Description

Welcome to our Summer/Fall 2026 Sunday Monthly Hike Series! This series offers 8 guided hikes, 6 on the first Sunday of the month, plus two bonus Sunday hikes to kick off the year! In addition, for the weeks we don’t offer a guided hike, we offer a  suggested hike you can do alone or as a group. Each recommendation comes with a GetHiking! eguide, which includes map, route description and general hike info.  

This series provides you the incentive to keep hiking weekly, and the opportunity to explore new trails while enjoying the  camaraderie of fellow hikers. We focus on the trails less traveled, at the times less traveled. 

What: 8 hikes — 7 on Sundays, 1 on the Friday after Thanksgiving — on Triangle trails.

Experience level: Our hikes are geared toward hikers with some experience. You needn’t be fast; we lead our hikes from the rear, so no one is left behind. 

When: First Sunday of the month, July through December, plus the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) and the last Sunday of the year (Dec. 27). Hikes begin at 9 a.m.

Includes:

• The Monday before each hike you’ll receive an eguide for each hike, including map, route description, route overview, directions and other details.
• GetHiking! Guide to 25 Triangle Trails

Cost: $175, $295 for couples and families.

Questions?  Email me at joe@getgoingnc.com.

Where we hike

July 5 Brumley North, Hillsborough, 3.2 miles. We cut back the mileage on our summer hikes, heading to this, one of our favorite hikes from our previous summer  evening hike series. Plus, the return of post-hike popsicles!

August 2 Confluence Natural Area, Hillsborough, 4 miles. We’ve only hiked here once, shortly after the new Poplar Bend Loop Trail opened. We hike along both the east and west branches of the Eno River, as well as through a maturing upland hardwood forest. Apres hike popsicles.

September 6 Mountains-to-Sea Trail, DH-P (Hickory Hill Boat Ramp), 5 miles. A flat trail  that spends its start and finish along Falls Lake, disappearing midway into a rich bottomland forest. Popsicles to reflect with at the end.

October 4  Horton Grove Nature Preserve, Bahama, 5 miles. A GetHiking! favorite, this Triangle Land Conservancy property north of Durham is good in any season, but especially in autumn, where a rich mix of hardwood canopy and understory gets an early start on fall color.

November 1 Cane Creek Mountain Natural Area: Peach Orchard Trailhead, Snow Camp, 5 miles. We hike Cane Creek’s Pine Hill Trailhead when it opened in 2020, we hiked the Oak Hill Trailhead when it opened three years ago. Now, we hike the just-opened Peach Orchard Trailhead, where we can also climb the also recently opened observation tower.

November 27 Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Falls Lake, DH-H, Shinleaf Recreation Area, Wake Forest, 6 miles. Duck in and out of several coves, disappear into upland hardwood forests, catch good views of Falls Lake on this out-and-back hike.

December 6  Butner Game Lands: Flat River Access, Bahama, 5 miles. Part of the 40,000-acre Butner Game Lands located along the north shore of Falls Lake, we hike the Brickhouse Road parcel, which includes wide open stretches, ponds, and encounters with the Flat River and Falls Lake.  

December  27 Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Falls Lake, DH-R,S Redwood Road to Red Mill Road, Durham, 6 miles. A mix of forest and meadow, this hike includes a brush or two with Falls Lake, an old railroad trestle, a long-abandoned barn. Our favorite Winter Hike along Falls Lake.