The Town of Cary currently has 42 miles of paved greenway, with eventual plans to create an interconnected network with Bond Park serving as the hub.

Already making that Bond Park connection: the nearly complete 7-mile Black Creek Greenway, which links Bond Park with Lake Crabtree (and trail in Umstead State Park and Raleigh) to the northeast, and the White Oak Creek Greenway, which heads west toward the American Tobacco Trail. Eventually, the Crabtree Creek Greenway will extend north to Morrisville, and the Oxford Hunt and Bishops Gate Greenways will extend from the park south.

The greenway system’s attraction for cyclists is enhanced through connections with Cary’s extensive bike network. Check out a map of Cary’s bike and greenway system here.

Black Creek Greenway

White Oak Creek Greenway

7.1 miles

In the 1990s,  the 2 1/2-mile Black Creek Greenway — running from Lake Crabtree south to West Dynasty Drive — was the crown jewel of Triangle greenways. Today, the still-popular greenway has expanded to nearly its entire, planned 7-plus-mile length. A crucial 1.4-mile connection in June 2011 from Chapel Hill Road at NW Maynard Street to SW Maynard near High House Road means there’s only about a half mile of uncompleted trail, and that stretch is easily circumvented with sidewalks and neighborhood streets.

To take the trip today, park along Old Reedy Creek Road above Lake Crabtree and head south across the dam. The trail soon drops to follow its namesake creek through a wooded passage for two miles to West Dynasty. Go right along the road — sidewalk or bike lane, your choice— for 0.3 miles, then cross the road where the greenway resumes. After a mile, the trail crosses a busy, divided four-lane NW Maynard Road. This is a dangerous crossing: Proceed with care.

Spend some time at Godbold Park (tennis, anyone?), also home to a dog park and Cary’s SK8 Park. The trail parallels NW Maynard for a half mile, ducks into a neighborhood for nearly a mile, then pops out onto NW Maynard Road. Go left on the extra-wide sidewalk for 0.2 miles. Eventually, more extra-wide sidewalk will take you another 0.2 miles to High House Road, which you will cross to the southwest to pick up the yet-to-be completed stretch of Black Creek Greenway. Until then: Stay on the sidewalk to High House, cross. Cross again, over what is now SW Maynard Road and continue a little over a third of a mile to Wood Hollow Drive. Go left on Wood Hollow for 0.2 miles, go left on Castalia Drive for another 0.2 miles and pick up the existing greenway, on your right. The remaining 0.7 miles takes you into Bond Park, past the boathouse (snacks!) and to a nifty roundabout kiosk where the Black Creek Greenway cedes to the White Oak Creek Greenway.

Bond Park’s various amenities makes it a great destination for a greenway trek.