Bond Park Lake Trail is such a lovely spot for an easy outdoor escape in Cary. The trail is about half paved and half unpaved, which made it feel a little more natural while still being very accessible. It was especially great for dogs -- there were so many happy pups out enjoying the trail, and the atmosphere felt super friendly and relaxed. A huge plus was how shaded most of the trail is, which made the walk comfortable even on a warmer day. The lake views along the way were beautiful and peaceful, and there are plenty of large grassy areas throughout the park that are perfect for picnics, tossing a ball around, or simply lounging outside with a book. The park itself is also very well maintained with lots of parking, clean restrooms, and helpful amenities. I also liked seeing the workout stations scattered along the trail for anyone wanting to turn their walk into a little fitness moment. read more

Fred G Bond Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

We had our baby shower at Buehler Shelter and had a great experience! You can pay ahead of time and reserve the shelter. It was a large area with lots of picnics tables. It is somewhat secluded. Plenty of parking and bathrooms are nearby(but not too close) read more

Fred G Bond Metro Park - Buehler Shelter - Parks Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Nice community park with kayak rentals and trails. Occasionally crowded and offering so many wholesome community options including the annual crafts festival and Friday music events. read more

Beautiful park with a lake/pond. It also has an indoor community center for meetings, activities and sports. Outdoors frisbee golf area, archeries, etc. Picnic areas with metal benches and tables. It's a great place to take a stroll or participate in groups activities. read more

This is an awesome spacious park! There is something here for everyone. Paved trails, a lake, playgrounds, open fields to have picnics and more. The park is well taken care of and has a lot of parking! read more

See all

We visited recently as a family and liked this park a lot! Unfortunately, we didn't get to explore all of the trails, but we did check out the playground with our toddler :) It was pretty nice! Some of the activities were for older kids (one of the play structures was REALLY large!), but there were also smaller play structures for his age group, some swings, etc. We also checked out the boathouse by the water and really enjoyed the view there. There were people fishing, which is always relaxing to see, and the boats seemed affordable to rent. There was also a concession stand where you could buy snacks and drinks, and the bathrooms were clean :) Always a plus! Overall, we'd definitely come back here, especially because we didn't get a chance to check out everything. read more

Bands, Bites, and Boats event review 6/2: The event is every first Friday. I came out without any expectations since it was free. I honestly found it to be most enjoyable when one is trying to get some miles in and would like to hear live music. Great music and scenery. As far as the food truck logistics for this particular event I would say don't visit for this event without packing lunches. You can bring your food and a Tumbler of water and just save yourself time. If you're coming just for food trucks, I say arrive at 5 pm or 5:30 pm. I witnessed people in the lines for an extended period. read more

Fred G Bond Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Best park in Cary for just about anything. Lots of birds and wildlife along the greenways. Well maintained. Tons of places for picnics, loved renting the boats when my kids were younger and all the baseball fields are baller. Well maintained and field 3 has a free batting cage. Just an awesome place to have in your hometown. read more

Easily one of my favorite parks in Raleigh. I visited this past weekend and enjoyed all that Fred Bond has to offer. They offer so much here! Paddle boats, bicycles to rent, a amphitheater, so much patio seating, tons of trails! I really enjoyed the boathouse area. It's really modern and offers so much. A screened in patio with ceiling fans gives you the option to upgrade your environment when working from home. The trails offer so many different options for getting your daily steps in. The location is not the easiest when navigating to from High House. That's an area that is very packed with traffic and no traffic light when leaving the park. All in all, this is a nice place to paddle boat, picnic and get a workout in. read more

See all

Under an hour drive from Wake Forest sits this 310 acre park in Cary. Great parking, paths that are well marked, play areas, boathouse, baseball fields and more. They even have autonomous shuttles for free! We didn't utilize it as hiking was our plan for the day. There is an employee but not in drivers seat. It runs a timed loop around the park. The boathouse is where you can rent paddle boats, canoes, kayaks and even small sailboats in season. I love that there are both paved paths and wooded paths with great signage. There's also a rope course and amphitheater and lots of benches and shelters to use. My new favorite park and can't wait to go back! read more

See all

This is our go-to park. So many trails, such pretty scenery, lake, working Equipment when you know where to find it ;) We usually hit the lake trail or the open ground where the kids can play ball or fly kites. The grounds are beautifully maintained, safe and filled with families and walkers and dogs alike. People have been well about social distancing. The parking lots usually have space exception is election week- but even then, parking was feasible! The park has nice benches to sit when tired, something for all ages. A must visit for all looking for health, fitness, fun or just a view! read more

