Duke Forest, Korstian Division

Basically, the Duke Forest is amazing and one of those local gems that I believe is largely overlooked or taken for granted by most in the Triangle. However, that’s probably not a bad thing. Who wants super crowded trails anyway? But seriously, the Duke Forest is one of a kind.
There are a ton of different trailheads, largely in the Durham and Korstian (Chapel Hill) divisions. I do believe there are 40+ separate entrances into the six total divisions of the forest, and that is simply amazing! In order to obtain a detailed map, you’ll need to purchase one (at a nominal fee of something like $ 8) either on-​line or by the mail through the Duke Forest website. I have also heard you can purchase the maps at some spots on Duke’s campus (ie, the bookstore), though I can’t exactly speak to that myself.
Many of the primary trails are wide, gravelly bridle type trails, but there are also numerous more technical (ie, roots, rocks, stream crossings, single-​track terrain) trails that mostly shoot off of main trails. Single sections of trails are often not super long (ie 1 – 1.5 miles) and thus you may need to patch together different trails if you wanted to have a longer walk, hike, or run (this sometimes entails traversing a road or walking along a road shoulder for a short time). In my no way expert opinion, the Korstian division offers the best trailage overall, especially the newer foot trails being rehabilitated and restored under the Korstian Trail Project.
That effort brings me to the fact that this huge tract of land is a valuable research and teaching tool for Duke University students and faculty (as well as visiting students and faculty), and thus should be treasured (not to sound cheesy) and respected.
Stepping down from my small soapbox, let me just say that the Duke Forest is phenomenal and even more amazing given the fact that this natural oasis is located so very close to the hustle and bustle of the Triangle.

Ecological enthusiasts only please! And that would not include me. We hiked the Shepard Trail, which is a 1 mile loop that supposedly has three small, intermittent streams… which we did not get to experience because they were dry (despite the heavy rainfall we’ve had these last two weeks). There were several info boards on the trail with in depth ecological information. I was looking for more of a hike with some pretty scenery and this was not that. This trail is a no-​go unless you’re very interested in the ecological history of the place.

Proximity to N. Chapel Hill is awesome and you can quickly emerse yourself in the peace and quiet of the woods.

My brother dragged me out here not long ago for some hiking, and I’m glad he did. I had had no idea that this place even existed… I’ve had no experience with any of Duke Forest, so this was a particularly special treat.
The trails are what I would characterize as moderately challenging. There’s a good variety of terrain to keep you interested, but nothing’s ever so steep that you get bogged down by it. Be aware that the trails do go on for a long, long time… If you don’t have a guide (or brother), make sure you plan your hike out in advance to avoid overexerting yourself due to lack of signage.

Holy hiking, Batman! I had no idea that Duke Forest extended from Durham to Hillsborough and beyond. I also had no idea that the terrain in Chapel Hill could vary so much — turns out two trails, that are just about 5 miles away from my office in Timberlyne, are a semi-​challenging hike with steeply elevated outcrops affording great views that run above and sometimes alongside a creek that’s as big as the Eno river in some places.
My boyfriend and I had finally bit the bullet and purchased the maps to Duke Forest (online for $ 8, or save a buck and get them from the Duke U bookshop). Beforehand, we’d only been able to figure out where a few trails were — namely the ones on Duke’s campus (eg, the Duke Forest Loop on Cameron). The maps are definitely worth purchasing, as they show where to access all of the trails and give details on flora/​fauna, where to picnic, where to fish, where to ride, and so on.
The Duke Forest land serves as a teaching & research lab, so proceeds from the maps go toward financing this arm. There’s limited signage at the beginning of most trails, explaining what particular studies are taking place there.