Lake Raleigh Recreation Area
On the southern side of Centennial Campus, the Lake Raleigh Recreation Area — which includes 96 acres of protected forest — offers a picturesque retreat for members of the Pack and the wider community.
Centennial’s Hidden Gem
Created as a reservoir for the city in the early 1900s, Lake Raleigh is a sprawling oasis less than three miles from Downtown Raleigh. The 75-acre lake and its trails are open from dawn until dusk, and there are three areas of public access.
Lake Raleigh’s recreation area sits in the heart of NC State’s Centennial Campus and offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor exploration, including hiking, biking, picnics, disc golf, fishing, non-motorized boating and watersports.
Lake Raleigh Woods Maps
Bikes and Freshly Brewed Coffee
Expect happier trails with a new addition to the Lake Raleigh Recreation Area: a popup bike rental and coffee shop. We’ve partnered with The Bike Library and The Left Hook to bring you trailside bike rentals, tune ups and local coffee selections — right on Lake Raleigh.
Rentals are available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the greenway shop on the Walnut Creek Trail.
Access Areas
There are three access points for the Lake Raleigh Recreation Area:
- Main Campus Drive: From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, paid parking is available at the nearby Poulton lot on Partners Way. At any other time, free parking on campus is open to the public. After 5 p.m. and all day on weekends, public parking can also be found at the waterfront.
- Park Alumni Center: Free parking is available all day.
- Centennial Campus Middle School: Free parking is available all day.
Area Guidelines
Before visiting, be sure to review Lake Raleigh Recreation Area’s rules and guidelines:
- Lake Raleigh and its trails are open to the public from dawn until dusk.
- Swimming and wading are not allowed.
- Dogs must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times.
- Pet owners must clean up after their pets.
- Alcohol is not permitted.
- Smoking is only permitted in the parking lot.
- Drones are not allowed.
- Overnight camping is not allowed.
Hiking and Mountain Biking Trails
Lake Raleigh Woods includes over 2 miles of professionally built, dedicated hiking trails. Highlights include vast overlooks across Lake Raleigh (including views of the Hunt Library), expanses of ferns, bridges and creek crossings, and birch and pine tree groves.
- The Ridge trail is designated with white trail markers and is .25 miles long.
- The Valley trail is designated with yellow trail markers and is .27 miles long.
- The Pine trail is designated with orange trail markers and is .38 miles long.
- The Lakeview trail is designated with red trail markers and is 1.14 miles long.
- No biking is allowed on the hiking trails.
Lake Raleigh Woods also includes 2.2 miles of professionally built, dedicated mountain-bike trails and a mountain-bike skills area.
- The Fern trail is a 1.1 mile beginner-level trail and designated with green trail markers. The Fern trail features rides through fern ground cover and a gently sloping, smooth and wide trail.
- The Tulip Poplar trail is a 1.1 mile intermediate-level trail and designated with blue trail markers. The Tulip Poplar trail features rollers, berms and is very flowy. Please do not ride on the trails in muddy conditions and only ride on the professionally established trails.
All trails are marked with color-coded trail markers that correspond to the area map. Area maps are located at the trailhead kiosk located at Centennial Campus Middle School and the Park Alumni Center, which also provide free parking.
The trails are open to the public from dawn until dusk.
Trail Guidelines
- Hikers and biker users are welcome.
- Stay on the designated trails (do not use cut-throughs).
- Keep right, pass on left.
- Use trails at your own risk.
- Respect trail signs and closures.
- Helmets and appropriate safety gear are required.
- Keep pets on a leash and clean up after pets.
- Plan ahead: cell service can be unreliable.
- Do not use electric dirt bikes.
- Do not use muddy trails.
Follow along on Instagram (@LakeRaleighWoods) to engage with the Lake Raleigh Woods mountain biking community and find up-to-date information about the trail system.
Thrive on Centennial Campus
