Easy family-friendly hiking across the street from a big community park. 
 

With 109 acres of gentle sloping terrain, Clark’s Creek Nature Preserve is easy, family-friendly hiking for everyone. The trail system is easy enough to follow despite the lack of signage on the trails. I would always recommend taking a picture of the trail systems before entering into a preserve or park. If you follow the outer loop of the trails, it is just around 2 miles. To do all of the trail system, you would only be looking at around 3 to 3.5 miles at most. This is perfect for beginner hikers. The trail is mostly in the grasslands with minimal shade, so during those summer months, come early or late in the day to beat the heat. Due to the north side of the preserve being by the creek and wetlands area, bug spray is recommended. Clark’s Creek Nature Preserve would be better for the early spring, fall, and winter months hiking. The trails are also flat enough that a jogging stroller could be used on most of them. Do note, bikes are not allowed onto the trail. 

At the entrance to the trail system is a small parking lot with a large, eight-table, covered picnic area along with a small climbing playground. The playground has various activities geared toward climbing and balancing. There are hidden animals on the playground to find with a board showing which ones to look for. There is only one port-o-potty by the parking lot, but it was well-maintained and clean. 

Most of the area is in agricultural fields that are periodically mowed and used for successional habitat. Roughly 27 acres in the preserve are forested with a last known disturbance in 1975. The preserve also has a small one and half-acre pond on the southeastern side. Clark’s Creek Tributary runs through the north side of the property and is a part of the NCEEP stream restoration project. Several large species of trees run through this area including the Swamp Chestnut Oak. There have been sites of beaver activities due to the dams created along the creek. Because of these dams and wetlands, part of the trail system can get flooded when heavy rains have been present. Clark’s Creek Nature Preserve provides essential habitat for several declining bird species and a water resource to support aquatic species not found in other preserves. 

Once you're done hiking, visit Clark’s Creek Community Park across the street for a playground, splash pad, and restrooms.