From trails to parks, here are Wilmington-area places great for a walk or hike
The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is developing a master plan for extending the Mountains-to-Sea Trail over four miles into the Holly Shelter Game Land in Hampstead.
According to a news release, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches almost 1,200 miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks.
The extension will seek to connect existing sections of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Holly Shelter Game Land. One of the goals of the project is to increase hiker safety.
Whether you walk or hike, here are just a few places in the Wilmington area that you can still enjoy a leisure walk. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash.
New Hanover
Greenfield Lake Park Trail
Enjoy some solitude along the 3.9-mile loop trail in Greenfield Park, which takes a little more than an hour to complete. The trail is open year-round, located at 1739 Burnett Blvd. in Wilmington.
Halyburton Park
The loop consists of a 1.3-mile walking trail and is on the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail a 15-mile off-road, multi-use trail that runs from Wade Park through Halyburton and Empie parks to the Heide Trask bridge at the Intracoastal Waterway. The park is located at 4099 S. 17th St., Wilmington.
Long Leaf Park
This walking trail is 1.55 mile and can be reserved for walks and 5ks. The hours of operation are 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. The park is located at 314 Pine Grove Drive, Wilmington. Details: 910-798-7275.
Smith Creek Park
Smith Creek Park, located near Castle Hayne at 633 Shenandoah St. in Wilmington, offers a 1.3-mile paved multi-purpose trail.
Anne McCrary Park
Anne McCrary Park, located at 4000 Randall Parkway in Wilmington near the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is a part of the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail.
More: Year of the trail: To celebrate, here are 6 Brunswick places to walk, bike or paddle
Brunswick
Brunswick Nature Park
Located on River Road in Town Creek, the park features 3.5 miles of hiking trails and 7.2 miles of biking trails.
Brunswick Riverwalk at Belville
The Brunswick Riverwalk at Belville opened in 2016 and offers a 1/3 mile walking trail and boardwalk and is located at 580 River Road, S.E., Belville.
Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve
Take in a walk or hike along this three-mile loop hiking trail near Southport.
Pender
Hampstead Kiwanis Park
This 53-acre park, located at 586 Sloop Point Loop Road in Hampstead has a walking trail.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
Moores Creek National Battlefield is a battlefield managed by the U.S. National Park Service. It has three named walking trails — The History trail 3/4-mile, Tar Heel trail 3/4 mile and the Woodpecker trail 1/4 mile. It also has an unmarked trail that is about 1/2 mile. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. daily.
Osgood Canal Greenway and Urban Trail
The trail consists of a 2.2-mile loop of asphalt and concrete walking trails in and around the central portion of Burgaw's town limits with several streets and areas that access the trail.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Where to walk and hike in Wilmington, NC
