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Eno River State Park
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
4 reviews for Eno River State Park
I'm a pretty big fan of this park. If you go to the entrance around Hillsborough, it's easiest to get to the area where you can splash around in the river on a hot day. Running water means it's better than a swimming pool. You can even head up the trail a bit when the immediate area gets too crowded.
Speaking of the trails, they're beautiful and as challenging as you want them to be. There are longer and more difficult ones for some serious hiking, as well as one particularly nice one for a leisurely stroll by the water. You can also mix and match, so that there are plenty of trips you can take where you won't have to see the same scenery twice for a long time.
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Natural splendor is not only for the mountains and the coastline! No sir, here in the piedmont we enjoy the in-between-extremes, the green hills and the rivers carving rock. Eno state park is a beautiful exemplification of this, nestled in between the outskirts of Durham and the Untamed Wilderness(tm), where the whimsical nature enthusiast can fool themselves into thinking the background noise pollution from the highway might be a bubbling brook just barely in earshot. Fun highlights include some old Durham water-works 'modern ruins' (read: rubble) that are fun to play around (if you're sure of foot or have a tetanus shot handy) and lots of ambient wildlife to perturb. I'm up to one snake, a family of deer and a small militia of turtles that I have made uncomfortable enough to run away from me, AND COUNTING! Beware of Poison Ivy when traipsing about, as I was caught unawares. To quote the indefatigable Homer Simpson: "Leaves of three, leave them be -- leaves of four, eat some more*!"
*warning, may not be true
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There are several access points to the trails of the Eno and I recommend trying all of them. The river runs throughout Durham with the park being split into an Eastern and Western section; there are several points of interest like the mill, waterfalls, and Bobbitt's hole (a spot where the water pools and you can easily go swimming). The trails are well-kept, and since there are so many to choose from, you don't even have to contend with tons of people on the same path. Dogs are required to be leashed, but often you'll see them loose with their owners who let them run ahead or go for a dip. Fishing is permitted, and you can also arrange to go paddling in certain areas.
Eno River State park is a great place to get back to nature while remaining close to the city life. With trails of varying lengths and degree of difficulty, along with picnic and backpack camping available, this park is a great place for an afternoon or a weekend. The pit toilets may take a bit getting use to for the more refined visitor, but the beauty will take your mind off of it all.