Buckeye Trail 2007 Report 1b Crabtree Blvd to North Raleigh Blvd.

Buckeye Trail 2.75 Miles. (The N. Raleigh Blvd. section 1.50 miles)

Background:

Raleigh, North Carolina visitors and new residents may be aware of the wonderful park system known as the "Capitol Area Greenway."

The "Capitol Area Greenway" is a project in process. Started in March 1974 by a forward thinking city council, it has a master plan to make sure that there is open space accessible to all residents of the city. The "Greenway" is being built one trail, one park and one community area at a time.

The city boasts more than 50 miles of trails connecting many of the more than 3000 acres of city park land.

Today the city is well underway on its project to create links between the greenways and to realize the original plan. Many of the trails still need to be connected. Those trails that have been connected create wonderful off-road access to many parts of the city for bikers, hikers and runners.

The majority of the trails have been built along the many creeks and streams that flow through the hills of the city. This creates an ecology friendly environment within the neighboring subdivisions.

The greenways provide access to naturalists, hikers, bikers, birders, fishermen, wild flower enthusiasts, bird watchers, nature lovers and, based on the carvings in many beech trees, just plain lovers. There are special trails for deep wood enthusiasts and mountain bikers. Most greenway trails connect to the city's extensive network of bike routes.

Buckeye Trail - 2007 Report 1b Crabtree Blvd to North Raleigh Blvd.

Directions to the trail:

Directions to the trail:
Take New Bern Avenue South to Milburnie Road.
Take a right onto Milburnie Road to Chatham Lane.
Take a right onto Chatham Lane to Crabtree Blvd.
Take a left onto Crabtree Blvd.
You can park on the street. The playground will be on your right.
Take the paved trail to the left from the 1 ½ mile marker.

Alternate:
Take Capital Blvd to Crabtree Blvd.
Take a left on Crabtree Blvd.
Approximately ¾ mile on the right there is a Parks & Recreation parking lot.
From the dirt parking go right (east) toward N. Raleigh Blvd.
Cross over N. Raleigh Blvd. to the entrance of Buckeye Trail.
There will be a Raleigh Greenway sign at the entrance.

The Trail:

This portion of the Buckeye trail is a delightfully flat and paved. The trail is nicely maintained, though it can be subject to flooding during extremely heavy rain.

The flat portion of the trail goes from where Crabtree Blvd. and N. Raleigh Blvd. meet to where Crabtree Blvd. meets Culpepper Lane. This can sound confusing, but one end of Crabtree Blvd. is on one side of the trail, and the other portion is on the other side. Only imaginary dots on some past map connect the two ends of the street.

Because I started my first report by heading west, I will start this report on the Crabtree Blvd. end where the 1 ½ mile marker and playground exist (the Culpepper end of the trail).

Starting at the 1 ½ mile marker and going west, you see the playground and a number of picnic tables. There are no facilities at this particular city playground, so if you have small children or old men like me in your party, make sure you stop somewhere before starting on the trip.

Going from the marker, the park will be on your left, and behind the trees you may be able to hear the gurgling of Crabtree Creek. It really depends on how much water is in the creek. You are going east and the creek is headed west to join up with the Neuse River.

Going east toward N. Raleigh Blvd., we need to bear right if given a choice of trails. On the return trip we stay left until reaching the 1 ½ mile marker. This trail is a smooth, easy, flat trail that will provide an excellent three mile hike if you go all the way to N. Raleigh Blvd. and return.

This trail is a natural for young children, roller skaters, strollers, older people (like me), birder watchers, ecology fanatics, runners, bikers and hikers. The trail is flat for 1 ½ miles. Only at the very end will it rise even a few feet. The pavement is smooth.

As you walk from the park along the nicely wooded trail, you will be greeted by a chorus of birds. Though they are not easy to photograph in the dense cover, they are on both sides of the trail.

If you are fortunate, you may see rabbits, deer and the ever present squirrel. Insects abound along this trail with bees, wasps and dragon flies slicing from side to side of the lush vegetation.

There are numerous places from which Crabtree Creek is clearly visible from the side of the trail. Depending on the water level and recent rain, you may see either a deep rushing river or a slowly babbling stream.

After leaving the park you will see no houses, cars or motorcycles. In fact, the only motorized vehicles allowed are the Parks and Recreation maintenance vehicles (which are usually only there during off peak times) and the police patrols on their segway or bikes.

There are either park benches or picnic tables spaced about ¼ of a mile apart along the trail if you need to rest for a bit. This end of the trail has adequate benches along it.
When you sit down and are quite for a few moments, you will see birds flying and perhaps landing nearby to search for bugs.

Finches, wrens, bluebirds, cardinals, robins and a plethora of other birds call this stretch of the city home. If you sit at the picnic table near the mid point of your trip, you may see birds preening their feathers at the edge of the creek.

This trail has ample forest along the edges to make it a shady and comfortable trail on even the hottest summer day. With the park benches along the way, this is a great trail for those who like to stop and eat lunch while watching the birds frolic.

Recommendations:

Bikers: Yes. This is an excellent flat trail for young riders to learn how to ride. Experienced riders can connect to the Raleigh bike route system or follow the connecting Middle Crabtree Trail across Raleigh Blvd.

Hikers: Yes. Good three mile round trip for a comfortable hike. This is an interesting hike due to creek and creek side vegetation, birds and insects.

Older Walkers: Yes. The trail has plenty of shade in an interesting environment. There are benches or picnic tables spaced at ¼ mile intervals along this trail.

Very Young Walkers: Yes. Easy flat trail contains benches for resting. The small park on Crabtree Blvd. is a plus with the smaller crowd.

Baby Strollers: Yes. The long flat trail is a great place for mom or dad to get in a good walk while keeping them entertained and cool. Benches can come in handy if you need to catch your breath.

Roller Skaters: Yes. This is a great trail that is amenable to street skates. With 1 ½ mile of flat surface, it is a safe place to learn or brush up on your skills. The entire surface is paved.

Picnickers: Yes. The park on Crabtree Blvd. has picnic tables. There are several areas that have sufficient grass to put down a blanket or just sit. There is a picnic table in the center of the trail on this end that looks out on an expanse of the creek.

Runners: Yes. This end of the trail is excellent for distance running up to three miles on paved surfaces.

Birders: Yes. This end of the trail is packed with birds that are representative of the area. It connects with Middle Crabtree Trail where there is a viewing station from which blue herons and plovers are often sighted.

Downsides:
No rest facilities at the adjacent city park.

Upsides:
The trail has adequate on street parking on the east end of Crabtree Blvd.
The trail is adjacent to a small city park.
The trail has more than adequate Parks & Recreation parking on the west end of Crabtree Blvd near N. Raleigh Blvd.
The trail connects to the Middle Crabtree Trail at N. Raleigh Blvd. (.2 miles north)