Fred G Bond Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

If you love lake views, this is a beautiful park to visit - one of Cary's hidden treasures. I went there on a last-minute date and enjoyed sitting on a bench at the lake, just talking and people watching. This park is the ideal location for a no-frills nature walk/jog, running, biking, kiting, sports, picnic or playground outing. I hear that there are amphitheater and clubhouse events, but there was nothing going on there that I could tell when I visited. It is an ideal spot for an outdoor music event for sure! I didn't visit the concession stand, although some say they serve ice cream. I've heard that food trucks may also be available during events. There is plenty room for children and dogs to run around, but also room to just sit and observe. There is a playground for children too. Boats are on site and rentals are evidently available at times, but no one appeared to be renting when I visited. This is a peaceful park, especially because of the opportunity it presents to just sit and meditate by the lake. I will be sure to visit there again! read more

One of my favorite places in the area. Love the hike around the lake, which has everything from paved paths to wooden boardwalks and rustic paths. Also love the big hill, the new playground and the ability to rent boats. A great place to bring visitors when they're in the area. read more

[Coronavirus review] This is a substantial urban park with an artificial-looking lake and a path around it that connects to numerous local greenway trails. The lake is encircled by a path that wasn't wide enough for ideal social distancing, but it's not hard to step off the path in most locales. People's backyards run up against much of it. There are some nice picnic facilities and some boating infrastructure. The parking was packed when I dropped in, but I squeezed into a space, and hey, it was free. read more

See all

This is such a beautiful park! We spent time walking with my dog and checking out the lake but there are so many cool things to do. There were lots of folks biking, fishing, jogging, and just having lunch by the lake. We can't wait to come back when we have more time. read more

See all

Bond Park is one of our walking group's favorite places to go walking. There are multiple trails to follow, some paved, some not. We love walking all the way around the lake, but sometimes use the other trails as well. There are multiple places to enjoy a picnic and there are boat rentals available. The children's play area is nicely done and well kept. There is plenty of parking throughout the park and the restrooms have always been clean. A beautiful place to walk, ride a bike, fly a kite or just sit and watch the water and wildlife! read more

So happy to live close to Bond Park. We visit all the time when we want to get outside. The greenway trails are lovely and the lake is pretty. We try to attend a few of their special events. The playground is great for kids too. read more

See all

This is a great place to go for a walk. Most of the trails are covered with a canopy of beautiful trees. You have to be careful not to trip because of the roots. A tree blew down in a storm a couple of days ago, and I went back today it had been removed. read more

See all

I love this park! I am a big fan of this space and have been coming here for years. I live on the eastern side of Raleigh but am always willing to make the drive over to Cary to visit Bond Park for a relaxing afternoon. It's my favorite place to walk around, rent kayaks, and to picnic outside, especially during the summers! Fred G. Bond Park is located right off High House Rd. (multiple entry points) and is one of the largest municipal parks in Wake County. This park is pet friendly and has just about everything, too. From greenways, a Tree ID trail, clean restrooms, Lazy Days Playground, the Sertoma Amphitheatre, many park shelters, baseball/softball fields, the Bond Park Boathouse (currently closed), boat rentals (currently closed), Bond Lake (currently only open to Season Launch Pass holders), Bond Park Community Center, (currently closed), Bond Park Challenge Course (currently closed), a compost education center, community garden, and a senior center. There's also a large grassy area that's perfect for throwing a ball or picnicking on a blanket. I'm not sure about right now, due to COVID safety precautions, but they usually host a lot of community events here as well. It's a great place for people of all ages to find something to do. The grounds are very well-maintained and I hardly ever see litter unless I'm on one of the unpaved trails. This park is pretty big but can get pretty packed on weekends and for Pokemon Go Community Days, even during COVID times, which may not be ideal if you/your family are very worried about maintaining social distancing. The trail pathways/ramps/bridges are not big enough to leave 6 feet of distance per person but it's usually pretty easy to step off the side into the grass or wait for them to pass. read more

See all

Great park ! Lots of walking trails that are nicely maintained. Lots of parking. They even have EV charging stations near the boathouse. The boathouse has been meticulously maintained. There is a screened in "sitting area" with rocking chairs. There are also paddle boats and row boats that can be rented. The lake is small but you can definitely have a great time out there on a boat. I believe you can even do some fishing. This park is also home to numerous baseball fields and a rec building that houses basketball/volleyball courts. There is also an amphitheater with seating and a stage for small events. Don't forget about the playground !!! It's a great park with something for everyone. Come by and check it out. You'll be glad you did ! read more

