There are currently two separate segments to Cary’s Crabtree Creek greenway; the 1.7 mile Crabtree Lake segment that runs along the south shore of Lake Crabtree from Black Creek Greenway to Evans Road and the 0.8 mile Bond Park segment from White Oak Creek Greenway to High House Road.

West of Evans Road, Morrisville’s stretch of the Crabtree Creek Greenway extends from the Crabtree Lake segment through Cedar Fork District Park, under both NC 54 and a railroad crossing, connecting to Hatcher Creek Greenway and providing a continuous 4.5 miles of trail from Black Creek Greenway to Davis Drive.

Crabtree Lake Segment

The Crabtree Lake segment starts at the Black Creek Greenway approximately 0.5 miles south of the Black Creek Greenway’s northern terminus. Heading west, the trail immediately crosses an arm of the lake on a 730-foot concrete boardwalk. From there, the trail runs close to the lake for about 0.3 miles on a level bench below steep, wooded slopes with sweeping views north and west across the lake to Lake Crabtree County Park. Keep an eye out for bald eagle, osprey, blue heron, egret, and other water birds in this section. 

The trail then enters the woods and continues the next 0.9 miles to Evans Road, mostly in woodland, with intermittent views of the lake and wetlands.  In Spring, large patches of atamasco lilies blooming in the woods and yellow flag iris in the marshy areas brighten this stretch of trail.

The trail emerges from the woods at Evans Road and turns to parallel Evans for 0.4 miles, with views into forested wetlands, crossing Crabtree Creek on a 105-foot bridge.  Shortly after crossing the creek, the trail divides.  Turn left towards a mid-block signalized crossing of Evans Road to continue west on Morrisville’s trail.  Or, proceed straight to the current terminus of the trail at Pharma Drive in Southport Business Park.

Greenway Overview

Length: 1.7 miles

Trail Width/Surface: 10-foot wide asphalt

Used For:  Walking, running, bicycling, walking leashed dogs, skating, roller blading, pushing strollers, wheelchairs

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Special Considerations: None. Trail grades are gentle, with maximum slope of 5% and mostly closer to level.

Restrooms: None along trail. Closest are at Old Reedy Creek Rd trailhead, North Cary Park, and Cedar Fork District Park.

Special Features: Lake views, 730 ft concrete boardwalk across lake

Benches: Yes

Connects To: Black Creek Greenway, Lake Crabtree County Park’s Lake Trail (unpaved footpath)

Directions

From the East:  Enter the trail from the Black Creek Greenway, 0.5 miles south of Old Reedy Creek Road Trailhead (about 250 feet beyond the gazebo) or 0.8 miles north of North Cary Park (about 0.25 miles after passing under the Weston Parkway bridge).  Public parking is at Old Reedy Creek Road Trailhead and North Cary Park.

From the West:  There are three entry points from Evans Road; 1) via the sidewalk from the south to the trail entrance about 700 feet north of Weston Parkway (about 100 feet beyond Sage Commons Drive); 2) via Evans Road sidewalk from Aviation Parkway to the northern entrances of the trail at Evans Road, and 3) from the west via Morrisville’s Crabtree Creek trail segment. Public Parking is at Cedar Fork District Park.

Bond Park Segment

This greenway segment branches off from the White Oak Creek Greenway and heads north along the Crabtree Creek tributary within Fred G. Bond Metro Park.  Although it only goes a short distance through the park, the master plan calls for this greenway to connect to an existing pedestrian underpass under Cary Parkway and from there connect eventually to the Lake Crabtree segment via Morrisville’s trail.

Greenway Overview

Length:  0.8 miles

Trail Width/Surface: 10-foot wide asphalt

Used For:  Walking, running, bicycling, walking leashed dogs, skating, roller blading, pushing strollers, wheelchairs

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Special Considerations: None

Restrooms: None

Special Features: Baseball & soccer fields

Benches: Yes

Connects To: White Oak Creek Greenway, Bond Park Lake Trail

Directions

From the far western corner of the Ropes Course Shelter Parking Lot at the western end of the Metro Park Drive in Fred G. Bond Metro Park, you can access the greenway that heads south past baseball fields on the right. The trail ends at the White Oak Creek Greenway. Turn left and you will come upon a junction with the Bond Park Lake Trail. To the right, the trail quickly leaves the park, traveling along the White Oak Creek Greenway on its way to the SW Cary Parkway and points beyond.

Entrances

Enter the trail from the White Oak Creek Greenway in the south after the turn-off for the Bond Park Lake Trail or from the parking lot near the Ropes Course Shelter at the western end of Metro Park Drive in Fred G. Bond Metro Park.