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.
Sal’s Branch Trail is an easy to moderate 2.8 mile loop trail good for all fitness levels through the woods with lake views about half way. Dogs can use this trail too but must be kept on leash!
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).
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.
We quickly realized that this trail would be more like a walk than a hike, with gentle rises and falls in elevation and nothing too strenuous.