Shepherd Nature Trail is a 0.7 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.
December 28, 2020November 27, 2020Lovely trail natural but still somewhat maintained. Easy rolling hills along both sides of a stream. Nice educational placards.
September 18, 2020
September 13, 2020Short and relaxing
September 6, 2020April 29, 2020Liked the trail but was bit by a copper head. So be alert
April 18, 2020a very casual trail for my first excursion in the area
January 24, 2020Nice, easy trail. Quiet.
January 12, 2020Cute little walk. Enjoyed all the signage.
September 8, 2019Great little trail for a hot day in the summer. There was no water in the stream as it hasn’t rained for a little while. Parking where the app tells you to do is just fine
August 27, 2019https://dukeforest.duke.edu/recreation/snt/ will show you the actual .8 mile Shepherd Nature Trail. Pretty nice little loop.
May 4, 2019There is some confusion with access and trail name it seems. This trail can be easily accessed from Hwy 751 with parking along the road (no need to park in the apt complex). Also, I think the interpretive single track Shephard Nature trail loop is just a short .25-.5 mile loop on the north side of the larger 2.4 mile gravel road loop that is listed here.
March 6, 2019I had a hard time finding this, but if you drive in the apartment complex and go to apt #800 and park there, you'll see a blue sign in the woods. Walk that to the right all the way to Shepherds Nature Trail. You COULD park at Hollow Rock Park and cross the street, walk that path till you come to a fork and take the left to go up to the trail. I checked with the office and it was fine to park as long as you don't park in a reserved parking spot. The trail was very nice with lots of information which would be great for kids and people that love local history. The only muddy part is walking up the apartment complex into the woods.
September 23, 2018Loved this trail! Hard to find because it’s hidden behind an apartment complex but if you can find it, it’s great!
August 17, 2018great but short interpretive trail in duke forest. simple, but educational and a good look at the scope of the Piedmont. it seems some posters have missed the trail completely and only walked on the fire road. that's too bad.
July 9, 2018Perfect easy hike,
July 2, 2018I 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
June 8, 2018The whole thing a wide gravel road
April 22, 2018Great run. Some right turns and roots that’ll test concentration. Duke Forrest never disappoints.
October 13, 2017No good water features. 1 tiny creek. Pretty isolated except for a few spots where homes have backyards backing up to the trail.
August 22, 2017I did not like how it took you through a random apartment complex and crossed streets. Other than that, the actual trail parts were nice.
June 10, 2017Shepherd 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.
January 15, 2017Clean and quiet
January 2, 2017We 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.
July 17, 2016Easy, wide gravel trail in Duke Forest. Would be good for trail running and mountain biking too
May 17, 2016wide open
September 25, 2015It was a great to run in this trail!
July 12, 2013This is a very nice trail, and allows dogs on leashes.
May 30, 2012The 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.
August 30, 2011
First to ReviewThere 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.
