HIKING THE LOBLOLLY TRAIL IN UMSTEAD STATE PARK

You know how sometimes you just scratch your head and wonder how on earth you missed the memo?

[{"selector":"#anim-7c4fa54d-5a65-46f2-b8fa-945249ea80ff","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.01)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.999)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a4578a8-866e-4c57-8b29-d1f546e7c10d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02ac6886-81f5-4c48-a045-5f893088cac3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -200.19158%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

We’re clocking up 10 years in total living in Raleigh, and only now have we experienced the Loblolly Trail in Umstead State Park.

[{"selector":"#anim-7adb960b-58d2-4fb5-9496-0c6d041bb4cc","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.01)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.999)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-64fedf1c-8ec4-4346-b33b-f7534b3b8a47","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb50dcef-35f7-473b-a3a0-12a2d94fdec2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -439.7282%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

If you’re not used to hiking, be prepared for inclines, and natural paths that include plenty of tree roots, and stone crossings over creeks.

[{"selector":"#anim-29e58861-6f04-47ed-88ae-5b20f4d45629","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42e11758-a667-451e-8880-85d447a9ed43 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.061068441738303%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-c6480f0b-6df9-44f5-8650-da755415009b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08def2f5-e556-4457-88d9-0e6ea0d03738 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.31640614269664%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The trail starts at the northeast corner of the parking lot past the picnic area. It starts out rather flat and you’ll pass the interesting Young Cemetery, one of several old cemeteries in the park. Learn more

Soon the trail opens up and unveils the beautiful man-made Reedy Creek Lake. It was so picturesque with a moody sky threatening storms and the vibrant green of the forest foliage surrounding it.

[{"selector":"#anim-c0766258-e059-4538-ba66-851f127178ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be9e0dd2-9c11-4b71-956e-ab6539369fd8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-8.621093498914394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Fall foliage is meant to be beautiful here. You can fish in this lake – but no swimming is allowed.

[{"selector":"#anim-173fb675-dff7-4611-b2af-cfb9ee0384fd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

DON’T MISS DAVIES POND

[{"selector":"#anim-2c27e4ff-77ae-4bc3-bece-2ac3cc395628 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-9.289062252967604%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3861680a-4163-41b9-bf5b-cf01bde72d80","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

SWIPE UP TO READ MORE!

[{"selector":"#anim-600e15f9-6d3d-496c-85cb-95c83f7fbdf2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3699b297-450b-4e31-9d8f-bd4aeb0f2bb7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.24255%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

More Stories

[{"selector":"#anim-07425215-82f7-4cba-8dd8-ca3b499251b4","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":3}] [{"selector":"#anim-70c117d2-e2f5-4d75-8d6b-457e2aeee4e4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-261.59417%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6503ff8d-b618-4449-a9b7-5ad600c8315b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52313071-21ee-4940-8e7d-08d99adff3c3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80859a18-21b1-48e6-885e-0a6a3b2a16eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.00001%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f471458-2c1c-4949-a90f-f489d6ae5f04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43fbd9b5-553e-4269-b015-f0efc5ee6c3b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c2c4c53-b7a3-4fc8-9e44-3aef94d3d25e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.00001%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8270ba0-7a7e-4a04-84dd-c806ebf6e5de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf973ba7-eebe-4ee8-8be0-24ebfc596edc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6aa9f6d-5748-42c3-8a36-50cb48135954","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-248.66664%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-055afd69-dea6-4b13-b296-11d8bcdad9cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a198cdbe-9947-4265-944b-6e292eea05df","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] HIKING SAL’S BRANCH TRAIL IN UMSTEAD STATE PARK HIKING THE EASY POTT’S BRANCH TRAIL, UMSTEAD STATE PARK