Land Trail
Amenities
The Haw River Trail is a 70-mile long multi-use trail following the path of the Haw River from Haw River State Park to Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. For over half of that stretch, the Haw River Land Trail will combine with the statewide Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail begins at Clingman’s Dome (in Great Smoky Mountains National Park) on the State’s western border and terminates at Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. Combining with the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will allow hikers from across the country to share in the beauty of the Haw River corridor.
Currently, over 20 miles of Land Trail are open to the public in Alamance County, offering beautiful views of the river and its plants and wildlife, as well as opportunities to hike, walk, picnic, and fish along the river. Check out the Haw River Land Trail maps below and visit the Land Trail Maps tab for a closer look at each open section of Trail. Over time, we will continue to rely on the generosity and cooperation of landowners, local governments and citizens to help complete the planned trail mileage. Check back often for updates as new trailheads and trail sections open.
Maps
Maps of each Paddle Trail section are available as PDF files for easy online-viewing or download. Select your trail section below to get acquainted with park details, trail mileage, and a description of each section's features.
A printed location map is available at each HRT trailhead.
Hours & Rules
Hours
November – March: 8am-6pm
April: 8am-8pm
May – August: 8am-9pm
September – October: 8am-8pm
Gate accesses are locked at closing time. Please do not leave your vehicle parked at a trailhead after the posted closing time.
Rules
The following actions are prohibited at all Haw River Trail facilities:
Smoking, Vaping, and Tobacco use
Possession or use of alcohol or illegal drugs
Riding of bikes or horses on trails
Setting fires outside of fire rings or grills
Use of motor vehicles outside of parking area
Littering or defacing of County property
Possession of weapons in violation of state law
Solicitation or advertising of any kind
Failure to have pets on a leash
Fishing from boat launch area
Removal of plants or other natural materials
Camping outside of designated areas
Leave No Trace
Please practice Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics on the Trail:
Plan Ahead
Stick to the trails
Bag your trash
Leave what you find
Be careful with fire
Keep wildlife wild
Respect other visitors
Trail Blazes
Every section of trail along the Haw River Trail in Alamance County is blazed to ensure the safety of hikers on the trail. Haw River Trail blazes are diamond-shaped and blue with white in color, with the HRT logo in the center. Each blaze is marked with a four digit code that allows emergency responders to find the precise location of hikers in the event of an emergency. Mountains-to-Sea Trail blazes are white circles and may appear with HRT blazes.
If you are in need of emergency assistance, dial 911 and report the four digit code on the nearest trail blaze to the operator.
Mountains-to-Sea Trail
From the Haw River Trail’s beginning at Haw River State Park and throughout its journey along the Haw River through Alamance County, the Haw River Trail is designated as part of the statewide Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST). The MST runs the length of North Carolina, beginning at Clingman’s Dome (in Great Smoky Mountains National Park) on the State’s western border and terminating at Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. It passes through multiple state parks on its journey. You can search for the MST on the NC State Parks website to see which parks it passes through.
More than just a walk in the woods, the trail traces the diversity that is North Carolina. Experience ancient mountains and small Piedmont farms, coastal swamps and colonial towns, changing textile villages, and barrier islands. More than 500 miles of footpath are now completed. With temporary routes on back roads and bicycle paths, hikers can now follow the trail on an adventure across North Carolina.
Much like its older sibling the Appalachian Trail, the MST bring countless visitors to the region on their quest to hike the entirety of North Carolina. More information on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, including an interactive map of some of the currently constructed trail, can be found on the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail website.
View the March 2019 article “Hike of a Lifetime” from Our State Magazine featuring the Mountains to Sea Trail and Glencoe section of the Haw River Trail.
A Note to Hikers
The North Carolina Piedmont is blessed with a wide diversity of landscapes and an overwhelming number of natural species. Fortunately, the Piedmont also offers an abundance of opportunities to experience these treasures. Federal, state and local parks from Uwharrie to Cedarock are all within a short drive of the Triad and Triangle, and for many of us, we need travel only a few yards from our front doors to experience the grandeur of nature on a daily basis. Which begs the question, why another trail?
For the hiker and outdoorsman, the Haw River Trail offers the promise of a unique experience not found anywhere else in our region. Before the outlet malls and before I-40, the Haw River was truly the lifeline of our region. The banks of the Haw were home to the first Native American communities, and to the first European settlers to the area. In the 19th century, the Haw powered grist mills for the communities that sprang up alongside it, and pushed the turbines that carried the Industrial Revolution to the Piedmont. The factories and villages on the Haw River shaped who we have become, and much of that history remains waiting to be discovered. The Haw River Trail offers hikers an opportunity to walk through our human history, while seeing the natural masterpiece that has been the backdrop for it all.
The promise of the Haw River Trail was made even greater by its inclusion in the North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) in 2006. The Haw River Trail's construction is part of a state-wide effort to complete the MST, which has been over 30 years in the making. Hiking on a trail that stretches across the State brings a different feel to your average Sunday afternoon walk. It’s not the likelihood that you will just keep walking until you reach the ocean that makes it special...it’s the fact that you could, and that one day, you might!
