Hiking in Duke Forest - Hillsborough Division

• Dates Hiked: April 14, 19, 27,and May 26, 2020
• Posted length: n/a
• Total miles Tracked: 4/14/2020: 2 miles; 4/19/2020: 3.7 miles; 4/27/2020: 1.75 miles, 5/26/2020: 2.5 miles
• Type of Trail: gravel and dirt roads, foot trails
• Conveniences: Close to home
• Best Features: Solitude
• Worst Features: No water, no parking
• Wildlife spotted: song birds, tortoise, winged insects
• Vegetation: Pines and hardwoods, wildflowers
• Associated Website: https://dukeforest.duke.edu/
• Primary Author: Cheryl

This spring, as Covid-19 has shut our world down, more people have also ventured outside for exercise and vitamin D.  This became increasingly difficult as state and local parks had to shut their gates due to over-crowding and the inability for people to practice social distancing.  We are very lucky that in addition to the abundance of state parks we have here in this area, we also have a multitude of other trails at our disposal - if you just know where to find them.

James and I have spent a lot of time walking and exploring the many different divisions of Duke Forest.  We almost hate to share this gem of a trail right here in Hillsborough, but it's so worth checking out.  In four times we've gone and hiked this one trail, we've only encountered one other person.  Social distancing for the WIN!

We're sure that the name "Snake Foot Trail" is in no way connected to the lack of visitors.

The purpose of Duke Forest is not for recreation.  It is a cumulative total of over 7000 acres of a large outdoor laboratory for research that has been in operation for nearly 90 years, and has land in Durham, Orange and Alamance Counties.  While Duke Forest stresses education and research,  they know the land is also well loved by the community for hiking (and on some gravel roads in some of the divisions, for biking). Because Duke Forest has experienced an increase of usage of the roads and foot trails during this pandemic, they're gathering stories and personal reflections from the public to document what the Forest has meant to the users.  Go to the link above to find the survey. Always researching!

This section of the Hillsborough Division is off of the connector between north bound I-85 and Highway 70 East.  There is just enough room for 2 cars to park on either side of the gate.  Most of our recent hikes here have been in the evening, as the sun casts long shadows through the old growth.  

The traffic from the nearby interstate is audible, but that is easily shut out while you search for the remnants of old paved roads along the foot trails.  Snake foot trail loops around and intersects with the Old Quarry Road, then you're routed back to Cates' Road to complete your loop. 

Look for all the winged creatures.

And check out what's booming above your head and below your feet.  

Things that grow tall, and things that grow small. 

Thistles that bristle.

And feathery fringes.

Turkey tails and tortoises with shells. 

Take in the all the solitude that the forest can give.

Hike at Eno River Confluence

• Date Hiked: April 12, 2020
• Posted length: Two Forks Trail: 2.25 Miles. Access via Shepperd Mill Trail (0.5 miles)
• Total miles Tracked: 3 miles
• Type of Trail: Single track trail
• Conveniences: Shelter and pit toilet, plenty of parking
• Best Features: Close to home, by the river
• Worst Features: No water 
• Wildlife spotted: None this trip
• Vegetation: Every wildflower imaginable
• Associated Website: http://www.enoriver.org/confluence-natural-area-now-open/
• Primary Author: Cheryl

We love the Eno River.  It has provided the backdrop for many miles of hiking and kayaking.  We have explored the Eno within the state parks, by the Riverwalk, and via access points at boat ramps.  We love the river so much, we named our cat Eno (and this was before the emu came to town!)  

This spring, we finally took the opportunity to head north of town and hike along the dual shores of the river - at the Eno Confluence Natural Area.  Nestled between the East and West forks of the River, the preserve has 200+ acres to explore.

We left the parking lot and headed to Shepperd Mill Trail, an easy 0.5 mile loop that leads to the Two Forks Trail.  As we began our walk, we encountered some old farm equipment, left to be reclaimed by growth.  

The single track of the Two Forks Trail meanders over ridges and by the banks.  There are some steep inclines along the way, but the views are worth it.  

I love the visual of a dirt path through the woods that lead you around the next bend.  The trail winds through many types of vegetation.  And we were hiking in the midst of a wildflower explosion! Everywhere we looked, there was something else in bloom. 

One of the great features is that you are completely immersed in nature.  No traffic could be heard during our walk.  Just the sound of the Eno bubbling over rocks and trees.

And the wind slipping through the leaves as we waited for the coming storm that evening.

Fiddle-head ferns are always a favorite of mine.  

May Apples

May Apple bloom

As we left Two Forks Trail, we headed to the meadow.  I imagine you could see a bunch of stars from here on a clear night.  Unfortunately, the Confluence closes after dusk.

More farm equipment is featured by the pavilion

Eno the Cat

Eno the River

Hiking at Brumley North

• Dates we visited: Various dates in January & February
• Posted length: Multiple trail options, 2.9 miles total
• Total miles tracked: Varied, see below
• Type of Trail: Dirt hiking trail
• Conveniences:  Parking
• Best Features:  Well-marked trails, varied terrain in a small area
• Worst Features: No bathrooms or water
• Wildlife spotted: Ducks, rabbits, and occasionally deer
• Vegetation: Daffodils, hardwoods, pines, cedars 
• Associated Website:
• https://www.triangleland.org/explore/nature-preserves/brumley-forest-nature-preserve
• Primary Author: James

Most of these blog posts try to capture a single visit, but Brumley North is worth a mention because it's a site we go to repeatedly to get in short hikes after Cheryl gets off from work. In January and early February, when the sun sets before 6, Brumley North is a convenient destination to get to a little after 5:00 and still work in a hike of a mile or two.

Note that there are two Brumley Forest Nature preserve parking lots. Brumley North is the one off Highway 10. The parking lot isn't gated, so even though the preserve closes at sunset, you don't have to deal with the paranoia about getting locked in if your hike runs a little long. Which is great, since Brumley has a couple of good places to watch sunsets.

There's a site map at the parking lot showing the various trails. Most are under a mile but can be linked together. Nearly every trail makes a loop that intersects with other loops. It's easy to adjust the length of your hike as needed, adding on another mile or half mile if you've got the daylight. The trails are plainly marked. Some follow old farm roads, while others just meander through the trees.

 

Brumley used to be a working farm, and there's evidence of its previous life scattered throughout the preserve. February is a prime time for daffodils that mark the sites of now vanished structures. When Cheryl and I spot them blooming in the woods, we know that if we start poking around we'll find rock foundations or maybe the remnants of a tin roof. 

For a fairly small hiking area, Brumley North has a nice variety of scenery. There are open, grassy fields, creeks and ponds, forests, wetlands, and some of the trails take you along side an active railroad line. You can hike here three times in a week and get a different experience each time. You should definitely check it out if you're in the area! 

#hillsborough

#hiking

#Brumley

#trianglelandconservancy