HomeNorth CarolinaGarner › Hilliard Creek Trailhead

Hilliard Creek Trailhead

3.8 ★★★★☆ 21 Google reviews · Running trail in Garner, North Carolina · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Hilliard Creek 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.

ScenicTrailhead parkingMile markers

What runners say about Hilliard Creek Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (21 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“It's beautiful, tree covered, and it's close to home.”

I found the lack of clear markings and harder to find trails to be fun! If you're just looking for a casual stroll this might not be the trail for you. If you enjoy immersing yourself in your surroundings and a slight challenge, this is a great trail!

★★★★☆ — Matt , Jan 2024

Walk my dog there often... Really beautiful, low traffic area in the woods. We'll, except for when there are games. Possibly haunted.

★★★★☆ — Jason , Nov 2024

Noting that most reviews are actually on Garner Recreational Park, this trail could use a few more as well 😃

★★★★★ — Benjamin , Mar 2023

I really want to love this trail. It's beautiful, tree covered, and it's close to home. BUT it's terribly marked, and I found it easy to get off the official trail or suddenly on a different trail than I meant to. There are many well-worn paths that could easily be mistaken for the official route.

★★★★☆ — Natalie , Apr 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 21 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“Lots of convenient parking, and a nice bathroom at the trailhead.”

More trails like this →

📏 Mile markers 6 mentions

“A little TLC and new trail markers are needed.”

More trails like this →

🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“It's beautiful, tree covered, and it's close to home.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Hilliard Creek Trailhead

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 trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitegarnernc.gov

Hours

Monday 7 AM–8:45 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–8:45 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–8:45 PM
Thursday 7 AM–8:45 PM
Friday 7 AM–8:45 PM
Saturday 7 AM–8:45 PM
Sunday 7 AM–8:45 PM

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 Hilliard Creek Trailhead

221 E Garner Rd, Garner, NC 27529

Get directions

Running trails near Garner

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

South Garner Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 153 reviews

Garner, NC

Dog-friendly

Recreation area offering sports fields, tennis courts, a big playground & a short hiking trail.

1.7 miles away

Garner Veterans Memorial

4.9 ★★★★★ 64 reviews

Garner, NC

ScenicDog-friendly

Pet-friendly memorial park with walking trails that's dedicated to veterans and fallen soldiers.

2.8 miles away

Historic Yates Mill County Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 654 reviews

Raleigh, NC

2 miLoopBoardwalkShaded

Wildlife refuge & agricultural-history site centered around an 18th-century water-powered gristmill.

4.8 miles away

Neuse River Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 609 reviews

Raleigh, NC

27.5 miMixedShadedScenic

Popular with runners & cyclists, this 27.5-mile long riverside trail traverses woodlands & wetlands.

5.0 miles away

Poole Road Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 293 reviews

Raleigh, NC

Scenic

Trail-lined park featuring walking paths and views of the Neuse River.

5.0 miles away

Greenway Trail Head

4.3 ★★★★☆ 38 reviews

Raleigh, NC

5.1 miles away

All running trails in Garner, NC →

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.