Hillsborough, North Carolina

Looking for the best hiking in Hillsborough? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Hillsborough. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Hillsborough

  • Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    Battle Branch Trail

    4.0
    2.94 mi / 230 ft gain
    Battle Branch Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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  • Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    North Carolina Botanical Garden

    1.46 mi / 157 ft gain
    North Carolina Botanical Garden is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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  • Durham, North Carolina

    Penny's Bend

    5.0
    Penny's Bend is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Durham, North Carolina.
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  • Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    Woodland and Mason Farm Trail Loop

    5.0
    1.76 mi / 265.26 ft gain
    The Woodland Trail and Mason Farm Trail together create a roughly 1.8-mile (approximately 2.9 km) loop through portions of Parker Preserve and the Mason Farm Biological Reserve, offering visitors a peaceful journey through upland forests and bottomland meadows. The Woodland Trail (~0.8 mi) win...
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  • Bahama, North Carolina

    Horton Grove

    5.0
    7.04 mi / 722 ft gain
    The Horton Grove Nature Preserve spans 708 acres and features about eight miles of interconnected trails, including a family-friendly interpretive path (“That Makes Sense”) and longer loop options that approach 7 miles. The full loop traverses diverse habitats—upland oak-hickory and mixed h...
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  • Graham, North Carolina

    Saxapahaw Island Park

    1.3 mi / 30 ft gain
    Saxapahaw Island Park is an urban park along the Haw River. The Saxapahaw Island Loop Trail is a well-maintained 1.3-mile loop.  The trail parallels a section of the Haw River Trail/Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Many park visitors run laps around the loop while others fish along the river's edge, chil...
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  • Burlington, North Carolina

    Fish the Haw River in Great Bend Park

    2.0
    0.4 mi
    After parking at Great Bend Park, follow the trail about 100 yards to a bridge which provides you access to a 5-acre island that overlooks the dam's waterfall. While the Haw River is easy to wade, the island offers a number of bank fishing spots for those who would prefer to keep their feet on so...
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  • Snow Camp, North Carolina

    Cane Creek Mountains Northern Approach Loop

    2.32 mi / 351 ft gain
    The Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area is a nature park in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. Pine Hill Trailhead is the first phase of the park and includes 3.5 miles of trails. All the trails are color-coded and marked with matching blazes every tenth of a mile. The 2.5-mile Northern Approac...
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  • Burlington, North Carolina

    Rock Creek Trail

    1.75 mi / 167 ft gain
    Cedarock Park is a 500-acre park named for the abundance of cedar trees and rock outcroppings. The park features a network of hiking and equestrian trails, disc golf and footgolf courses, primitive camping, a fishing pond, canoe and kayak rentals, basketball and volleyball courts, picnic shelters...
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  • Morrisville, North Carolina

    Hatcher Creek Greenway

    5.0
    5.25 mi / 112 ft gain
    Hatcher Creek Greenway is an excellent paved walking, running, and biking path in Morrisville, NC. This greenway connects to Crabtree Lake Greenway. You can also use this greenway to travel to the Morrisville community library, Morrisville Community Park, and access shopping and restaurants in th...
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  • Raleigh, North Carolina

    Sal's Branch Trail

    5.0
    2.55 mi / 331 ft gain
    Sal's Branch Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Morrisville, North Carolina.
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  • Morrisville, North Carolina

    Day Trip to Lake Crabtree

    5.0
    Lake Crabtree is a 215 acre park that sits right next to a 520 acre flood control lake, known as Lake Crabtree. The park is open year round and offers a plethora of different activities. Hiking trails are accessible to hikers and runners while bikes are also permitted on multi-use trails. The par...
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  • Apex, North Carolina

    Camp at Jordan Lake State Park

    4.0
    We passed by Jordan Lake on the way home from a soccer match, and the kids asked if we could camp there before summer's end. We lucked out and found a spot available online to reserve Labor Day weekend, so we packed up and headed out for a couple of relaxing days by the lake.The camping offerings...
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  • Cary, North Carolina

    Black Creek Greenway to Lake Crabtree

    5.0
    2.04 mi / 213 ft gain
    Black Creek Greenway to Lake Crabtree is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Morrisville, North Carolina.
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  • Cary, North Carolina

    Reedy Creek and Loblolly Trail

    4.02 mi / 456 ft gain
    Reedy Creek and Loblolly Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Raleigh, North Carolina.
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  • Cary, North Carolina

    Loblolly and Reedy Creek Trail Loop

    5.0
    4.03 mi / 456 ft gain
    The Loblolly and Reedy Creek Trail Loop is a great loop trail for hiking, running and biking in Umstead State Park near Raleigh, North Carolina.  TRAILI started my run on the Loblolly Trail from the parking area and then continued on the Reedy Creek Trail. Combining these two trails forms a loop...
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