William B. Umstead State Park

Camp, fish, kayak, and hike on more than 30 miles of trails at this historic state park.

If you find yourself in Raleigh, North Carolina, and want to get outside and experience the area’s abundant natural beauty, waste no time and head over to William B. Umstead State Park. With the park covering more than 5,600 acres, there are 3 lakes and over 34 miles of amazing hiking trails. If biking is more your speed, there are also 13 miles of bike trails to escape onto. These scenic paths wind through forests of pine and hardwood and offer the chance to spot many of the state’s wildlife species like the northern river otter, white-tailed deer, American beaver, red fox, barred owl, and green heron.

Umstead State Park also boasts a profound history – 5,000 acres of land were purchased for $1 in the 1940s. Governor William Bradley Umstead made great conservation efforts for the state, so the park was eventually changed the name we know today. There are even historic remains of homesteads and mills throughout the park. Crabtree Creek and Reedy Creek are the primary entrances and allow access to the main recreational areas. Visitors can kayak, canoe, fish, have a scenic picnic, and go horseback riding around the park. Cast a line and try your luck at catching bluegill, bass, and catfish in any of the park’s lakes.

To extend your stay in the beautiful surroundings of the park, there’s a campground that has 28 tent sites that are open between April and October. These sites offer picnic tables, grills, and a front row seat to the twinkling nighttime skies. Whether you visit for a heart-pumping hike or a peaceful picnic on the lakeshore, William B. Umstead State Park makes for an incredible retreat here in Central North Carolina.