While I’ll be at the beach over Labor Day week, I wanted to share a must-do item for exploring Raleigh over the holiday weekend. If you’re looking for some exercise, flora, fauna and beautiful scenery, this portion of the Neuse River Trail is it – it has a suspension bridge, croaking frogs, majestic herons, and an old dam!
Most recently we explored the Neuse River Trail from milepost 13.25 to 15. We parked in the small paved residential lot at 2894 Abington Ln in east Raleigh. After a short run down to the trail, we came to the compass in the greenway and decided to head north for a bit in search of the huge suspension bridge (by looking at the online greenway map, it looks like you cross the river just north of here). Within 1/4 of mile we came upon the suspension bridge at milepost 13.5, which seems to come out of the middle of nowhere! It seems so unique and breathtaking to me to have a suspension bridge on the greenway; I’m pretty sure I got goosebumps (granted it was 100+ degrees outside) and felt very sentimental for my city!
We ran another 1/4 mile north until milepost 13.25 and then turned around and headed south. We ran back over the suspension bridge where we saw some fisherman casting lines. Further along we passed residential homes to the west and wetlands to the east with several overpasses in between and white barn fencing in certain areas that gave this trail a farm-like feeling. There are more stretches of sunny parts along this trail than what I’m used to, I think mostly due to the neighborhood developments; it added some intensity to this hot summer run so don’t forget extra water!
We ran south until the Milburnie Dam, which we have explored in the past. Again, it’s amazing to see what parts of Raleigh you’ll miss if you don’t get on foot! So get out and explore this weekend!
More Resources:
- Neuse River Trail opening celebration
- Neuse River Trail: MP 11.5-13
- Neuse River Trail: MP 15-17 & Milburnie Dam
Thumbs up: beautiful views, wetlands with information signs, suspension bridge, parking lot with access to trail, mile markers
Thumbs down: nothing to report
When/if we come to Raleigh this is the trip I want to do… but not in 100 degree heat!
It looks both adventuresome and doable, mysterious and yet civilized. Hurrah for you and for Raleigh. I want to read those signs in person.