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Clemmons Educational State Forest
4.3 ★★★★☆ 106 Google reviews · Running trail in Clayton, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Clemmons Educational State 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.
State park featuring a forest with trails for hiking, a lake with turtles, and picnic facilities.
What runners say about Clemmons Educational State Forest
“Gorgeous views, beautifully maintained comfortable walking trails, helpful and kind staff, clean bathrooms, just a lovely natural space.”
“Gorgeous views, beautifully maintained comfortable walking trails, helpful and kind staff, clean bathrooms, just a lovely natural space.”
“It was such a beautiful and peaceful trail!”
We took our dogs here, on a leash, and they had a blast. It was such a beautiful and peaceful trail! There are a variety of trails to choose from. We did the Demo trail. Bring plenty of water and bug spray. It was a little humid but the trees provide plenty of shade. Make sure to keep your pets on a leash though.
We’ve heard so many great things about this park and finally had a chance to experience it ourselves this weekend. We saw “Talking Rock Trail” and it did not dawn on us that you get to hear an actual audio recording explaining the different types of rocks. It was so cool!
It's beautiful here and very open. There are many trails to walk, there is also plenty of information about the forest itself and the trees within it. There is also a lake with turtles in it. It does get very busy on the weekends and it is dog friendly.
This location is clean and well maintained. Our family went out for a walk and we took out kids to see the talking rocks and trees. I plan to go back soon. The bathrooms were clean and we loved the color sheets, activities for the kids, and the information boards.
Trail conditions & character
“Gorgeous views, beautifully maintained comfortable walking trails, helpful and kind staff, clean bathrooms, just a lovely natural space.”
“It does get very busy on the weekends and it is dog friendly.”
“Gorgeous views, beautifully maintained comfortable walking trails, helpful and kind staff, clean bathrooms, just a lovely natural space.”
“It was such a beautiful and peaceful trail!”
Plan your run at Clemmons Educational State Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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 trailheadrestrooms — 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.
- Websitencesf.org
- Phone(919) 553-5651
- Social Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–6 PM |
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