SAL’S BRANCH TRAIL IN UMSTEAD STATE PARK

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

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.

GETTING TO SAL’S BRANCH TRAIL

Starting out from behind the visitor center, you walk a short ways along the trail, then cross through the extended car parking area.

HIKING THE TRAIL

Then the service road before heading into the woods following the “orange circles” as markers.

The lake was a nice place to relax for a few minutes, take some more photos, and talk about coming back here with our inflatable stand up paddle boards and get out on the water for a different perspective.

It was overall a nicely maintained and clean trail and a great starting point for when you visit William Umstead State Park – you get the woods and the lake!

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