Sal's Branch Trail

Or call (919) 571-4170 for more information.

• Jess
  Sep. 3, 2018
  Dogs on leash at all time

  The prior review was misleading. The law is to keep your dog on a leash at all times. Visitors do mind. It is the number one complaint. If the Park Rangers catch you, you will receive a $200 + curation. Please be virtuous to those you share the Park with and keep your pet on a leash AT ALL TIMES.

• Ashlie
  More than a year ago
  Great Morning Walk for Kids and Fur Baby

  My Dad was visiting town for Memorial Weekend and we wanted to get everyone out of the house for some fresh air. We nipped over to Umstead and chose Sal's Branch as our trail of the day. It was a great choice!! There were loads of families and dogs on the trail and the lake in the middle is a great time to stop and relax. Although the rules do state that dogs are to remain on leash at all times in the park, there were several families who opted to allow their pups to have a swim in the lake during the pit stop and/or have quick game of frisbee in the grassy areas around the lake. No-one seemed to mind. There is a great little boat house on the lake, but pups are not allowed in the boats. The trail was very shaded, which was great for kids and family and is very easily accessible from the visitor center parking lot. We will definitely take this hike again!!

• MyDoggysMommy
  More than a year ago
  Not easy for everyone :-)

  I recently did the Sal's Branch Trail hike with my husband and our dog, and I wouldn't call it "easy". I just wanted to clarify this for those like me who aren't in great shape. :-) This hike does have many hills. It is labeled by the park website as "moderate". I found the many hills challenging at my fitness level, but I did see two men who had no problem jogging this trail. There are several little bridges on this trail that go over creeks, which my dog enjoys. I was hoping for more of a walk along the lake on this trail, but the lake view on this trail only shows up for less than a minute unless you get off the trail to go to the lake. At Durant Park you can hike around the lake with a lake view nearly the entire time. The Sals Branch Trail is wider than trails at Durant park though, so if you need more space for multiple dogs or a group of people, that might matter to you. The lake on Sal's Branch Trail is closed as I write this due to a toxic algae. If your dog likes to drink lake water, check the park's website before you go to find out if the water is safe. We saw two deer crossing the trail ahead of us, which my doggy enjoyed.

We dug up a dog picture at Sal's Branch Trail.

Want to feature your creature? Upload a photo of your pet at Sal's Branch Trail! You can also share by using the hashtag #bringfido on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.