Trail Difficulty: Medium
Trail Length: 5.6 mile loop
Parts of the trail are very uneven with significant trip hazards; trail width ranges from 2-4 ft.; mild changes in elevation; not handicapped accessible
Pets are permitted on the trail but must be on a leash.
Background
On a recent trip to Raleigh, we finally decided to stop at Umstead State Park to get some exercise and try out the trails. Umstead Park is very popular and one of the largest parks in the Triangle (Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh areas).
We entered and parked at the Reedy Creek Entrance and planned to take the Company Mill Loop Trail as this was the highest rated trail on AllTrails. Since we were somewhat limited on time, we didn’t think have time to finish the full 5.6 mile loop, but would go as far as time permitted and turn back. There were only two trail options available at this parking area (Company Mill Loop and Loblolly).
It was a pretty warm day with temperatures getting near 90 degrees. The park was very busy, as most parks have been during COVID times, with the large parking area at least 3/4 full. This was the busiest I had seen of any park I have visited in the Triangle, but there were also multiple pavilions and picnic tables in this area and I was hoping that the trail would not be overly busy.
I was wrong. There were very few stretches on the trail without other hikers visible. Frequently, when I stopped to take a picture, we would get passed by hikers behind us. What was particularly surprising was the complete lack of courtesy for social distancing on the trails.
While mask wearing outside is definitely optional, trying to maintain 6 foot distance should still at least be attempted. As someone who works in Public Health and has worked directly with COVID response, I would recommend people try to maintain the six foot distance to avoid direct contact with someone’s respiratory droplets. As you are hiking and/or running on the trail, you are breathing harder and producing more droplets that can linger in the air.
As you pass someone closely on the trail (within 6 ft), you are more likely to expose people to your droplets before they have time to dissipate naturally. It is now believed that at least 40% of people infected with COVID-19 never display symptoms but can still spread the disease. Please do your best to keep everyone safe by stepping off the trail to allow social distancing. In the end, it is only a minor inconvenience that I am surprised people aren’t willing to take for the safety of others.
Needless to say, this did not occur for the majority of people we encountered. On almost every hike I’ve taken since March, people have all been extremely courteous and respectful of social distancing. That is why it was especially surprising to see so many people who didn’t view this as a priority.
Ok, rant aside, let’s talk about some highlights on this trail. This experience will only cover about 2 miles of the trail, at which point we turned around due to time and other issues which I will discuss.
Terrain and Trail Architecture
The Company Mill Loop Trail does not entirely consist of a loop and starts with an entrance trail that is approximately 3/4 mile long. This leads to the loop which occupies the remaining 4-ish miles of trail.
The trail floor is almost exclusively a natural forest bed/dirt trail with occasional gravel areas to help with drainage. The trail has variation in elevation throughout providing for a chance to increase your heart rate throughout. Bridges have been built for the more significant water crossings, but some areas can be very muddy and large puddles can form after a rain.
This is a good place to mention that the entrance trail has a significant amount of tree roots and large rocks crossing the entire width of the trail in some areas. Depending on your point of view, this can either be very beautiful and aesthetically appealing, while others may find this to be a nuisance and uncomfortable on the feet. One person’s junk is another’s haunted house prop. Either way caution should be taken as these can pose a significant trip hazard. The loop portion of the trail that we hiked had far fewer obstacles on the path.
Along the way, you will come upon two creeks and these will be the only water features for this trail. At the end of the entrance trail, you will cross Crabtree Creek before having to decide if you want to go right or left around the loop, both running parallel to the creek. We chose right.
About a tenth of a mile down the trail, we came upon a large rock jutting out into the creek. Several families had stopped here to either fish or dip their feet in the water. We would have stopped, but it was pretty crowded and we were short on time. After about another 1/2 mile, the trail turns north away from the creek. We traveled north for a short distance before turning back.
The second water feature, Sycamore Creek, runs parallel to the western portion of the loop which we did not travel on our journey.
Bridges
As you will soon learn, I am a sucker for bridges and like to point out my favorites on every trail. This trail presents several bridge crossings that range from crossing a large creek to protecting hikers from particularly soggy parts of the trail.
The first bridge you cross will be a small wooden bridge that carries you over a tributary of the creek. The creek’s creek, if you will. This bridge looked nicely weathered, but is in good shape. Sadly, no bounce or sway to this bridge, which maybe is a plus to other people besides me.
The next bridge crosses a very pretty, fast running small creek tributary. The third bridge was merely in place to lift you above a low-lying wet area when it rains. Both bridges are wood without railing. The third bridge had a hole where one of the boards has broken. Try not to fall, but luckily it isn’t a long drop if you do.
The fourth bridge is a large 50 foot iron bridge that crosses Crabtree Creek. This is the largest and most impressive of the bridges that we came across. The railing has a nice alternating V design and the floor even has a slight bounce when you walk across.
Around the loop, we crossed several more small wood bridges similar to the 2nd and 3rd bridge that served the purpose of covering low-lying areas and didn’t warrant additional photographs. There were two additional bridges similar to the first bridge that crossed small tributary creeks. The final one was missing a few siderails and may need repairs soon.
Flora and Fauna
The trail is exclusively in the forest and there is variety of both pine and hardwood trees. Deciduous trees outweigh the evergreens and this is reflected by a larger abundance of undergrowth. I was able to identify maple, loblolly pine, hickory, and tulip poplar trees, among others. There were also some very nice ferns and a few flowering plants along the way.
We were able to spot at least one lizard and two frogs, but I left my guide at home and didn’t get a good ID. The only mammals that we were able to see were an abundance of gray squirrels (shocker).
Birds
There were plenty of birds out and about, even in the middle of the afternoon. We heard Carolina Wrens, Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, and Downy Woodpeckers. I’m sure there were other bird species that we aren’t quite able to identify by call yet. We didn’t see or hear any birds that we haven’t already seen in our early bird watching career.
Summary
The Company Mill Loop Trail is a moderately rugged trail in the forest and can provide solitude for those living in the Raleigh area. While the trail seems to offer something for everyone, I found that it didn’t really impress in any specific area either. My opinion may be a little jaded due to the temperature, the crowded nature of the trail, and the lack of respect for social distancing.
I would definitely recommend the trail for anyone who lives in the area and wants a nice walk in the woods. Runners will probably enjoy the trail as well, but take caution in the uneven terrain and the potential for trail congestion on busy days. If you don’t live close, I would probably recommend skipping this trail for some of the other more memorable trails in the Triangle.