Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve — Attraction in Cary

Beautiful hidden gem located in Eastern Cary. This nature preserve has an educational/visitor/historic center right by the front gates. They have interpretation and environmental education programming for children. A natural playground with benches and interesting equipment for kids to play and learn about nature at the same time. The best part: miles of trails that send you into multiple different groves of Hemlock, Beech, Chestnut Oak & other Oaks, and Pine. The trails are natural packed and boardwalks with educational signage and stunning bluff overlooks that demand attention from visitors enjoying shaded & cool hikes.

I highly recommend checking out all the features that this park has to offer. The staff are great and put a lot of time and effort into keeping this ecological nook in the city beautiful and healthy for generations to come. Stop by and see the Certified Wildlife Habitat courtyard before taking a relaxing and inviting hike through the Piedmont's...

Nice place for a short hike. Lots of smaller hills with steps up and down. The trails were covered with wood chips, so your feet stayed clean. We walked all the trails in about an hour.

The website mentioned "scenic overlooks". When we got to the scenic overlooks, the entire view was obstructed with trees and bushes, and we couldn't see the bluffs. They may be able to be seen after the trees lose their leaves in the fall, but not at all once the trees have their leaves in the spring. That was kind of a bummer.

There's a place for little kids (I think the sign said 3-5 years old) to play and do little activities outside. There's probably other things to do inside the main building, but it was closed the day we were there.

I would go back again when we come to Cary for a nice...

Hemlock Bluffs is a great little nature preserve. Most of the preserve is part of Hemlock Bluffs State Natural Area and leased to the town of Cary to operate as a nature preserve. Steep bluffs along Swift Creek create a montane microclimate that supports an unusual population of eastern hemlock. The preserve has a nature center to learn more about the flora and fauna of the area and about 2.5 miles of mulched trails and wooden stairs. The trails are mostly easy but there are some stairs to go up and down the bluff. The Swift Creek floodplain and steep bluffs support diverse wildlife and this is a great place to see spring wildflowers. Hard to believe this little gem is nestled right in the...