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Pearl Mill Nature Preserve

4.2 ★★★★☆ 47 Google reviews · Running trail in Durham, North Carolina · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Pearl Mill 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.

Pearl Mill Nature Preserve — running trail in Durham, NC, photo 1
Pearl Mill Nature Preserve — running trail in Durham, NC, photo 2
Pearl Mill Nature Preserve — running trail in Durham, NC, photo 3
Scenic

What runners say about Pearl Mill Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (47 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

Could use more frequent attention from Durham Parks and Recreation, but it's a nice short trail in central Durham.

★★★★☆ — Abraxas , Feb 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 47 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Pearl Mill Nature Preserve

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.
  • Phone(919) 698-9729

Hours

Monday 7 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–7 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

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 Pearl Mill Nature Preserve

703 Green St, Durham, NC 27701

Get directions

Running trails near Durham

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

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Al Buehler Cross Country Trail

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Duke Forest - Shepherd Nature Trail

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0.8 miLoopDog-friendly

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4.0 miles away

Sennett's Hole

4.5 ★★★★★ 162 reviews

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ScenicDog-friendly

Swimming basin is free to enter and features turtles.

4.1 miles away

Duke Forest

4.7 ★★★★★ 450 reviews

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Crushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

Over 7,000 acres of land maintained by Duke University for teaching, research & recreational use.

4.5 miles away

All running trails in Durham, 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.