North Carolina State Parks

William B. Umstead

8801 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612 · (919) 571-4170 · E-mail

Tucked between the growing cities of Raleigh, Cary, Durham and the corporate world of Research Triangle Park is an oasis of tranquility, a peaceful haven—William B. Umstead State Park.

Here, two worlds merge as the sounds of civilization give way to the unhurried rhythm of nature. Highways fade in the distance as trees, flowers, birds and streams form a more natural community. William B. Umstead is a place to escape the pressures of everyday life, a place to picnic in the pines, to wait for a fish to bite, to take a hike or horseback ride on trails through the woods.

Divided into two sections, Crabtree Creek and Reedy Creek, this 5,577-acre park is easily accessible from Interstate 40 and US 70. Visit William B. Umstead State Park and enjoy this region of wilderness at the city's doorstep.

Boating

Rent a canoe or rowboat at the boathouse on Big Lake. Relaxing on these small boats is the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Bridle trails

For people who prefer horseback, approximately 13 miles of bridle trails travel through some of the most scenic and secluded parts of the park. Signs mark the equestrian trails. Horses are restricted to these trails and are not permitted in other areas of the park, including hiking trails. Bridle trailhead parking is available on Sycamore Road past Maple Hill Lodge. All visitors with horses must be able to provide proof of a negative equine infectious anemia (Coggins) test while visiting North Carolina State Parks.

Camping

Stay a while and take time to enjoy the park. The tent/trailer campground is open Thursday from 8:00 a.m. through Monday, 1:00 p.m. (check out time), March 15 to December 15. Twenty-eight campsites, well-shaded by a hardwood forest, offer picnic tables and grills. Hookups are not available, but drinking water and restrooms with showers are centrally located. The campsites are available on a first-come basis for a modest fee.

Two primitive campgrounds are open year round for organizations and nonprofit groups that want a more rugged camping experience. Reservations are required for use of these campgrounds.

The youth tent camp offers tent sites, a pit privy, fire ring and running water. The camp accommodates up to 25 people.

Maple Hill Lodge is also available for groups. Facilities include a fireplace, drinking water, fire ring, picnic tables and restrooms. The lodge houses up to 25 people.

Three group camps—Camp Crabtree, Camp Lapihio and Camp Whispering Pines—are available to youth groups and nonprofit organizations. Each camp includes a mess hall, dining area, camper and staff cabins and washhouses. Located in the heart of the woodlands, each camp offers ample opportunity to explore the wonders of nature. Swimming in Sycamore and Reedy Creek lakes is a popular group activity. Groups are responsible for providing swimming supervision and water safety.

Group camps are open April through October and may be rented daily in spring and fall or weekly during the summer. Accommodating between 27 and 120 people, an entire camp may be rented or a unit of cabins may be rented. Fees vary accordingly. A minimum of 10 people is required to rent a group camp or unit. Reservations for the group camps must be made in writing. Contact the park office to obtain reservation forms and fee information.

Cycling

Umstead State Park is one of the few state parks offering trails for bicycling. The mountain-bike trails follow the same roads as the bridle trails and are entered at the same points. Bike trailhead parking is also available down Sycamore Road past Maple Hill Lodge. Mountain bikes are prohibited on the hiking trails.

Exhibit Hall

Gain a better understanding of the natural and cultural history of the land that is now William B. Umstead State Park by visiting the park's exhibit hall. A series of interactive exhibits, oral histories and images by the celebrated Depression-era photographer Carl Mydans guides visitors through the park's transformation from exhausted farmland in the early 20th century to the dynamic Piedmont forest that exists today. The exhibit hall opened in July, 2001.

• "This Old Farmland Has Stories to Tell" which uses oral histories of past residents to describe daily life on what was once hardscrabble farmland.
• "Mills and the Community" depicts a replica of one of several gristmills found in the park.
• "Park Construction" tells about the selection of the land as a public works project to be called Crabtree Creek Recreational Demonstration Area, and the beginnings of the reclamation of the land by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
• "The Kingdom Game" is a computer interactive exhibit that invites visitors to consider the effects of development and preservation.
• "The Urban Oasis" shows changes on the land that became the park through a series of aerial photographs.
• Another series of exhibits describes the natural history of the land including stories of weather, soil and wildlife habitats.

The exhibit hall is located in the park's visitor center and is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. March through October and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. November through February. Closed Christmas Day.

Fishing

Three manmade lakes are part of the picturesque beauty of William B. Umstead State Park. The largest is Big Lake, which lies on Sycamore Creek. From the parking lot in the Crabtree Creek section, a broad gravel path leads to this 55-acre body of water. Further downstream is Sycamore Lake and, near the intersection of Crabtree and Reedy creeks, is Reedy Creek Lake. Sycamore and Reedy Creek lakes cover about 25 acres each.

Anglers will enjoy casting a line at William B. Umstead State Park. Fishing is permitted in each of the three lakes and in the connecting streams. Common catches include bass, bluegill and crappie. Regulations of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are enforced.

Hiking

Twenty miles of hiking trails provide access to most of Umstead State Park. Visitors may choose between a short stroll along a nature trail or a more extensive hike into the woods. Either choice will be rewarding as the beauty and diversity of the park's natural resources are best seen from any one of its many trails. Some of the trails at Umstead interconnect; to avoid becoming lost, pay close attention to trail markers. No bikes or horses are allowed on hiking trails.

Picnicking

Take a picnic in the park; tables, grills and scenery are provided free of charge. A pine/hardwood forest forms a canopy for 40 picnic tables in the Crabtree Creek section. Reedy Creek offers 25 tables scattered under the trees. Drinking water, restrooms and parking are conveniently located nearby.

Crabtree Creek has two shelters for group picnics. One shelter accommodates up to 100 people; the second is for smaller gatherings of 20 people or less. A fireplace in each shelter offers an ideal setting for cool-weather dining. There are two shelters with fireplaces at Reedy Creek. One accommodates 125 people and has an attached stone deck; the second accommodates 60 people and is accessible. Umstead's picnic shelters are extremely popular, so reservations are suggested. Use of the shelters is free of charge unless reservations are made.

For more information visit: North Carolina State Parks - William B. Umstead State Park