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Chapel Hill Trails

Current Trail Status

	Status	When Updated	Who Updated	More Info		Help keep this info accurate by clicking the red bicycle
Airport Side	open	03/07 10:27 am	coremtb
School Side	open	03/07 10:43 am	huntja

Average ratings submitted by users                     Write a review   User submitted reviews

Category	Average Rating
Overall :	4.2 / 5.0   based on 16 votes
Technical :	3.6 / 5.0   based on 16 votes
Climbing :	3.3 / 5.0   based on 16 votes
Freeride :	1.7 / 5.0   based on 16 votes
Scenery/Wildlife :	3.8 / 5.0   based on 16 votes
Flow :	3.1 / 5.0   based on 7 votes

Description
Location: Chapel Hill, near Seawell Elementary School
Miles: 20 miles
Skill Level: Singletrack is intermediate, Doubletrack is beginner

Special Note on Airport and School Side designations
Carolina North may now be opened and closed based on two distinct sections. These sections will simply be called Airport side and School side for the time being and their boundaries should be obvious if you take a look at a map. Seawell School road is the main dividing line between the two sections, the trails to the left of the road are the "school side" and the trails to the right are the "airport side"

Please respect the Carolina North land managers decisions on the open/closed status of each section as a rule even if you may personally disagree with the status.

Map
Park Hours and Fees
Directions
Rules of the Trail

The Chapel Hill trails comprise of two area: Adams Preserve and Williams Tract. Williams Tract is also known as Carolina North Forest. These trails comprise of a mix doubletrack and singletrack. You can ride the doubletrack without riding much singletrack and vise versa. I recommend printing out the map and take it with you. The singletrack is designed to be technical in nature. The doubletrack is predominately smooth.

More info on Adam Preserve
More info on Carolina North Forest

The school side usually dries a few days after rain. The airport side, particularly the inner and outer loops, take significantly longer to dry. Please take this into consideration when planning a ride.

Park Hours
The trails are open dawn until dusk, 365 days a year.
Please see the Trail Status at the top of the page for closures due to trail conditions.

Fees
There are no fees to ride here

Directions
There are several places to access the trails. The most popular parking area is Seawell Elementary School. Parking is not allowed here during school hours. To get here from MLK Blvd, turn on Homestead. Go 3/4 miles to Seawell School Rd. Turn left. Go 1.5 miles. The Parking area is the third one on the right.

Rules of the Trail
1. Be aware and considerate of other users.
2. Leave No Trace. Please don’t litter. Preserve what’s here for the benefit of future users! Trees, brush & grasses are not to be cut, painted, scarred, harvested or otherwise damaged.
3. No New Trails are to be blazed, cut or otherwise established. Unapproved structures & stunt features will be removed.
4. Signs, Advertisements or Notices will be removed. Unauthorized material can be claimed at the Land Management & Trail Information Office.
5. Don’t Block The Gates - The Forest Road network is for emergency use & land management operations.
6. No Motorized Vehicles - Motor vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, all-terrain, off-road & utility vehicles) are not allowed in the Forest.
7. Trail Courtesies - Bikers must be aware of hikers & joggers. Hikers & joggers using bike trails must yield right-of-way to bikers.
8. Pets MUST be leashed. It's the law! Please clean up after your pet.
9. No Alcohol - Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is not allowed in the Forest.
10. This Area Is An Ecological & Wildlife Preserve. Hunting, trapping, fishing & gathering activities are not allowed. The removal or destruction of any object (animal, rock or artifact) is prohibited and is considered vandalism.
11. Camping is not permitted in the Forest.
12. No Fires or fireworks are allowed in the Forest.
13. Firearms are prohibited in the Forest, including air rifles & paint guns.

Rules, guidelines, and definitions for our TriangleMTB.com trail reviews

• The trail reviews should be reviews based on first hand knowledge. If you have never ridden the trail, then ride it before reviewing it.
• Obviously, the ratings and reviews should be just that, not big discussions, stuff for sale, or chit chat.
• Ratings should be made relative to the other trails in the greater triangle area of North Carolina (listed on our review page). For example, the "Technical" difficulty rating should be relative to the most technical trail listed on our review page.
• There should be no references to other reviews in your review (eg. you should not argue or state disagreement with other reviews).
• No profanity or vulgar words or context.
• Keep in mind, these reviews are opinions only. One mans pleasure is another mans pain. Take the reviews with a grain of salt.
• Please report inappropriate reviews using the link that appears beneath the rating summary of each review.

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Chapel Hill trail has been reviewed 16 times by our trianglemtb.com guests.

Reviewed by: Forkliftdaddy Reviewed on: 09/28/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: a100mark Reviewed on: 07/31/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	As an intermediate female rider this trail has much to offer. Depending on what I feel like riding, I can map my route accordingly. When we take the Trips For Kids - Triangle groups out on rides, this is always our trail system of choice. Not only does it accommodate beginner riders, it also has enough challenges to keep our better riders entertained. If there can be such a trail, I would nominate this as the best "one size fits all" trail system in the area.
Reviewed by: JMyers Reviewed on: 07/28/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: Stumpjumper Reviewed on: 07/09/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: senderodechivo Reviewed on: 05/31/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: edoiron Reviewed on: 05/30/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: vulcangreen Reviewed on: 04/27/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	One of the best things about the Chapel Hill trail system is also one of the worst things about it. Until recently, it was totally unregulated and there are trails cut everywhere. On the school side, things are a bit easier to navigate since it is surrounded by a fire road next to the creek, Estes Rd on one side and Sewell School Rd on the other side. You can always make it to one of these roads if you are lost. If you don’t have a guide, you might initially find it a little boring if you ride the best marked trails. However, there are some really technical sections and one of the hardest hill climbs in the Triangle. You just have to go out there and poke around to find them. Being along the stream, there are some very picturesque spots so you will be able to get your wildlife fix.
Reviewed by: Ridge Runner Reviewed on: 04/04/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Not Rated Report inappropriate review	A decent trail system. Extra points for how many miles you can rack up. Not sure it is worth the drive if other trails are open closer to home. Was hoping for freeride, but only found the scraps of what used to be there.
Reviewed by: slirty Reviewed on: 03/18/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Not Rated Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: Carlman Reviewed on: 03/08/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Not Rated Report inappropriate review	This is the best overall trail in the Triangle. It has rocky sections, smooth sections, technical and non-technical climbs, good elevation changes, and 20+ miles of trail that's away from cars and such... There is a train that comes through on occasion to remind you civilization is nearby. ;) I also like that the trails follow the natural lay of the land and offer unique challenges... unlike so many trails that are just zig-zag trails that are boring. I'd give this trail a 5 in relation to current Triangle trails. But in relation to trails in Western NC and other areas in the Mid-Atlantic, I have to go no more than a 4. Also, I don't know what 'freeride' is. It's singletrack with hills and thrills. Enjoy it before it gets developed into a school building or strip mall. -Carl

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