The Outdoor Adventure Guide to Durham

Durham is for doers. Whether you want to escape down a trail, paddle on a lake or take a dip in a river, or if a picnic on a lawn is more your speed, you won’t have to go far to discover Durham’s natural beauty. Adventure abounds here.

DAY 1 – HIKES, BARBECUE AND PICKLEBALL

DAY

Eno River State Park has four access points and nearly 30 miles of hiking trails in Durham and offers camping and picnic sites. Here, adventurers will find beauty year- round and bustling spring and summer swimming holes in the Eno River running throughout the park. Work up an appetite on the Cox Mountain Trail at the Fews Ford entry. At the beginning of the trail, you’ll find a suspension bridge that crosses the entire width of the Eno River, a must see to say you’ve been. Nearly eight miles of trails in the park are part of the Mountain-to-Sea State Trail, connecting the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks beaches.

After your hike, enjoy hand-picked, whole hog barbecue just down the street from Picnic. Pro tip to cool off: try the Cheerwine slushie from the bar or other seasonal flavors.

AFTERNOON-INTO-EVENING

Durham has two publicly available pickleball-lined courts, both with lights to play into dusk. Garrett Road Park in South Durham is a convenient spot for those who’d like to sip on a beer afterwards on the patio at Growler Grlz bottle shop and snag fresh-from-the-oven Italian pastas and pizzas from Vici Ristobar. Opting for the courts at Forest Hills Park makes it easy to dine and drink at the establishments mentioned in the Lakewood & Rockwood District guide.

DAY 2 – MORE TRAILS, PADDLES AND GARDEN SPACES

MORNING

Durham is home to one of the best public gardens in the U.S.: the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Grounds are open from 8 a.m.-dusk 365 days a year, and admission is free (though there’s a nominal hourly fee for parking). Guided walking and trolley tours are an option from March through November. Leashed dog-walking is welcome before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. GRUB, an old gas station turned Southern eatery in the West End neighborhood, would make for a lovely breakfast or lunch before or after checking out the latest blooms.

DAY

Sticking over by Duke’s campuses, Duke Forest offers both graveled roads and dirt trails for hiking, mountain biking, and other activities. The area serves as an outdoor classroom and living laboratory for Duke students, while remaining accessible for visitor recreation. If you’re not staying at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club for a tee time on the course, check out the traditional afternoon tea time at the Fairview Dining Room. To burn off the scones, sweets and sandwiches, take a three-mile lap around the well-shaded Al Buehler Trail that circles the golf course.

For an excursion on the water, take a short drive north to Lake Michie (MIK-ee), where kayaks, canoes, and motorboats are available to rent. Harness your inner adventurer with Two Sisters Adventure Company. The company’s guided paddles point out hidden creeks and spot birds and wildlife. Stop off for an easy hike at the Horton Grove Nature Preserve and explore the history of the Historic Stagville, which is connected to ten miles of trails. Stop for tacos at a taqueria mentioned in the North Durham District guide.

EVENING

The American Tobacco Trail is a rails-to-trails project that is 22-miles long in total. The 11-mile stretch of the trail that passes through Durham County is a paved, off-road trail, making it a popular option for families with strollers or for those on wheels. It is not a lit pathway, so time your excursion for late afternoon, into early evening. The Durham portion starts at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in the American Tobacco District and ends at The Streets at Southpoint in South Durham, so convenient dining options abound no matter which direction you choose.

Durham's outdoors are calling, so keep calm and adventure on.