Recreation

Wherever you live in the Triangle, you'll have an easy drive to the area's many delightful recreational facilities.

Beautiful Jordan Lake, a 14,000-acre lake with 150 miles of shoreline located in nearby Chatham County, provides fishing, picnicking, water skiing and boating to all area residents.

In Durham County, the Eno River State Park has 1,600 acres of water-oriented wilderness and offers miles of hiking trails, primitive (walk-in) camp sites and limited picnicking. Adjacent is the Eno River City Park, featuring 40 acres of park, with the restored McCown-Mangum farmhouse, the reconstructed, operational 1778 grist mill, blacksmith shop and Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography. In addition, more than 65 parks in Durham provide recreational facilities, hiking trails and shady spots for picnics.

The Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department operates Durant Nature Park, located at the northern edge of the city. Durant covers 237 acres of woodlands, lakes and streams, and serves as the site for summer day camps and a variety of nature study and outdoor recreation classes.

William B. Umstead State Park, located off U.S. 70 between Durham and Raleigh, is a 5,000-acre habitat for wildlife indigenous to the area. This woodland and water preserve provides fishing, camping, hiking and picnic facilities.

Falls Lake, running through both Durham and Wake Counties, includes the Rollingview State Recreation Area and provides a variety of recreational opportunities including swimming, picnicking, boating, camping, hunting, fishing, and canoeing.

Another recreational park and waterway is Kerr Lake, located about an hour and a half from the Triangle. It has approximately 1,000 campsites, boat launching ramps, swimming, picnic grounds, water skiing, fishing, and sailing (sailboat rentals available).