5 Hikes to do with kids in Hillsborough, NC
There are so many things I love about living in Hillsborough, but at the very top of the list are the many places to explore outdoors with kids. All of these spots can be enjoyed year round, but early Spring or the first cool days of Fall may be my most favorite. We love hiking before it gets too hot! These are my 5 favorite hikes in Hillsborough, NC to do with kids.
Ayr Mount
Ayr Mount is a Federal-era plantation house built in 1815 that sits on gorgeous land along the Eno river. The Poet’s Walk is an easy “hike” with multiple spots where you can get down to the river. If your kids are anything like mine, nothing will make them happier than a place where they can throw things (ideally rocks & sticks) into water. They can turn a 1-mile walk into a 2 hour activity with the amount of time they’d like to spend by the river.
There are picnic tables near the house & parking lot, but also benches along the way to stop and snack, rest, or watch kids play. There is also a Little Free Library near the front of the house, which we always love to look in to see if there are any treasures (or bring books to donate if we’re cleaning out!).
Quick tip – the back side of the Poet’s Walk is often REALLY muddy, even when we haven’t had a ton of rain. There are tree trunk stepping stones to help with this (which I highly recommend using), but boots or older shoes are definitely better for this hike!
Blackwood Farm Park
This is one of my most favorite spots to use for photography sessions, but we also love to hike around the trails & the pond and play in the beautiful fields. Blackwood Farm Park has picnic shelters, bathrooms, fairy houses tucked back in the trees, and 4 miles of hiking trails to enjoy. Our favorite is to walk from the parking lot through the main farm area (and explore the buildings if you haven’t before) and then start Mary’s Trail to go up the hill for the most beautiful views of the farm!
Quick tip – make sure to check park closing time, which changes based on the month, not sunset!
Occoneechee Mountain
A little bit more legit of a hike than the two before this, Occoneechee Mountain is a state park full of gorgeous hikes, beautiful views, and the best sunsets. The parking lot can be full especially on the first really beautiful weekends of the year, but I promise the hike is worth it!
Hillsborough Riverwalk
Everyone’s favorite and the most well known outdoor walking space in town is the Riverwalk. The downtown portion of the Riverwalk is part of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail and is a great spot for walking, biking, or scootering. We love the views of the river (and a couple of spots we can get down to it – sense a theme in our outdoor activities?!) and using the Riverwalk as a way to safely get to other favorite spots in Hillsborough – Gold Park, Whit’s frozen custard, the Orange County Library, Weaver Street, and the historic Occoneechee village.
Occoneechee Speedway
Our favorite way to access the speedway is from the Riverwalk, because it’s such a fun walk, but you can also drive and park at the speedway. There are many trails to enjoy around the speedway, or you can do “the loop” around the actual race track. The old stadium seating, starting line & a couple of old cars are also fun to explore.
We have many other local favorites, but these are my top 5 hikes in Hillsborough with kids. Have you been to any or all of these spots? Which is your favorite?!
Looking for more North Carolina adventure inspiration? Check out these posts…
5 Spring Activities around Hillsborough, NC
