Explore the Unexpected
Favorite Greenway Spots & Hidden Gems
Raleigh’s greenway system spans over 120 miles of trails that wind through forests, wetlands, parks, and neighborhoods — but some of the best spots are tucked just out of view. Whether you’re a regular rider or a weekend walker, there are plenty of hidden gems along the Capital Area Greenway waiting to be discovered.
🕵️ Favorite Spot & Hidden Gem #1: “The Swamp”
Tucked into the urban heart of Raleigh, this stretch of Crabtree Creek Trail passes through a lush, low-lying wetland we call “The Swamp.” A long, elevated boardwalk floats just above the floodplain, guiding walkers, runners, and cyclists through a surprisingly serene slice of nature — all within sight of downtown traffic.
It’s one of the best places in the city for spontaneous bird watching. Egrets, herons, hawks, and red-winged blackbirds are regular visitors, and the views change with every season (and every rainfall).
This spot captures what we love most about the greenway: its ability to turn everyday commutes into moments of connection with the natural world.
🧭 Located between Capital Blvd and Raleigh Blvd on the Crabtree Creek Trail
🕵️ Favorite Spot & Hidden Gem #2: Lassiter Mill Falls
Once the site of one of Raleigh’s earliest grist mills, Lassiter Mill powered local industry for more than a century. The original mill, built in the mid-1800s, was replaced by a concrete dam in the early 20th century, creating the picturesque cascade you see today. Though the mill itself is long gone, the falls remain a favorite gathering spot for locals.
The gentle roar of water over the dam and the shaded banks of Crabtree Creek make this a peaceful place to pause — whether you’re watching kids skip stones, anglers try their luck, or the sunlight dance on the spray. In the spring, migrating fish swim upstream here, and year-round you might spot herons or turtles basking nearby.
It’s a reminder that even within city limits, the greenway connects us to Raleigh’s earliest roots and to the timeless pull of moving water.
🧭 Located just off Lassiter Mill Road on the Crabtree Creek Trail
🕵️ Favorite Spot & Hidden Gem #3: Rocky Branch Trail in Dix
Tucked just west of downtown Raleigh, Dix Park is a park for everyone—a sweeping 308 acres of rolling meadows, shaded hillsides, and open lawns where you can picnic with friends, toss a frisbee, walk your dog, or simply settle under an oak with a good book. It offers postcard-perfect views of the downtown skyline, and is a place for playful gatherings or quiet reflection. At its northern edge, the Rocky Branch Trail slices through the green, offering both shade and connectivity—linking urban energy with natural escape—and anchoring the ambitious restoration project that we're excited to explore. Learn more here: Dix Park — Rocky Branch Restoration Project.
A Place with Deep Roots
Dix Park’s land has a long and complex history. For more than a century it was home to Dorothea Dix Hospital, a state psychiatric facility that first opened in the 1850s. After the hospital closed in 2012, Raleigh and Wake County leaders worked together to preserve the land as public park space. Today, the 308-acre site is Raleigh’s largest city park — a one-of-a-kind green space that connects the past, present, and future of our city.
Rocky Branch Trail Today
The Rocky Branch Trail runs along the northern edge of the park, forming part of the Capital Area Greenway system. It links Pullen Park and NC State’s campus on one end, and connects toward Lake Wheeler Road on the other — creating an important east-west spine through Raleigh’s core. Along the way, the trail dips into quiet stretches along the creek, passes under shade trees, and opens into the rolling meadows that make Dix Park so iconic.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Dix Park
The City of Raleigh is working closely with partners like the Dix Park Conservancy to reimagine this space as a world-class destination. Plans include improved trail connections, restored creek corridors, and new community amenities — while keeping the open meadows and skyline views that make the park so special.
The Rocky Branch Trail bond project is also designed to restore the creek to its original meander, helping to reduce flooding while improving habitat, water quality, and overall trail experience. For trail users, that means smoother rides, better crossings, and even more reasons to explore this central hub of Raleigh’s greenway network.
Why We Love It
Rocky Branch at Dix is where Raleigh’s past meets its future — a place where history, nature, and community come together. Whether you’re walking, running, or biking, it’s a reminder of how important greenways are in shaping the city we all share.
🧭 Located just off Western Blvd on the Rocky Branch Trail
🕵️ Favorite Spot & Hidden Gem #4: Umstead State Park
At the edge of Raleigh’s busy streets lies one of the Triangle’s greatest escapes: William B. Umstead State Forest. With more than 5,000 acres of woodlands, lakes, and winding trails, it offers a chance to leave behind the hum of the city and step into a world of birdsong, pine needles, and quiet streams. Even better? The Raleigh Greenway connects directly into the park. From the Reedy Creek Trail at Reedy Creek Road or the entrance near Ebenezer Church Road, you can ride, run, or walk right into this outdoor haven without ever starting your car.
