HIKING SAL’S BRANCH TRAIL IN UMSTEAD STATE PARK (GOOD FOR ALL LEVELS)

With more than 5,000 acres of forest, the park is easily accessible from Interstate 40 and US-70, and is located just 15-minutes drive from downtown Raleigh.

This is North Carolina’s most visited state park and our favorite of the parks in Raleigh – it’s a natural oasis surrounding three man made lakes.

And the Sal’s Branch Trail is probably the most popular of the Umstead park trails.

Located on the northeastern side of Umstead Park, to get to Sal’s Branch Trail drive to the Crabtree Creek park access and visitor center off US-70 (Address: 8801 Glenwood Ave).

GETTING TO SAL’S BRANCH TRAIL

HIKING THE TRAIL

Starting out from behind the visitor center, you walk a short ways along the trail,

then cross through the extended car parking area then the service road before heading into the woods following the “orange circles” as markers.

When you come out of the woods to the lake, there is a sign directing you back onto Sal’s Branch Trail to continue the loop.

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