The Best Running Trail in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary Area

American Tobacco Trail is quite possibly one of the most comprehensive and beautiful running trails in all of North Carolina. The track is part of the Rails to Trails project sponsored by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

The Rails to Trails Conservancy is a group of volunteer citizens who work together to acquire and protect the rail corridor for public use. The American Tobacco Trail was the Trail of the Month in October, 2003. The completed part, as well as the future plans, for the trail are quite ambitious. The running trail is slated to become part of the East Coast Greenway which will eventually connect Canada to Key West, Florida.

American Tobacco Trail is currently 18 miles long and has five access areas. In addition to being long and accessible, the trail offers bathrooms and water along the route. The track has areas located in downtown Durham as well as wilderness sections for the nature enthusiast. There are greenways as well as gravel and dirt paths. The project is currently being extended to a 22 mile stretch with plans to extend the route to a 70 mile trek.

The trail is located in the heart of North Carolina - Raleigh, Durham, and Cary - as well as parts of Chatham County. The route currently meanders through Wake and Durham counties with the Chatham county segment under construction.

The trail starts at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and ends at the Chatham County line. The beginning of the corridor is a 6.5 mile segment with an asphalt surface. This part of the American Tobacco Trail winds through neighborhoods and ends up behind Southpoint Crossing Shopping Center where you can stop, rest, re-hydrate and re-energize.

The next slice of the American Tobacco Trail starts at Massey Chapel Road south of I-40. This six mile stretch offers running trails on dirt, grass and gravel paths which cross through neighborhoods and woods. This section ends at New Hope Church Road. From this segment, you can run from White Oak Church Road to New Hill-Olive Chapel Road in Wake County.

Triangletrails.org offers a map done by the Raleigh News and Observer that is very complete. The map gives great markings for access areas, greenways, gravel and dirt areas, bathrooms, water, horse trailer access, busy intersections, parking and places to stop for food along your running route.

Along the trek are kiosks with maps and brochures describing the finished areas of the trail as well as the future plans of the Rails to Trails Conservancy in reference to the American Tobacco trail.

An additional map of this running trail offers a traditional map view as well as a satellite, hybrid and terrain view. For those interested in looking at photographs of the trail, please click on this image link. Any additional information can be received at the following: Contact: Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy P.O. Box 61091 Durham, NC 27715 (919) 545-9104.