Bolin Creek Greenway

This is the most beautiful trail I’ve run on by far in the area. My only complaint is that it’s only 1.5 Mi., but it looks like they might be expanding past MLK Jr Blvd, or at least I hope they do.
This paved trail starts right by the Rose Garden at the Chapel Hill Community Center Park across from University Mall and ends at MLK Blvd right by Lucha Tigre (one of my favorite restaurants). I was immediately enamored by the sloping shaded landscapes that surround the trail that winds along Bolin Creek. Even though Bolin is short it does hook into the Battle Branch Trail, either of which end up close to the UNC campus which always offer a nice runscape. When you come out of the Bolin Creek Trail on MLK Jr Blvd your about a mile uphill to Franklin St, so I say you go ahead and run up there and go down Franklin St. or Rosemary St. as much as you want; especially because the way back is a very nice gradual down hill run.
I cannot stress how beautiful this trail is and your running near Chapel Hill landmarks. If you like green ways and wooded trails you will love it here, it’s definitely a hidden gem of Chapel Hill and I look forward to running on it more often.

Speaking about this from a runners perspective, Bolin Creek trail is about average. Good-​Some side trails (short), nice greenery, not sketchy. It is convenient to going to other places (Driade, Harris Teeter, Foster’s, Community Center Park, other trails near Community Center Park). Mile markers in increments of .2
Not as good-I’ve frequently seen copperheads (not all too uncommon in the area, but not my favorite thing to see on a trail). All paved, and there isn’t always room to run along the side (there is for about half of the trail).
Verdict-​Its ok, not as nice as the WaDuke trail or the American Tobacco Trail or the greenway in Raleigh, but decent.

For Chapel Hill, this is about as good as it gets. I feel bad for the people in Orange and Durham Counties. They really don’t know what they are missing. The Wake County greenways are so much better. The Neuse River Trail is better than the Tobacco Trail or this one, even in the winter. It’s long and changes course as it follows the river; constantly changing scenery. And the people on the Wake County trails are nicer. It’s hard to get anyone to even look at you, let alone acknowledge you in Chapel Hill or on the Tobacco Trail.
This trail is so short and not that nice, but again, probably the nicest in Chapel Hill.

Great trail with a scenic path. I like to park at Café Driade and walk towards the rose garden at the community center.

Bolin Creek Greenway is located in Chapel Hill, NC and is a 1.5 mile paved trail from Community Center Park on Estes Drive to MLK Jr Blvd and follows Bolin Creek. Open for use year round from dawn to dusk. If you bring your dog, have a leash.

A nice, paved trail for runners, walkers, and cyclists alike. I’ve used the path for all three activities and each time it’s been a pleasant experience.
On any given day, you’ll spot plenty of birds, turtles, and frogs; I’ve also seen deer in the woods. It’s a very dog– and family-​friendly route, and because of this, the trail can get crowded at times. In the summer, many sections of the trail are not shaded and so it can get unbearably hot in the sun. Despite this, it’s a very accessible green space in which to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise, especially while pushing a stroller.

This is a nice stretch of trail for running, walking, biking, etc. The trail is paved so you won’t have to worry about jagged roots and misplaced rocks. There’s a nice little rose garden at the start of the trail to get your spirits up. The trail follows Bolin Creek for most of the way so you won’t feel too far away from nature. The trail has good tree cover so you get a little shade during the hot summers. Overall, nice trail. It’s an easy run/​walk but very pleasant.

I’m not much of a runner, but I do enjoy walking this trail with friends or a pet. The trail starts at the Community Center where there’s a large playground, a rose garden, and some cool outdoor art. I think the playground aspect makes this trail especially great for families with young children. The main trail is paved and winds through 1.5 miles of woods, ending on Airport Rd. near the police station. There is a detour you can take that leads you to UNC’s campus. There’s a nice little creek that runs alongside the trail in certain parts and all diverging paths are well-​marked. Shortly after the trail begins, it runs right through a small neighborhod cul-​de-​sac, which seems sort of strange to me. It’s just common sense, but I have to recommend leaving before sunset — it’s not easy to get lost, but it is fairly wooded in some areas.

Bolin Creek usually marks the turn-​around point for me on one of my longer runs. It’s a great trail, pretty, winding, and easy on the shins.
It can be a problem for a runner, though, because of all the families. On some days this trail gets positively choked with strollers, dogs, and rowdy families of six, which kind of spoils the bucolic peace of the thing. On the other hand, that means that it’s friendly to those groups, so families swing on through for a good time.

A nice, easy run at 1.5 miles. Or a pleasant stroll with the dog or the kids (it’s paved, so you can do the stroller thing). Very well shaded and takes you over a few creeks, but most of the scenery is just so-​so. A little into the walk, you’ll see a trail that splits off up a hill. Go forth; be adventurous! The trail leads up to Café Driade — so you can treat yourself to a coffee and sit on their huge, excellent patio if you need a break during your walk. If you access the trail at the Chapel Hill Community Center, before you get to the trail proper — on the part that connects the park to the path — there are sometimes neighborhood kids with a snack stand set up (lemonade, bottled water, and packs of chips and crackers). They love dogs, so you might get begged to pause for a pooch-​petting session.

I love Bolin Creek for a run– although I haven’t been lately. It’s beautiful and full of trees so you’re running in mostly shaded areas. Its a great starter trail for new runners– then you can graduate to steep hills and such which are plentiful here in Chapel Hill. There is a little playground area to bring your kids swings and such as that, but leave one open for me; its so much fun to swing up as high as you can go and jump out.

I went running for the first time here yesterday and it was AWESOME. Flat enough that my slow ass could handle it and beautiful enough to recharge my road-​running weary spirit. It was so peaceful, that it actually made my run enjoyable (imagine that!). And it was shady, so the heat wasn’t too overbearing. Can’t wait to go again…