See all

I love this park! The trails are perfect for an easy walk on paved walkways or a more rugged terrain of dirt paths through wooded trails. None of the trails are difficult and the paths are clearly marked. There are wide open grassy areas for picnics and family gatherings and dog-friendly meeting areas. I've been going to this park for over 25 years and I always notice the cleanliness and on-going improvements and additions. When my kids were little, this was their favorite place to go! read more

See all

As good as it gets! Love the Lake trail loop, it's cool and shaded. Lots of roots on that trail, so running or jogging is dangerous. also love the rolling meadows, to relax and unwind. This is a lovely park right in the suburb of Cary! read more

Nice nature trail, mostly unpaved and you feel like you are intruding on someone's backyard but no one seemed to mind. Not suitable for strollers or bikes. Exercise stations available and plenty of parking. read more

This is my favorite spot in Cary. They have festivals and events going on here constantly for everyone. Walking trails are great. Always kept up well. People are really good at cleaning up after their dogs. Renting boats is affordable and fun. Love kayaking after it rains, you can go down further, it makes an obstacle course creek that's super fan. Has a great view of the sunset on the rocking chairs up high at the boathouse. Also I've noticed I never get bitten by mosquitoes! Super shaded so we can go for walks on the paved path down greenway even when it's super hot outside and it never feels as bad. read more

See all

Great park with a seasonal boat house, ball fields, covered picnic shelters and picnic tables near the lake with charcoal grills, a 2 mile moderate trail and easy paved trails. Amphitheater has musical events free to the public and there is a senior and community center with scheduled activities. I love the covered shelter with outlets which can be rented and rocking chairs off the shelter. There is also a playground off the main entrance road. read more

See all

I love being outdoors and this park is beautiful. I started coming here because my son's track team runs the trails. While they are out running I get the chance to sit and enjoy the wonderful sounds of nature. Bond park is a lovely oasis in the middle of Cary. My one suggestion is better signage. I feel like every time I visit I get turned around looking for where I am going. I have as a result found other interesting places in the park. read more

We are so lucky to have this park in the middle of CARY. Plenty of parking and lots of great trails plus the boathouse and lake. There are baseball fields as well as the Seratoma Theatre and a huge 'soccer style field' BBQ's in various areas too and a screened porch with rockers you can reserve for parties. read more

See all

I enjoyed Mother's Day with my son at Fred G. Bond Park! I chose this park because of that lake the first thing I noticed was how massive it was. Like seriously the park never ends luckily they have great signs that guide you were you need to go. My son and I had a picnic out there in nice shaded area under the trees. Luckily there weren't very many bugs. There were also picnic tables + grill that people were using. This particular area was built off of a lake. There was a pavilion with food and an area for customer that wanted to get on boats. The downside is that I heard one of the staff members tell a guest that the lake area with the sand was only for the boats which sucked because all of the kids were out there with their socks off playing. She did say that there was a sign but I missed it. Overall really nice park I would go back. read more

Amazing clean and spacious park! I love walking/running with my dogs and canoeing on the lake! The paths are well kept and marked. In the beginning of the trails there is a map that shows the various trails and their distances. read more

Fred G Bond Metro Park - Canoeing on the lake - Parks Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

I've visited "Bond Park," as it is affectionately abbreviated to by many, twice recently -- early and late February. On my first visit, I went out with a friend and his dog. I drove around and explored a bit til he was able to meet up with me. There's a community center and senior center on the premises. I grabbed a brochure from the community center and we meet down near the boathouse. From there, there is a beautiful view of the lake. We followed the boardwalk to the greenway, which we followed til we found an information sign that had a great visual of the park and its trails. We chose to follow the Lake Trail, a two mile loop. This loop is part wooded trail and part greenway. Part of the trails are in the back of some houses' back yards as well. I suppose this is the "metro" part of the park name comes into play along with the fact that it's a nice little oasis right in the middle of a developing Cary. Later, in the month, I took some girlfriends out for a hike along the Lake trail. It was pretty mucky so that was a little disappointing. It was a nice day though so we were grateful for that. In addition to the Lake Trail, there is access to the Greenway Trail, Paw Paw 1 mile loop, Pine Cone Trail as a 1.4 mile loop, and some other unnamed foot paths as well. List of Features: - Bond Lake - Bond Park Boathouse - Challenge Ropes Course - Sertoma Amphitheatre - Kiwanis Picnic Shelter - Lazy Daze Playground - Buehler Picnic Shelter - Athletic fields - Multi-use field - 4.2 miles of trails - Compost Education Center - Screened Porch read more

