The Shelley Lake Park loop trail is one of our favorite short walks in North Raleigh, and is the perfect place for a gentle stroll on a summer’s morning, or to get some much-needed workout in. Being just 2 miles long, this loop trail is perfect for joggers, and also has workout stations and restrooms, making it a popular spot amongst Raleigh’s fitness fanatics!
It’s not only runners who enjoy this trail. The serene woods and tranquil lake make it a haven from the hustle and bustle of the city, and even if you’re not the best hiker, you’ll find the easy Shelley Lake Park trail the perfect place to unwind and relax.
If you love hitting the trails and exercising in nature, definitely put Shelley Park on your list of places to visit in the city of Raleigh. Even though you’re within an easy drive of downtown Raleigh, you’ll feel a world away.
About Shelley Lake Park
Shelley Lake is located in Shelley Park, just 7 miles north-west of downtown Raleigh and just north of I-440. The main parking lot entrance is off W Millbrook Road and has plenty of parking spaces.
Within the park is a 2-mile paved Greenway trail, which is part of the bigger 180-mile Capital Area Greenway system and is perfect for walkers, runners, and bikers. There is also a playground area and dock areas where you can get close to the water’s edge and admire the reflections. There used to be paddle boats, but now no boating or swimming is allowed in the lake. You can fish from the Shelley Lake Pier if you have a fishing license.
The Shelley Lake Loop Trail wraps around the shoreline of the lake. Here are some quick facts about this trail:
- Distance: 2 miles
- Time to complete: 45 minutes walking
- Elevation gain: 26 meters
- Difficulty: Easy and Family-friendly – not strenuous! (though some steep hills by the parking lots)
- Surface: Paved and boardwalk
- Open: The trail is accessible year-round.
- Pet-friendly? Dogs allowed but must be kept on leash.
Opening hours
The park is open 7 days a week, but hours change depending on the month of the year. The park is open from 8am – 6pm from November to February, 8am – 7pm in March and October, and 7am – 8pm from April to September.
Facilities in Shelley Lake Park
As well as the trail, Shelley Lake Park has several amenities for recreation. It has basketball courts with a concrete surface and two kids’ playgrounds. One for toddlers ages 2-5 and one for ages 5-122, which both have a woodchip surface.
What makes this small lake in Raleigh unique is that fishing is allowed from either the dock or the pedestrian bridge, but you cannot do any bank fishing. You also need to have a fishing license and bring your own live bait. There aren’t any rental facilities, so bring your own gear.
You will also find the Sertoma Arts Center in the park, which offers art classes and workshops to visitors. You can learn everything from painting to drawing, to photography, and pottery. It also has studios and gallery exhibits of work done by the community. You will find restrooms inside the Sertoma Arts Center, which are open to the public.
Also by the arts center is an area of open fields where kids can run around and play, as well as picnic tables and benches where you can enjoy your own picnic. There isn’t anywhere to buy snacks, so bring food with you. Remember to take your trash home, too!
No drones allowed to take off from, or land in the park!
Walking The 2-Mile Shelley Lake Trail
The 2-mile paved loop trail around the 53-acre lake is mostly flat with one small incline at the start (or end, depending on which direction you walk) and is good for all fitness levels and those pushing a stroller. There is ample shade along the trail, but I would guess at least a quarter of it is open to the sun, so keep that in mind in the warmer months.
Also, keep in mind that this is a popular trail and highly trafficked, especially on weekends, but we find the path wide enough for easy passing of others. It’s also a multi-use trail for running and biking, so be aware of cyclists.
Starting at the main car park off W Millbrook Rd and at the Sertoma Arts Center, you will see a sign with a map as the beginning point, then head down the hill past the kids’ playground on the right towards the lake.
Once we connected to the scenic Greenway trail, we headed left in a clockwise direction, first walking over a timber boardwalk section with lovely views across the lake, then back on the paved trail continuing in a northerly direction.
You’ll soon come to a junction where the Shelley Lake Trail turns right and a small bridge crosses over Mine Creek, another pretty spot for a photo. Or, if you’re looking for a longer walk, continue on the Mine Creek Trail.
Just up from the Mine Creek Trail is another side trail you can explore, the Snelling Branch Trail, which is also one of the Greenway trails in Raleigh that takes you towards North Hills Drive and Optimist Park.
These side trails are only really worth exploring if you have parked your car at either North Hills Drive (Snelling Branch Trail) or the Millbrook Road Parking lot (Mine Creek Trail).
After passing Mine Creek, you cross the bridge and discover that the trail gets more wooded for a while before you get to the south section of the park. Then you open to the large open field area, which offers plenty of room for picnics or to run around to end your trail.
Finally, you simply continue on the trail past the south end of Shelley Lake, which offers extensive views over the lake! From here, the trail splits to the left, leading back to the car park, or follow the trail down towards the boathouse – definitely worth a look and a photograph.
Wildlife at Shelley Lake Park
As well as being naturally beautiful, it’s also a wildlife lover’s paradise. The park is famous for hosting a variety of bird life, including the Bald Eagle, which is often spotted sitting in the trees by the lake. You’ll also find ducks and geese swimming in the lake, as well as snapping turtles. In the forest areas, it’s common to see squirrels and foxes, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll see some deer grazing in the brush.
Public Art
In recent years, Shelley Lake has been a canvas for creative expression thanks to the Sertoma Arts Center, which has collaborated with Raleigh Arts and Raleigh Water to revamp the sewer system and buildings in the park and work with local artists to decorate them with murals.
There are several murals around the Sertoma Arts Center and along the nature trail. Each piece reflects the beauty of Shelley Lake and pays homage to its history and wildlife. You can view the locations of each mural on this Public Art Map!
My favorite is the Calvin Ulrich mural, which was created in 2023. He painted a mural of otters, birds, and other wildlife on a sewer device, which you will find along the greenway trail.
Pin to Save on Pinterest
Stay Connected to Raleigh
Join our free email community to receive free checklists, guides, insider tips, personal stories, fun finds, and the best events in Raleigh each week. We'll show you how to stay connected to Raleigh and love where you live! Join Below 👇
“Your weekly newsletter is a lifesaver for me. Yesterday we didn’t know what to do, I just check your list of events for the weekend, and we ended up in Cary at the Carolina Circus Festival. We had a great time so thanks a lot for all your good work 😊 we really appreciate you” Subscriber
As a native I remember the lake before it was a loop. The large bridge covers a large sewage pipe and the water used to be a lot deeper before the creek beneath it brought in sediment. There were more hiking trails and walkways on the far side that have since been lost to time. My friends and I enjoyed our adventures around the area.
What a shame we’ve lost those hiking trails. A very big problem of growth. I wish we could slow it down.