Falls Lake Loop to Falls Dam 4.6 (422 reviews) · Moderate

Falls Lake Loop to Falls Dam
4.6 Miles
(422 reviews)
Moderate
Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
(Link to the map website: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tU2hXQW3zJfYW5d56) Cut & Paste if needed.

Enjoy this 5.7-mile loop trail near Raleigh, North Carolina. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and running, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

Start at Annie Wilkerson's main parking lot and take the Epps Forest loop trail past the Picnic Shelter to the MST connector. At the boundary of the Preserve, turn right and continue on the MST bearing left on the trail to reach the Visitor's Centre at Falls Dam itself. At the amphitheatre overlooking the Lake, take the single track down past the stage and turn right to follow the track to cross a small bridge on the left and head parallel to the lake shore past the canoe launch and then turn right to head uphill to the dirt track. Turn right before the steps leading to the dam road and by the bench turn right to rejoin the MST. Cross the park road and head through the wooded area and across the park road again and turn left to follow the path and exit road out of the park. This part of the trail is marked Long Leaf trail. A short way down an unmarked trail bears into the woods on the right hand side. Follow the trail until coming out on wide fire road. At its end, turn right to follow the cut off of the water mains line until one intersects with the MST. Turn left to retrace steps on the MST until the Annie Wilkerson Preserve is reached. Follow Epps Forest trail as it loops around the perimeter of the Preserve and exit by the Visitor Centre and parking lot.