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    Al Buehler Cross Country Trail

    4.4 (45 reviews)

    Al Buehler Cross Country Trail Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Al Buehler Cross Country Trail

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    Trail conditions today: poor (rain last night). Fitness loop in good shape.
    Peter M.

    A variety of hills and flat runs make for a good workout. The main trail is just under 5K, 2.9 miles. There is an extra fitness loop near a retention pond that is low-impact and adds stretching, pull-ups, etc. This adds another mile. Recommend that loop to warm up or cool down if you enter near Academy Road side of 751 or Cornwallis Road. Watch where you're going, especially after it rains. There is a considerable amount of leaves and mud (it's nature!) so use caution coming down steep hills. Return: Definitely! I try to come here each time in town. Great exercise and it's covered from the sun.

    Trail map
    Mohamed N.

    "Great wooded albeit hilly trail by Duke's campus!" I don't have much to add to the existing reviews- this is indeed a very hilly, almost 5K, trail. I like it because there's an entrance right next to the Faculty Club, so easy to stop by after a run and do some weights & shower. Detailed map is now uploaded. The bonus exercise trail loop also lists various activities you can stop and do (e.g., pushups off a log), though I've never done these. If you run the main trail loop clockwise, you'll encounter fewer crazy-steep hills going up (albeit more constant slower-rises). There are milepost signs, too, but they're facing such that they're mainly visible by people running counter-clockwise. The two crazy-steepest hills are between mileposts 2.25 and 2.50 and very close to 1.25. The worst sewage smell place Susan Z mentioned is near 0.25. One triviality I find amusing is the shift in sex-ratio among the early-morning (between 6 and 7am) runners on the trail by season- in mid-winter, it's 75% or more male, whereas it's probably the opposite in April. Probably has something to do with dark and concern for safety, though I've never heard of any problems here.

    Near Cameron Blvd/Erwin Rd.
    Susan Z.

    This is the only trail I've run, I have run on sidewalks before. Lemme say, the Al Buehler Trail shames any sidewalk I've met. PROS - various gradients - flexible distances (main 2.9m loop + 0.11 connector = 5K, also another 0.6mi loop attached to other end of the connector). - scenic - other people (makes me feel safer) CONS - smells of sewage at one or two places, just run faster - no bathrooms - no lights (it gets so dark so fast) - other people (difficult to find parking) This trail is great for both beginners like me and hardcore runners who do marathons. I actually enjoy running b/c of this trail!

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    10 years ago

    I love this Trail. I go almost every day with my dog. We love it. And now that summer is coming is iven more beautifull!!!!!!!

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    My fave running trail in Durham. Watch out for the copperheads, they freeze up like twigs when they hear you stomping through. Gorgeous.

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    12 years ago

    Awesome!Great workout love the terrain after a good rain makes it more of a challenge

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Al Buehler Cross Country Trail

    Review Highlights - Al Buehler Cross Country Trail

    The grassy lot on 751, just south of the Washington Duke Inn is at the highest point of the entire loop.

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    Ellerbe Creek Trail

    Ellerbe Creek Trail

    4.1
    (7 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Since moving from Berkeley, California to North Carolina, my family -- including our high-energy…read moreBasenji -- has been on the lookout for good walking trails. Back in Northern California, we were spoiled with countless dirt trails that often allowed off-leash dogs. To our surprise (and horror ), North Carolina has no off-leash options. That said, the Ellerbee Creek Trail has become our go-to spot. While it's not ideal for our dog due to the leash requirements, it's a paved, 1.5-mile trail that's great for casual walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Coming from dirt paths, the smooth pavement is gonna take some getting used to, but we appreciate it -- especially since it rains often here and this trail doesn't get muddy are slippery. We take our dog on the trail twice a day, and we're truly grateful to have it nearby. It's not a mountain trail, but it's clean, safe, and accessible.

    We tried out Ellerbe Creek trail because it's paved and great for strollers or bikes. We parked at…read morethe Rock Quarry Park lot which is near Duke Regional hospital. We loved the various scenery that the trail includes as it passes lots of little bridges, the Brontosaurus (my goal for this trail), dog parks, and the Vietnam Living Memorial. The trail wasn't too crowded save for the occasional runner or bicyclist. I found Rose L's Yelp review super helpful in terms of the different sections of the trails. We did smell a few sewage-y odors wafting up from the ground but it was only brief and not too overpowering. You can go along the trail as long as you like---we did about 1-2 miles before turning back to the parking lot.

    Photos
    Ellerbe Creek Trail
    First time down this trail the section that goes through the wooda is beautiful. Gonna have to make this a part of my routine.
    First time down this trail the section that goes through the wooda is beautiful. Gonna have to make this a part of my routine.
    Map trail guide, directly off Trinity.

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    Map trail guide, directly off Trinity.
    Morgan Creek Trail

    Morgan Creek Trail

    4.8
    (4 reviews)
    9.4 mi

    It's a pretty decent place to walk in there are paved areas, which is nice, but there aren't very…read moremany places that indicate trails lengths or where to go. It's not that huge that I think anyone would get lost and it's very wide open. All dogs on the trail while we went were leashed which was great. Pretty nice place for a picnic with large open grounds. No bathrooms or water that I saw but did have it's own parking lot (although small)

    I usually don't like paved trails, but beggars choosers sometimes. Definitely great for wheelchairs…read moreand slow walkers. I will say there's enough natural elements to distract from the huge concrete sidewalk extending the entire length of the path, which ends up emptying into a community and another fitness path (has outdoor equipment stops) on one end and a pasture of wild flowers (mostly common milkweed for monarch butterflies) roughly midpoint. At the pasture the trail is definitely NOT paved and rather rough to navigate. If you have problems walking, be cautious, yet try experiencing it in the spring and late summer to catch glimpse of the butterflies and their caterpillars eating away before their chrysalis stage. There's a small parking lot at the beginning of the trail big enough for 20 cars. This includes a couple handicap spots. I've been there twice now on the weekend and I've lucked out to find a few spots open. Once you park DON'T head for the tempting metal bridge. Go in the opposite direction where you'll see the regulations sign. Then you'll know you're in the right spot!

    Photos
    Morgan Creek Trail
    Morgan Creek Trail
    Closeup of the Morgan Creek Trail sign.

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    Closeup of the Morgan Creek Trail sign.

    Al Buehler Cross Country Trail - hiking - Updated July 2026

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