HomeNorth CarolinaMebane › Cates Farm Park

Cates Farm Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 71 Google reviews · Running trail in Mebane, North Carolina · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Loop distance
1.5 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Cates Farm 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 surface1.5 miLoopOpen 24hShadedDog-friendlyStroller / ADAHillyRestroomsTrailhead parking

Park featuring a playground and well-maintained trails that traverse open fields and woods.

What runners say about Cates Farm Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (71 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Great playground for the kids, and clean bathrooms.”

🌳 shaded & cool 6 mentions

“Love the playground … only suggestion … it would be nice to have shade over benches for parents”

Warm day for a hike, but absolutely delightful! I can’t believe we haven’t done this trail before!

★★★★★ — Judy , Aug 2023

Love going here for a short walk in the woods and for some nature photography

★★★★★ — Skylar , Jul 2022

Really great playground and walking trails. The playground is geared more towards older kids, as it's pretty high up. It has public bathrooms and is wheelchair accessible to the top of the playground. They have a swing for a wheelchair as well. It also has a few picnic tables.

★★★★★ — Exploring , Feb 2025

Update: Visited the finished park today and it’s amazing, the kids love it! We enjoyed the trails and simply being there! Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this park, love the playground, it’s so unique and cool! When the ground is dry we are going to try the trails!

★★★★★ — Mrl , Apr 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 71 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 7 mentions

“Love the playground … only suggestion … it would be nice to have shade over benches for parents”

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🔁 Loop trail 5 mentions

“5 mile loop through the woods next trip.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“There's currently only a portable restroom here, but it looks like they are building facilities and expanding the parking lot.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“There's currently only a portable restroom here, but it looks like they are building facilities and expanding the parking lot.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“5 miles) but it's hilly, so this trail provides a great workout.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 3 mentions

“It has public bathrooms and is wheelchair accessible to the top of the playground.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“It has some roots and rocks on the trail, but for the most part is an easy to medium hike.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly

“A lot of people were out walking their dogs on the trail.”

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Plan your run at Cates Farm Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • Loop distance1.5 mi back to where you parked
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitecityofmebanenc.gov
  • Phone+1 919-563-3629

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Cates Farm Park

1169 N First St, Mebane, NC 27302

Get directions

Running trails near Mebane

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Mebane Community Park

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Big and small dog parks plus playgrounds featuring slides, soccer fields, a splash pad, a rock-climbing wall, picnic tables and exercise machines.

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Holt Street Park

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Casual little park featuring picnic tables, a playground and walking trails.

1.6 miles away

Lake Michael Park

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Lakeside park for picnics and fishing and exploring via hiking and cycling trails.

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Town and Country Nature Park

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Long Meadow Trailhead

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Confluence Natural Area

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Easy hiking trails along the two forks of the Eno River are found in this wilderness park.

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.