Shepherd Nature Trail is a 2.4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Durham, North Carolina that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
kid friendly
birding
hiking
mountain biking
nature trips
trail running
walking
forest
river
views
wildlife
Perfect easy hike,
I love this trail because it's short, it's a loop, and it's usually pretty quiet. I love taking my dogs here and I like to read the labels on the trees
The whole thing a wide gravel road
Great run. Some right turns and roots that’ll test concentration. Duke Forrest never disappoints.
No good water features. 1 tiny creek. Pretty isolated except for a few spots where homes have backyards backing up to the trail.
I did not like how it took you through a random apartment complex and crossed streets. Other than that, the actual trail parts were nice.
Shepherd Nature trail is a fairly new short 0.8 mile trail in Duke Forest. They have added nature facts signage recently. Good for a nature trip, can be combined with other fire road trails to increase the distance.
Clean and quiet
We had an easy, relaxing and fun family hike here on a nice summer day last July. One of many options in the large Duke Forest.
Easy, wide gravel trail in Duke Forest. Would be good for trail running and mountain biking too
wide open
It was a great to run in this trail!
This is a very nice trail, and allows dogs on leashes.
The Korstian division is probably the largest tract -- it offers many options of varying length and difficulty. The walks along New Hope Creek are great from November to May, otherwise may want to stick to the popular trails unless you don't mind chiggers. There's a nice ascent up Piney Mtn which can be reached most quickly from Mt Sinai or Irwin Rd trailheads.
Dina P.
Fine for a local Hike......watch for dogs off Leashes. Do everyother week.
There are thousands of acres of Duke Forest in half a dozen different tracts. They all have trails. My favorites are just off Whitfield Road in the Korstian Division. Trails are well maintained; none have much elevation gain or loss.