Wake County is a region in North Carolina situated in a transitional area between the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions. This geography contributes to a diverse landscape featuring extensive greenway systems, large state and county parks, and varied natural features. The area includes granitic flatrocks, bluffs, and diverse habitats such as wetlands, forests, and longleaf pine stands. This varied terrain provides opportunities for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, road cycling, jogging, and more.
192
Routes
4.4
(378)
Average rating
4904
People visited

5.0
(4)
93
hikers
10km
02:41
120m
110m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(4)
65
hikers
4.99km
01:16
10m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
19
hikers
1.98km
00:32
20m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
10
hikers
9.85km
02:39
120m
130m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(6)
104
riders
35.8km
03:11
320m
320m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(10)
62
riders
85.9km
05:11
410m
410m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(5)
38
riders
38.8km
02:18
160m
160m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
30
riders
23.7km
01:27
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(16)
102
riders
12.9km
01:03
50m
50m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(14)
79
riders
9.07km
00:45
50m
50m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

46
riders
17.7km
01:32
160m
160m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
42
riders
16.2km
02:18
140m
140m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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3.0
(1)
59
riders
40.1km
01:50
170m
170m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
50
riders
71.9km
03:16
440m
440m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

49
riders
96.0km
04:00
420m
420m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

50
riders
101km
04:20
500m
500m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.0
(1)
35
runners
3.55km
00:22
30m
30m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
26
runners
9.00km
00:58
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1.0
(1)
24
runners
3.55km
00:22
20m
20m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
16
runners
9.06km
00:56
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.9
(12)
105
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

36
riders
19.4km
01:07
190m
190m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(15)
115
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
23
riders
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Wake County offers a diverse range of outdoor activities, including hiking, touring cycling, road cycling, jogging, mountain biking, and gravel biking. The region features an extensive greenway system and numerous parks, providing varied terrain for all skill levels.
William B. Umstead State Park is a primary hiking destination with 22 miles (35 km) of dedicated trails. Other popular spots include Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and sections of the Neuse River Greenway Trail. For more details, refer to the Hiking in Wake County guide.
The Neuse River Greenway Trail, stretching over 27.5 miles (44 km), and the American Tobacco Trail, spanning 23 miles (37 km), are popular for touring and road cycling. William B. Umstead State Park also offers 13 miles (21 km) of multi-use trails. More information is available in the Cycling in Wake County guide.
Yes, Wake County offers many easy hiking options suitable for beginners and families. The extensive greenway system provides numerous paved and unpaved paths with minimal elevation changes. The Easy hikes in Wake County guide provides specific recommendations.
Wake County features an extensive greenway network. Key trails include the Neuse River Greenway Trail, which extends over 27.5 miles (44 km), and the American Tobacco Trail, spanning 23 miles (37 km). The Crabtree Creek Greenway also connects to Lake Crabtree, offering a 19-mile (31 km) asphalt trail.
William B. Umstead State Park is a major destination with over 5,000 acres of trails and lakes. Other significant parks include Lake Crabtree County Park, Harris Lake County Park, Historic Yates Mill County Park, and Blue Jay Point County Park, all providing various recreational amenities.
Wake County offers several options for mountain biking. William B. Umstead State Park has multi-use trails suitable for cycling. Specific routes and details can be found in the MTB Trails in Wake County guide.
Outdoor routes in Wake County have an average rating of 4.52 out of 5 stars on komoot. This rating is based on feedback from more than 18,000 visitors who have explored the region's 1,375 routes.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for Wake County, covering various sports. These include guides for Hiking, Cycling, Road Cycling, Running, MTB Trails, and Gravel Biking.
For general information about Wake County, the official website is wakegov.com. The Wake County Manager's Office can be reached by phone at +1-919-856-6180.
Wake County is situated in a transitional area between North Carolina's Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions. This results in diverse landscapes, including extensive greenway systems, large state and county parks, granitic flatrocks, bluffs, and varied habitats like wetlands, forests, and longleaf pine stands.
While Wake County has no natural lakes, it features several large reservoirs that offer recreational opportunities. These include Falls Lake on the Neuse River and Harris Lake on Buckthorn Creek. Smaller artificial lakes and ponds are also present throughout the county.

