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Carolina North Forest
4.8 ★★★★★ 355 Google reviews · Running trail in Chapel Hill, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Carolina North Forest'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.
UNC north campus woodland covering 750 acres & offering a complex network of hiking trails.
What runners say about Carolina North Forest
“Gorgeous hiking spot, definitely would recommend.”
“The trails are not well marked and the map is not easy to follow.”
“Easy hike, main trails are gravel many loop trails not graveled.”
There are 3 entrances off Seawell School Rd. Park on the shoulder of the road. We took Entrance 3 near the school. Easy hike, main trails are gravel many loop trails not graveled. Good hike for dogs. The trails are not well marked and the map is not easy to follow.
The Carolina North Forest is such a nice place to run/bike/hike/walk in one place. You can choose to walk/bike on the pave road, Or you can choose to hike on the trail. Or do everything on any way that you prefer. They are a lot of different trails. Nice huge forest in the middle of the town.
The trails here are great for biking and hiking, and the volunteers who maintain the trail system have been hard at work over the winter replacing old bridges and shoring up wet spots with gravel. Where the system falls short is SIGNAGE!
The Carolina North Forest is such an awesome place to run/bike/hike/walk your dog. There are MILES of trails that offer varied terrain with different lengths that you can go. I would suggest going in with a plan because it’s easy to get a little bit lost out there.
Trail conditions & character
“The only issue for us is that Google maps takes you where there is no larger parking area so I drove and found the Pumpkin Loop Parking area.”
“Gorgeous hiking spot, definitely would recommend.”
“If you're training for a trail race, this is a decent place to get some rocks, roots, and hills without it being overly technical.”
“The only issue for us is that Google maps takes you where there is no larger parking area so I drove and found the Pumpkin Loop Parking area.”
“Fun park area with a large circular gravel path that has smaller single tracks interspersed within.”
“If you're training for a trail race, this is a decent place to get some rocks, roots, and hills without it being overly technical.”
“The Carolina North Forest is such an awesome place to run/bike/hike/walk your dog.”
“The trails are not well marked and the map is not easy to follow.”
Plan your run at Carolina North Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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 — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitecarolinanorthforest.unc.edu
- Phone+1 919-883-8930
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
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