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The Donald Buie Memorial Trailhead

4.3 ★★★★☆ 6 Google reviews · Running trail in Sanford, North Carolina · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from The Donald Buie Memorial 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.

PavedLit at nightTrailhead parking

What runners say about The Donald Buie Memorial Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (6 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Great greenway trail. It is paved the whole way. Noce walk through the woods along the creek for most of the way. About 1.6 miles one way. There are a few road crossings and a section goes next to a commercial zone.

★★★★★ — Will , Dec 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 6 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

“It is paved the whole way.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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💡 Lit for night running

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Plan your run at The Donald Buie Memorial Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitesanfordnc.net
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 am–5 pm
Tuesday 8 am–5 pm
Wednesday 8 am–5 pm
Thursday 8 am–5 pm
Friday 8 am–5 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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 The Donald Buie Memorial Trailhead

1819 Douglas Dr, Sanford, NC 27330

Get directions

Running trails near Sanford

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

Endor Furnace Trail Greenway

4.8 ★★★★★ 15 reviews

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1.2 miles away

Kiwanis Family Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 940 reviews

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MixedScenic

Family-friendly park offering picnic facilities & a gazebo plus a playground & fitness trail.

1.7 miles away

Kiwanis Children's Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 153 reviews

Sanford, NC

Paved

Fenced playground with swings, a merry-go-round and slides, plus picnic tables, tennis courts, and walking trails .

1.7 miles away

San-Lee Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 889 reviews

Sanford, NC

Natural surfaceScenic

Expansive waterfront park providing boat rentals, campgrounds, fishing, hiking & a nature center.

4.3 miles away

San Lee Gravity Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 15 reviews

Sanford, NC

Natural surface

4.3 miles away

White Pines Nature Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 250 reviews

Sanford, NC

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

Riverside nature preserve with several trails for hiking and canoeing.

8.7 miles away

All running trails in Sanford, 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.