A Forest of Variety
Umstead has something for everyone. Hikers can explore more than 20 miles of shaded trails, from the easy Sal’s Branch Loop around Big Lake to the longer Company Mill Trail, where old millstones hint at the park’s history. Runners and cyclists follow wide bridle paths and gravel roads through rolling terrain, while families love the Oak Rock Track Trail, where an oak tree improbably grows out of solid stone. For those who prefer the water, Big Lake and Sycamore Creek offer peaceful places to fish, paddle, or just sit and watch herons glide across the surface.
Connected by Greenways
The Reedy Creek Greenway acts as a natural bridge between city life and the forest. From the NC Museum of Art, Meredith College, or even downtown Raleigh, you can follow the trail west until the city fades into trees. It’s also part of the East Coast Greenway, meaning your neighborhood ride could—at least in theory—connect all the way to Maine or Florida.
The Crabtree Creek Trail also ties Umstead into the wider system, linking neighborhoods and parks across east Raleigh and Midtown. One of the highlights along this stretch is the Todd Delk Suspension Bridge, which floats above Crabtree Creek with its elegant cables. Crossing it gives walkers and cyclists a treetop view of the water and a memorable gateway into Umstead’s shaded paths.
Why We Love It
Umstead is where the Greenway truly opens into the wild. You can ride for miles under the pines, discover hidden creeks and quiet coves, or simply sit lakeside and let the forest take over your senses. It’s a rare gift—urban convenience blending seamlessly into natural beauty—and it reminds us how lucky we are to live in a city where trails lead straight into the forest.
🧭 Located off of Reedy Creek Rd or Ebenezer Church
🕵️ Favorite Spot & Hidden Gem #5: Lake Raleigh
Nestled within NC State University’s Centennial Campus, Lake Raleigh is a serene escape where history, nature, and community meet. Created in the early 1900s, the lake was formed when an earthen dam and the Bain Water Treatment Plant were built along Walnut Creek. By 1914, it was filled and went on to serve as Raleigh’s primary water supply for more than 70 years, until 1986. This rich history ties the lake not only to the city’s growth but also to its early infrastructure and conservation efforts.
Today, Lake Raleigh is one of Raleigh’s hidden gems. The Walnut Creek Trail runs along the northern edge of the water for about 1.5 miles, offering walkers and cyclists a peaceful route that blends wooded areas, wetlands, and lakeside stretches. Its location on Centennial Campus makes it especially unique, combining an urban backdrop with a natural retreat.
In 2006, NC State University partnered with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to preserve and manage the lake, reinforcing its dual role as a recreational space and a living classroom. Students in ecology and fisheries programs regularly use the lake for hands-on research, monitoring water quality, studying fish populations, and exploring habitats. For the public, it remains a welcoming spot for fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply enjoying a quiet picnic by the water.
Lake Raleigh is more than a scenic place to unwind—it’s a site that reflects Raleigh’s history while continuing to inspire connection, learning, and recreation for the community today.
🧭 Located off of Avent Ferry Rd
🕵️ Favorite Spot & Hidden Gem #6: Falls Lake
The Raleigh Greenway is more than just a network of trails. It’s a living system that links our neighborhoods, our parks, and our waterways. Every bend of trail brings us closer to the natural resources that have shaped our city’s past and sustain its future. Last week, we celebrated Lake Raleigh, once the city’s primary water supply. Today, that historic reservoir is a peaceful retreat along the Walnut Creek Trail, where walkers, runners, and cyclists enjoy shaded paths and lakeside views just minutes from downtown.
On the other side of town lies Falls Lake, Raleigh’s current water source and one of the largest outdoor destinations in the Triangle. Created in the early 1980s to meet the region’s growing needs, Falls Lake now provides drinking water for hundreds of thousands of residents. But it’s also much more than a utility. Falls Lake is home to miles of shoreline trails, including sections that loop around the water itself, offering countless opportunities to walk, hike, or ride along its edge. It’s also a key section of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the cross-state path that begins at Clingmans Dome in the Smokies and stretches all the way to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks. That means every step you take at Falls Lake is part of a journey across the entire state.
What ties these two lakes together is the Greenway. Trails connect us not only to water, but to the larger landscapes and ecosystems that make Raleigh such a unique place to live. Just as Falls Lake and Lake Raleigh are part of our water story, the Greenway system gives us daily access to places where water and land meet. It’s the same story we see in Umstead State Park, with its deep woods and flowing creeks, or in the Swamp, where an elevated boardwalk carries us over wetlands teeming with wildlife.
By connecting these spaces, the Greenway helps us remember that water is more than a resource — it’s a thread linking history, habitat, and community. When we walk, run, or ride along these trails, we’re not just moving through the city; we’re moving through the story of how Raleigh came to be and how it continues to grow.
As our city expands, these places remind us that water will always shape our future. Protecting and expanding our Greenway system is one of the best ways to make sure that every resident can enjoy access to the lakes, wetlands, and streams that keep Raleigh alive.
🧭 Located off of Possum Track Rd.