White Pines Nature Preserve — Attraction in Pittsboro

I come here often to trail run and this year I was surprised to find that they have added a new parking lot and redesigned the trail system, adding a couple new trails. I read that the signage wasn’t good on another review and I couldn’t disagree more. Very clear signage but some of the trails can get a little faint in late fall when the leaves and pine straw fall due to low traffic. The trails have occasional markers and it is pretty hard to get lost here because your boxed in to the north and east with two rivers, a creek to the west and a road to the south. The geography of this place is really unique to the area with topography and plant life in certain parts of the preserve being reminiscent of a mountainous area. The new Rocky Bluffs Trail is a short half mile trail that runs through sandstone uplift and turns east to run parallel with the Rocky River a good 175 feet or more above the river. Swing a left on Schoolkids Trail(be aware, there is a white pine down across this junction, but you can easily step around) and go down a series of switchbacks that lead to the river. I have climbed this hill numerous times before the trail was created and it is quite impressive for central NC, with a gradient typically found in the western part of the state.That being said, I can appreciate the use of a wide switchback by whoever made the trail to help make the ascent/descent much more gentle. There are now a few options of loops you could do and two parking areas to start from. Before the new additions, I ran here this past January a few days after a snow. The east side of the preserve was completely dry and around 50 degrees while the north side was still completely snow covered and at least 15 degrees cooler. I ran a couple laps that day and each time it was just crazy, the drastic difference from one side to the other. The 5th star of my rating is for convenience and solitude as it is a gem so close to home and a great alternative to Umstead or Raven Rock if you’re looking to avoid seeing a lot of people. Thanks TLC! P.S. Beware of seed ticks if you come here in the...

White Pines Nature Preserve is a Triangle Land Conservancy property in Chatham County about 8 miles south of Pittsboro. The area protects the steep bluffs at the confluence of the Deep and Rocky Rivers. These north-facing bluffs create a microclimate cooler than the surrounding Piedmont that supports a population of white pine outside its normal mountain habitat. There are about 3 miles of trails that loop throughout the preserve, providing visitors an opportunity to explore this special place. The Gilbert Yager trail makes a loop of about a mile through the southern part of the preserve and offers views of Deep River from high bluffs. The area is forested so the best views will be in the winter when the leaves are down. This trail also heads through an area where young white pines are growing. The White Pines Trail runs through the middle of the park and connects with the other trails. The River Trail leads down to the banks of Deep River and heads to the confluence and then along Rocky River. The best views of the rivers are from this trail. The School Kids loop is a short trail along Rocky River that leads to an old cable bridge. In the past, children had to cross the river on this bridge to go to school. Overall, this is a great little preserve and nice spot for an easy, relaxing hike. It's particularly nice in the summer when the preserve is a few degrees cooler than anywhere...

If you are looking for a place to walk in Nature, this is one of the best in central North Carolina. I used to visit this area back in the '80's with family and friends long before it became the White Pines Nature Preserve. It used to be called the "River Forks" Area among locals of both Lee and Chatham Counties. There are several trails that wind through the Eastern White Pines at the upper elevations down to the Bottomland Hardwood Forest next to the Rocky and Deep Rivers and their confluence. The Eastern White Pines, which give this beautiful preserve it's name are the eastern most population of this mountain species in North Carolina. There are several other mountain plants found here too. White-tailed Deer can be seen throughout the park, and if you visit during a weekday, are very quiet, and sit for 20 minutes of so, you might see a raccoon, or maybe more than one at once. Have seen Black Rat Snakes, Copperheads, Worm Snakes, and other snakes here on numerous occasions. While this is not a Wilderness, it is as good as it gets in this part of the state, and you certainly will be able to enjoy Nature here, and feel like you are getting away from asphalt, parking lots, concrete,...