lake and park features two miles of paved scenic greenway trails and is generally considered an easy route with exercise workout stations. 

As one of the best places in Raleigh to see the fall foliage, Shelley Lake Park is very scenic, and visitors will walk over little bridges and through a canopy of trees. Providing free admission, this is also a great spot to picnic, fish, bike, and for kids to play on the playground. 

10. The Neuse River Greenway Trail 

Address: 1721 Riverview Road, Raleigh, NC 27610 

Hours: Open 24 hours 

The Neuse River Greenway Trail stretches from Wake County to Johnston County and is a 30-mile paved, uninterrupted greenway. It offers varied terrain, colorful trees and native flowers, and scenic views of the Neuse River. 

Considered a segment of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a long-distance trail that runs from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks, The Neuse River Greenway Trail is ideal for hiking with canoeing, kayaking, and fishing opportunities. 

Living near the greenway system has many benefits, and this particular trail provides a winding boardwalk through the wetlands, necessary agricultural fields, and historical sites. 

FAQs 

Is there fall foliage in Raleigh, NC? 

Yes, Raleigh experiences beautiful fall foliage, and the best time to see it is from mid-to-late October to mid-to-late November. Fall foliage can be seen in parks, nature preserves, hiking trails, and greenways. Most homeowners in Raleigh have to rake leaves to upkeep their homes in the fall. 

Is Raleigh good for hiking? 

Raleigh is home to many good hiking trails in state parks and greenways throughout the city. If you are looking for more intense hikes, Raleigh is not too far from the Blue Ridge Mountains and western Carolina, known for having miles of hiking trails and scenic walking routes. 

Where can you see leaves changing in North Carolina? 

Fall foliage can be seen all over the state, but the best fall color is in western Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway, which spans over 400 miles and is known to be most beautiful during the fall months. 

What is fall like in Raleigh, NC? 

Fall in Raleigh is one of the most beloved times of year for its moderate temperatures, breathtaking fall colors, and many fun, family-friendly fall events. High temperatures in Raleigh during the fall average in the 70s make this a great time of year to explore nature outside. 

Methodology 

To determine the best hiking trails in Raleigh to observe the fall colors, information and data were collected from local parks and hiking trails, Wake County Economic Development, NC State University, and the Rails to Trails Conservancy. 

Best Fall Hikes in Raleigh, NC - Final Thoughts 

The autumn months in Raleigh are spectacular for their cooler temperatures, stunning fall foliage, and fun things to do, including the NC State Fair, which occurs in October. Whether you want to go hiking for exercise or are just looking for an excuse to bring your camera, there are many great trails, parks, and nature preserves in the area that are perfect to visit in the fall. 

If you are considering moving to Raleigh for the beautiful fall weather and access to nature, the experts at Raleigh Realty are here to help you find your dream home in this sought-after city.