See all

This is a great park! Tons of greenways and you can actually get from here to Lake Crabtree/Umstead Park in one direction and downtown Durham via the Tobacco Trail the other direction. I would suggest this only if you are riding a bike or a marathon runner as it is quite a ways in either direction. ;) They have boats you can rent in the summer and tons of baseball/softball fields to practice your Babe Ruth skills. Large field for playing with the dog or getting the kids to run around pre-nap time. Very well maintained as you would expect for a park in Cary. No complaints and thank you for giving us this gorgeous park! read more

See all

Beautiful park. Well maintained. Something for everyone young and not so young. Fitness stations are being added to the trail! Most stations are now open. read more

Love love love this park! I come here for a walk, run, jog, or even a bike ride. The lake is nice and a great place to watch a sunset or read a book! Has lots of paved paths too. They do have boat rentals but they vary by season and timing. read more

Bond Park is my favorite, and lucky for us, it's actually the closest park to our home. Very clean, with a nice boathouse with rentals, a large open field for playing in, and well demarcated trails. Also, the shelters are nice and large, and the baseball field and play area is great! Our company always hosts our summer picnic here and it's always a treat enjoying the outdoors and playing cornhole and kickball in the park. The small amphitheater is really cool too! Love coming to Bond Park when they host spring daze (or is it lazy daze...) and strolling through all the stalls and enjoying the live music. Highly recommend if you want to get outdoors for a nice walk. read more

I love Bond Park. I used to live in a house that back up to it and it was so convenient. Now coming back to town I don't live as close but it's still worth the extra trip. The trails are great, a good mix of paved and rough dirt trails. What I really like is just how chill it is. Even filled with people it's calm and relaxing. Great place to rent a boat and go fishing or take a hike and have a picnic. read more

See all

This park really puts your tax money to good use and even in winter it offers a lot. It's right across from St. Michael's Catholic church and is 310 acres. There are 3 trails, one is a circle around the lake that is 2 miles and partially paved and the rest forest, well walking in the backyards of people's homes. Everyone is friendly on the trailing saying hello. It has lots of picnic benches and shelters you can rent. An amphitheater for summer concerts. There's a small lake with paddle boats you can rent. They have lots of fun events like an easter egg roll, spring craft festival with tons of vendors, kite festival, a dog day festival with a feline frisbee disc competition, MLK dreamfest, a Hindu Diwali festival, and tennis championships. There's a softball field and a ropes course. They offer tons of classes from boating, to orienteering. Inside the main building they offer classes for both adults and teens such as cooking classes, hip-hop classes, art classes, public speaking, etc. There's an indoor basketball court that teens can pay to use after school. There was a lovely Asian woman who sat at the front desk inside the main building who showed us all the brochures and took time out of her work to explain everything they had to offer. read more

Fred G Bond Metro Park - lake trail - Parks Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

The Bond Park Boathouse staff are super-friendly and fast -- this young man is literally running to get kayak paddles for customers! A peaceful place to meditate or do yoga in the morning. Absolutely love this place! read more

See all

Very nice walking trail. Be warned, the trail is a loop and there are no shortcuts. So turn around before the half way point if you want a shorter walk. read more

I'll make this one really simple: Great for kids, fun for adults, huge land, great boathouse, and they host a really fun series of events in the summer - "Bands, Bites, and Boats". They forgot to add beer, but the local beer that they bring in is amazing. Love this place! read more

Bond Park is a great park for people of all ages and interests. There are great hikes around the park, ranging from 0.5-mile-or-less walks to the longer 2-mile loop around the whole lake. There are a few greenways that connect to Bond Park as well, making it fairly accessible to bikers. There are playgrounds for the kids, baseball fields, and open area fields where I've seen people play cricket, but could just as easily be used to throw a frisbee or fly a kite. You can rent a boat and paddle around the lake, too. There's a community center with basketball courts and meeting rooms, a ropes challenge course, and picnic shelters available for rent. It even has an outdoor amphitheater for special events. In terms of multi-purpose parks, Bond Park is where it's at in Cary. Things are pretty well-kept and maintained, and it's just an overall wonderful park. read more