Wake County officials are planning to overhaul the Haleys Branch Trails in North Carolina, building on public feedback to inform the project’s design and implementation. Currently in the design phase, the county plans to begin construction in winter 2027.
The project calls for reshaping the entire trail system around Lake Crabtree. Previously called the 286 East Mountain Bike Trails, Haleys Branch Trails will span approximately 400 acres in total, located between Lake Crabtree County Park and William B. Umstead State Park.
The new trail system will incorporate trails from both parks, creating an interconnected system overseen by Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space. This includes 151 acres of trails located on property leased from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
The project calls for creating a series of trails building off existing material, reconfiguring the network as a whole. This will include building a perimeter loop, descending trails and interior connector trails, extending overall trail mileage.
The county plans to incorporate an array of experience zones, trail types and skill levels for all ranges of athletes and visitors. This will include nurturing hubs that provide natural resting and gathering spots across the network.
The trails will primarily cater to mountain bicyclists and pedestrians, working with both existing trails and new trails planned for development. The redesign will be of notable interest to adaptive sports, providing off-road cycling options to encourage outdoor recreation opportunities and visitation.
As an off-road cycling destination, the overhauled Haleys Branch Trails system will serve as a replacement for the trails lost at Lake Crabtree County Park after the airport didn’t renew a long-term lease.
Photo by Jared Brotman from Pexels
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