Home › North Carolina › Raleigh › Durant Nature Preserve
Durant Nature Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,338 Google reviews · Running trail in Raleigh, North Carolina · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Durant Nature Preserve'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.
237-acre preserve with woodlands, lakes & wildlife, plus hiking & mountain biking trails & fishing.
What runners say about Durant Nature Preserve
“Not sure if it connects to the Greenway at all but it was very quiet and well kept.”
“Beautiful park, awesome ACTUAL hiking trails (no asphalt sidewalks), plenty of shade, just an all around good walk.”
“My young daughter, small dog and I went for a good walk on the trails that were scenic and clearly marked.”
“Not sure if it connects to the Greenway at all but it was very quiet and well kept.”
We’ve been there many times for a walk. It has nice trails, is quiet, and surrounded by beautiful nature. If you want to see the colors of fall leaves changing, I recommend going around early November.
This is a fantastic preserve with well maintained trails! We saw a whole bunch of mushroom varieties. Went on a Wednesday mid-morning, and we didn’t see anyone else on the trail, just a couple of people fishing across the lake.
I found the trails really nice to walk with your family, friends or just with your dogs. It’s a 45 minutes trail. Maybe more or less, depending the way you take. It’s safe(I didn’t see wild animals, snakes etc) and you have a nice lake where you can see some ducks, birds and turtles. There are some streams too.
Now this is a way to be with nature. To just walk around and see the lake, etc. was peaceful. My kids really enjoyed that so much that they didn't even care about going to the park that was there. As you walk the trails, the trees will be marked with a colored diamond (each trail has a different color).
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful park, awesome ACTUAL hiking trails (no asphalt sidewalks), plenty of shade, just an all around good walk.”
“Not sure if it connects to the Greenway at all but it was very quiet and well kept.”
“) There is a bit of a hill to walk down to the area where the restrooms, picnic area, and playground are, so I recommend bringing a wagon to transport lunches/coolers.”
“My young daughter, small dog and I went for a good walk on the trails that were scenic and clearly marked.”
“) There is a bit of a hill to walk down to the area where the restrooms, picnic area, and playground are, so I recommend bringing a wagon to transport lunches/coolers.”
“Beautiful park, awesome ACTUAL hiking trails (no asphalt sidewalks), plenty of shade, just an all around good walk.”
“Parking close to the lake and you can rent a hut/cabin or just bring your hammock and have a relaxing nap close to the lake.”
Plan your run at Durant Nature Preserve
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.
- 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.
- Websiteraleighnc.gov
- Phone+1 919-996-2271
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Raleigh
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Green Hills County Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 408 reviews
This park offers a playground, picnic area & hiking/biking trails on a repurposed landfill property.
Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 476 reviews
Natural 157.6-acre park on a lake, with meadows, fields, play areas, trails & office with exhibits.
Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 388 reviews
Park, trail, and nature preserve boasting open spaces, paved paths and picnic tables.
Neuse Crossing Connector Bridge
4.8 ★★★★★ 53 reviews
Greenway walkway featuring a suspension bridge that spans a river.
Falls Lake Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 72 reviews
Popular lakeside destination for walking and hiking, plus boating and kayaking.