HomeNorth CarolinaFuquay-Varina › South Lakes Greenway Trail

South Lakes Greenway Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 36 Google reviews · Running trail in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from South Lakes Greenway Trail'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.

PavedOpen 24hShadedScenicStroller / ADATrailhead parking

What runners say about South Lakes Greenway Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (36 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“It is mostly well maintained, couple of boards on a couple bridges need some help but other than that the patch is paved and in great shape.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle.”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“It's also shady for a good part of the trail due to all of the trees, which makes it even better, especially during the warmer months!”

Love that we’ve got the first greenway in Fuquay right here in our backyard. Here’s the details, from the website: “This 2 mile greenway trail is located in the South Lakes subdivision in Fuquay-Varina and eventually will be connected via additional greenway trails proposed in the 2014 Facility Master Plan to Old…

★★★★★ — Matt , Jan 2020

Peaceful and well kept paved trail. I love to start from the soccer fields of Old Honeycutt Park and continue walking/biking across Hwy 55 until the lake at South Lakes. I was pleasantly surprised to see the addition of benches and 2 bench swings overlooking the lake.

★★★★★ — Janice , Apr 2024

There's a decent amount of parking. The trail is well-maintained (no debris and evidence of repairs on the bridges) and the trail is wheelchair accessible if the main entrance is used (there are several paths leading off into neighborhoods that are not paved).

★★★★★ — Amato , Jun 2022

Great walking greenway. From 55 parking lot to Willow Spring High School it is 1.6 miles one way.

★★★★★ — Drone , Mar 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 36 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.

🛣️ Paved surface 5 mentions

“It is mostly well maintained, couple of boards on a couple bridges need some help but other than that the patch is paved and in great shape.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“It's also shady for a good part of the trail due to all of the trees, which makes it even better, especially during the warmer months!”

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🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“I was pleasantly surprised to see the addition of benches and 2 bench swings overlooking the lake.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“The Town is currently working to secure appropriate parking.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 4 mentions

“There's people on their jogging walking with jogging strollers bicycles no motorized vehicles though.”

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Plan your run at South Lakes Greenway Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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 — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitefuquay-varina.org
  • Phone+1 919-552-1430

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 South Lakes Greenway Trail

611 Apalachia Lake Dr, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

Get directions

Running trails near Fuquay-Varina

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

Old Honeycutt Road Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 277 reviews

Fuquay-Varina, NC

PavedShaded

Park offering a playground, a soccer field and tennis courts.

under a mile away

Falcon Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 394 reviews

Fuquay-Varina, NC

Shaded

Relaxed, shady green space for kids, featuring a playground, swings and a sandpit.

2.4 miles away

Fuquay Mineral Spring Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 363 reviews

Fuquay-Varina, NC

ShadedLitScenicDog-friendly

The mineral spring within this public park was discovered in 1858 by Davey Crocket Fuquay.

2.8 miles away

South Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 547 reviews

Fuquay-Varina, NC

0.7 mi

All-season park featuring a splash pad and playgrounds.

2.9 miles away

Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 244 reviews

Fuquay-Varina, NC

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Natural 28-acre park with a 2-mile trail, bridges, picnic shelters & an amphitheater.

3.2 miles away

Fleming Loop Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 109 reviews

Fuquay-Varina, NC

51 miLoopPavedShaded

Local park with a walking track, picnic shelter, and playground, plus a number of soccer fields.

3.6 miles away

All running trails in Fuquay-Varina, 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.