HIKING THE EASY POTT’S BRANCH TRAIL UMSTEAD STATE PARK

Now the weather is warmer and the trees are in full lush, we’re on a mission to complete all the hiking trails in Umstead State Park, Raleigh, and write a full guide to the park!

[{"selector":"#anim-1631e52a-4c19-4a81-bfcc-5b50465e1d90","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-30cd9d36-3034-44a1-8887-6123f5f1da4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2572f64-6ae9-4ad6-a302-811de9694eb6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -145.99082%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

It’s a beautiful picnic area, so perhaps plan to bring a packed picnic lunch, or supplies to cook out.

[{"selector":"#anim-fcd53faf-52cf-4bf5-ae26-d9ec2634520e","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-c85536d1-0d72-4edd-90d6-faacbc7f110f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-551d07a3-0bd5-42a8-9465-70aa8a586058","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -528.12801%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

The Pott’s Branch trail is located in the northeastern part of Umstead State Park right near the Glenwood Avenue Entrance.

[{"selector":"#anim-f6816336-9eb1-4dec-b0a1-7f2d7685d7d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99d9390d-c3e7-4382-9275-70434acb402e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-44.63581519269451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Pott’s Branch trail is the perfect Sunday stroll and should only take about 30-40 minutes, depending upon how many stops you take for photos or to rest.

[{"selector":"#anim-815c7ef4-2104-45af-a177-92b08f5110d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b0f19a0-f297-400f-839b-16d4be83eca6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(16.722790765099578%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

This state park is in Raleigh, so urban noise will be around. But for the most part, it felt quite tranquil and restorative.

[{"selector":"#anim-3d385310-3d73-49e9-b631-187acc3be7a1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3205f198-e064-4754-aff1-e53fd1b8bd60 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.75969936821816%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

If you start at the first parking lot, turn right along the paved path at the picnic and restrooms. This is where the trail intersects with the Sycamore Trail.

[{"selector":"#anim-2c1938ca-6afa-4dd6-a7cc-1d6cf5b4fe3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

The trail turns pretty much straight away to the left. Pay attention to the orange diamond/square blazes as it’s easy to miss the turn as there are a few little trails in this area.

[{"selector":"#anim-ae120847-1f6a-4616-9741-dbe99f5b4142 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-10.027343507447476%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eace8c97-439e-4d3a-9a71-dbe7feecf0d4","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-7e6b1fea-7665-489b-935a-6e884523858b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0168c6b3-78b1-41ae-851d-4da019342981","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-a72f342b-d3bf-4fae-a826-db370b7e3fdd","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-48d4c2bd-7ef8-47fd-b9f1-7db774c9253d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-251.70068%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbdfb44d-3b50-4853-8cfd-c130ca3f781a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ae1b8ae-f73a-4ee5-8b5a-a1b9460f17d6","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-17f8391f-1846-4c68-8d40-39b09aaf6864","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-26e3f744-1e7c-400f-b014-8aa86397d2cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aed6a262-4383-44cc-a8c2-1566467ad9bc","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-13e9c13c-9576-4837-aa13-122f3a72e4b0","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-a1777f56-c0fa-419a-98d8-ada96a6d1ca9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bc7e3b5-3594-4527-878e-de399f27718f","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-fa689a75-29ef-468d-8558-5a81070e237b","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-67fbf854-125e-4632-8624-cd476dc1c00a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3d9033b-7bc6-472a-8e55-8ce7129d02c0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":550,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] HIKING THE 7 MILE SYCAMORE TRAIL: UMSTEAD STATE PARK, RALEIGH WHY LAKE JOHNSON IS OUR FAVORITE LAKE IN RALEIGH