An easy nature trail for dogs, check. Scenic area without a long drive, check. Outdoor trail running or cycling area, check. A waterfall, check. This is an awesome local spot to get outdoors and soak up some sunshine. Here’s my practical guide on how to plan a hike at the Cape Fear River Trail in Fayetteville, NC with all the tips you need to plan your day out.
A Detailed Guide For The Cape Fear River Trail In Fayetteville, NC
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FAQ for the Cape Fear River Trail in Fayetteville, NC
Where is it located?
Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Is there parking available?
Yes, free parking at either end of the trail.
What type of trail is it?
Point to point on paved surface.
How long is it?
7 miles each way if you do the whole thing. If you plan on doing the whole thing remember you have to go all the way back too.
What skill level is required?
Beginner.
Is it kid friendly?
Yes. Of course you know your kids best, so use this guide and your best judgement as far as what is appropriate for them.
Is it dog friendly?
Yes, on a leash.
What is this trail good for?
Easy nature walk, families, solo outings, long runs, bicycling.
What should you bring with you?
- Water bottle (I use this insulated one)
- Comfortable walking shoes (these are my fav beginner hiking shoes but any sneakers will be fine for this trail)
- Sun protection (some areas are quite open with no shade)
- Snacks or lunch (I always have a few of these with me when I hike)
Before we get started
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The two different starting points
There are two different starting points for the Cape Fear River Trail.
One is at Clark Park, so I’ll refer to that as the Clark Park end in this post. The other is by the Jordan Soccer Complex, so I’ll refer to that as at the soccer field end.
I’ll cover the parking for both and what to expect at each end of the trail as well.
The start of the trail from the soccer field end
The Clark Park end starts with a paved road and quickly changes to boardwalks surrounded by wetlands
Where to park
Both starting points have free parking. Both are listed in Google Maps as ‘Cape Fear River Trail Parking’ (one has the word lot at the end). To avoid confusion it’s best to be more specific.
To start at the soccer field end, it’s best to use ‘Jordan Soccer Complex’ in Google Maps. This will take you to the parking for the soccer fields by Methodist University.
To start at the Clark Park end, use ‘Clark Park Nature Center’ in Google Maps. It will take you to the parking for Clark Park which is the same parking as the river trail.
The parking area at the Clark Park end is slightly smaller so you may need to park along the side of the road by the parking lot if you’re there on a weekend.
Parking area at the soccer field end
Which end is best to start at?
It’s a point to point trail so you can go from one end, all the way to the other then back again or simply as far as you’d like. Just depends on how much you feel like walking that day really.
No matter which end you start at, the trail is a simple, beginner one which makes it perfect for families and kids. The only challenge on the trail is a couple of steep sections which might get you a little puffed, but there’s plenty of room to take it at your own pace.
If you want to see the waterfall, I’d start at the soccer field end. However, if you have kids and they want to play on a playground or have a picnic after, start at the Clark Park end.
The trail
What I love about the Cape Fear River Trail is how you don’t have to drive very far to get a quiet escape in nature.
I like to go here for quiet walks either by myself or with my dog. She is also a big fan of the trail, especially the amount of squirrels that are there!
The wide, paved trail takes you alongside a golf course, wetlands, forest areas, over boardwalks and through a covered bridge.
It’s a popular spot so you can expect to see other people on the trail while you’re there. There’s always lots of cute dogs, some cyclists going by, and even a few of those weirdos who like running.
If you start at the soccer field end, you’ll get to a point where the path ends and you need to cross railway tracks to your right. Then you follow the street up for a little bit until you see the connecting part of the trail on your left.
It’s well signed so you should be able to follow it easily.
Once you’re on that connecting bit, you are very close to the Clark Park Nature Center. Of course, you can do this in reverse if you’re starting at the Clark Park end and want to go further to the other end.
You can also follow the trail even further through the middle of Clark Park, just follow the paved road.
If you are coming from the soccer field end, you will come to this point where you cross the railway tracks to the right. You’ll be doing this in reverse if you come from the Clark Park end.
After you follow the street up the hill, you take this path on the left to continue on the trail.
The waterfall
One of the highlights of the Cape Fear River Trail is the waterfall. Yes, another waterfall right here in Fayetteville!
It’s small compared to the ones you see a few hours away in the mountains, but still cool to have one close by and adds a little extra serenity to the trail. Listening to a waterfall is just peaceful isn’t it?
It’s best to start at the soccer field end if you want to see it (and not walk the entire trail) because it’s closer to that end. You can see it up close from a bridge as you walk right over it.
If you are walking from the soccer field end, there is a small path on the left before you reach the bridge which will take you down to the waterfall.
This isn’t the official trail, so take that at your own risk. I’m not telling you to do it or not, just that it’s there.
Other Fayetteville guides you might enjoy
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Great jobs, useful info
Thank you!