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Tuttle Educational State Forest

4.6 ★★★★★ 47 Google reviews · Running trail in Lenoir, North Carolina · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Tuttle Educational State Forest'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.

ScenicMile markersQuiet

Park with trails, picnic tables, and educational experiences for children.

What runners say about Tuttle Educational State Forest

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.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“This park was one of the cleanest, most well maintained State parks we have been to.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Excellent place to go they have trails you can have a picnic there you can play volleyball just a beautiful place to be”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“These features are accessible by a series of well-marked trails accented by exhibits and displays which explain the ecology of the managed forest.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Very quiet place to hike into the forest, find a tree to lean against and read a book or perhaps take a nap!”

Tuttle Education State Forest is such a great place! It is a beautiful location with lots of places to walk and hike. They have some gorgeous views. The rangers there are all very kind, helpful, and knowledgeable! I highly recommend this forest for anyone wanting a nice day spent outside!

★★★★★ — Victoria , May 2020

This park was one of the cleanest, most well maintained State parks we have been to. The hiking trails are well maintained and very well marked. The view of Grandfather Mountain while sitting in the swing was a highlight and so serene. The old cemetery was very well taken care of.

★★★★★ — Bethany , Dec 2021

Very quiet place to hike into the forest, find a tree to lean against and read a book or perhaps take a nap!

★★★★★ — James , Aug 2018

The wife and one of our daughters took several of our grandkids to this place just out of Lenoir NC. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Tuttle boasts a wide variety of pines and hardwoods plus rolling terrain and clear streams.

★★★★★ — Ron , Mar 2023

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 9 mentions

“Excellent place to go they have trails you can have a picnic there you can play volleyball just a beautiful place to be”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Very quiet place to hike into the forest, find a tree to lean against and read a book or perhaps take a nap!”

More trails like this →

📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“These features are accessible by a series of well-marked trails accented by exhibits and displays which explain the ecology of the managed forest.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Tuttle Educational State Forest

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.
  • Websitencesf.org
  • Phone(828) 757-5608
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 9 AM–5 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–5 PM
Thursday 9 AM–5 PM
Friday 9 AM–5 PM
Saturday 11 AM–6 PM
Sunday 11 AM–6 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 Tuttle Educational State Forest

3420 Playmore Beach Rd, Lenoir, NC 28645

Get directions

Running trails near Lenoir

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

Gamewell Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 97 reviews

Lenoir, NC

PavedLitDog-friendly

Recreational park with a playground, picnic shelters, basketball and tennis courts, and a walking trail.

3.9 miles away

Catawba Meadows Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,651 reviews

Morganton, NC

Paved

Large park with ball fields, a disc golf course & riverside greenway, plus a living history center.

7.0 miles away

McGalliard Falls Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,412 reviews

Valdese, NC

2 miScenicDog-friendly

Modest park with a waterfall, swimming area and sand volleyball court.

7.1 miles away

Lenoir Optimist Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 227 reviews

Lenoir, NC

Paved

Clean park for the family with a playground plus tennis courts and a skate park.

7.2 miles away

Cascade Forest-Morehead Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 50 reviews

Morganton, NC

ShadedScenic

7.3 miles away

Greenway Connector Trail

4 ★★★★☆ 1 reviews

Morganton, NC

7.4 miles away

All running trails in Lenoir, 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.