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Company Mill Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 205 Google reviews · Running trail in Cary, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 11 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Company Mill Trailhead'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.
Scenery-rich park popular for hiking trails, featuring rolling hills, creeks and a river.
What runners say about Company Mill Trailhead
“It a beautiful loop trail that takes you through a couple of valleys, sections of rock walls, by the remnants of the company mill dam, and winding creeks.”
“Great place for hiking, jogging, or just lounging outdoors!”
“The dense forest canopy provides shade and a peaceful escape from the city.”
“The dense forest canopy provides shade and a peaceful escape from the city.”
This 5.8 mile loop trail is great for a couple hour walking exercise! It’s free of entry, full of nature and shade in summer. The restrooms are clean as well. We are glad it’s a nice big park that’s near city life.
Company Mill Trail at Umstead State Park offered a fantastic blend of challenge and natural beauty, making it a memorable hike. The trail keeps things interesting with rolling hills, sections of moderate elevation gain, and diverse terrain - from smooth paths to rocky sections.
Beautiful shaded trail through the woods and along Crabtree Creek. Relatively easy, however a few spots with a ton of roots. Tripped quite a few times. 5.8 miles, round trip about 2-2.5 hours. Highly recommend!
This was my favorite trail so far! You DO have to watch where you’re going since the whole path is roots and pretty rocks … if you don’t look where you’re going then 100% you’ll fall 😅 it was nice and quiet with few people crossing my path, there’s a few spots where I could sit and enjoy the river as well as deer and…
Trail conditions & character
“It a beautiful loop trail that takes you through a couple of valleys, sections of rock walls, by the remnants of the company mill dam, and winding creeks.”
“The length (around 6 miles) allows for a good workout without being overwhelming.”
“The trail keeps things interesting with rolling hills, sections of moderate elevation gain, and diverse terrain - from smooth paths to rocky sections.”
“The trail keeps things interesting with rolling hills, sections of moderate elevation gain, and diverse terrain - from smooth paths to rocky sections.”
“The dense forest canopy provides shade and a peaceful escape from the city.”
“There is a bit of an incline change from the parking lot but not too bad.”
“The dense forest canopy provides shade and a peaceful escape from the city.”
“It a beautiful loop trail that takes you through a couple of valleys, sections of rock walls, by the remnants of the company mill dam, and winding creeks.”
Plan your run at Company Mill Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance11 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Phone+1 984-867-8240
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–6 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–6 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–6 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–6 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–6 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–6 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–6 pm |
Running trails near Cary
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Old Reedy Creek Road Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 385 reviews
Hiking area with trails along a lake, including one leading into Umstead Park, and a restroom.
North Cary Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,104 reviews
This park has baseball, basketball & volleyball, plus a playground, climbing wall & picnic area.
Lake Crabtree County Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,540 reviews
Waterside site featuring 16 miles of hiking & biking trails, playgrounds, boating & fishing.
