William B. Umstead State Park

Hike, bike or ride horseback on miles of wooded trails between Raleigh, Cary and Durham, with three lakes and free day use.

Crabtree Creek Entrance and Visitor Center, 8801 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617 · Raleigh, NC

About William B. Umstead State Park

Umstead is a forest of more than 5,000 acres wedged between Raleigh, Cary, Durham and the RDU airport. It started in the 1930s as worn-out farmland that the Civilian Conservation Corps and WPA turned into a recreation area; a separate park for Black visitors at Reedy Creek opened in 1950 and the two were joined in 1966. Today there are about 34.5 miles of hiking trails, 13 miles of bike and bridle trails and three manmade lakes with boat rentals. Day use is free, and the campground is open all year.

#state park
#hiking
#mountain biking
#horseback riding
#camping

What's around here?

The closest stops to William B. Umstead State Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Sports & Outdoors
Lake Crabtree County Park
Check prices
A Wake County park on Lake Crabtree offering lakeside trails, fishing, boating, and picnic areas.
3.3 mi awayMore like this
Shopping
Rainy-Day Pick
Crabtree
No admission fee
Shop nearly 200 stores, including Apple, Belk, Macy's and Dick's House of Sport, at Raleigh's big enclosed mall.
5.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping
Museums
Rainy-Day Pick
North Carolina Museum of Art
No admission fee
See 5,000 years of art in two gallery buildings, then walk trails past outdoor sculpture in the 164-acre Museum Park.
Transit: reachable by public transit
5.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums
Sports & Outdoors
Family Favorite
Pullen Park
Check prices
Ride a 1912 Dentzel carousel and a miniature train, rent a pedal boat on Lake Howell and picnic in North Carolina's oldest public park.
8.7 mi awayMore like this
Museums
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
No admission fee
A state-run natural history museum in downtown Raleigh with live animal displays and rotating exhibitions.
Transit: reachable by public transit
9.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums
Sports & Outdoors
Outdoor Adventure
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Under $25
Swim at a lake beach, launch a kayak, ride the Beaverdam bike trails or hike a stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail just north of Raleigh.
10 mi awayMore like this