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Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 476 Google reviews · Running trail in Raleigh, North Carolina · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Natural 157.6-acre park on a lake, with meadows, fields, play areas, trails & office with exhibits.
What runners say about Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
“Bathrooms are very clean and they have a water bottle refilling station there.”
“Knowledgeable staff, great information about flora and fauna of the region, terrific education information available and a beautiful green space and walking trails.”
“A monarch butterfly meadow, a connection to the Butner Game Lands section of the MST, pet friendly, family friendly.”
Didn’t know this park existed, and it's so close to our place. Went there in mid-November before sunset, and it was wonderful! The pastel sky, leaves changing colors in the background like a wonderland, even a little deer came out. There are nice trails for a walk. Highly recommended!
If you want a hidden gem nature retreat in Raleigh, this is it. I'm not sure how long it will stay a hidden gem, but this is nature nirvana. A monarch butterfly meadow, a connection to the Butner Game Lands section of the MST, pet friendly, family friendly. This park has it all.
I came on a chilly, drizzling afternoon so I almost had the forest all to myself and a few deer. There are several well-marked trails that make nice loops through the woods, grassland, and around a small pond.
I came out here this weekend with my friend Sarah for a solid 4 mile hike. Good times! We saw a lot of friendly people, and as you can see in the photos there was this really cute project that children in the area were doing where they make little fairy houses. Such a pleasant afternoon. :-)
Trail conditions & character
“Knowledgeable staff, great information about flora and fauna of the region, terrific education information available and a beautiful green space and walking trails.”
“No technical trails here, though one of the trails connects to the larger Mountains-to-Sea Trail that stretches across the state of North Carolina.”
“Bathrooms are very clean and they have a water bottle refilling station there.”
“It's conveniently located in north Raleigh with lots of ample parking.”
Plan your run at Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Websiteraleighnc.gov
- Phone+1 919-996-6764
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10 am–7:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am–7:30 pm |
| Thursday | 10 am–7:30 pm |
| Friday | 10 am–7:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–7:30 pm |
| Sunday | 1–7:30 pm |
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