Eagle Spur Trail

Overview

The Eagle Spur Trail is a tree-covered trail that affords hikers, bikers and weekend dog-walkers a comfortably shaded pathway. A majority of the trail is elevated above ground and cuts through a swath of wetland areas, giving one a true sense of being on a converted railway! The end of this trail spills out onto Jordan Lake, providing a breathtaking view of the lake at any time of day. This trail is very accessible and fairly straight, although watch out for some muddy parts after it rains!

Directions and Parking

As shown on our map, a parking area for the trail is located right off of Stagecoach Rd.

From Downtown Durham:

From 147 S. Take exit 5B to merge onto I-40 W toward Chapel Hill. Take exit 274 for N Carolina 751 toward Jordan Lake. Turn left onto N Carolina 751 S. Turn right onto Stagecoach Rd. The gravel parking area will be on your left where you see a metal gate.

From Chapel Hill:

From US-15 N/US-501 N/Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. Turn right to merge onto I-40E. Take exit 274 for N Carolina 751 toward Jordan Lake. Turn right onto N Carolina 751 S. Turn right onto Stagecoach Rd. The gravel parking area will be on your left where you see a metal gate.

Trail Description

The Eagle Spur Trail is a little easy to miss as you drive down Stagecoach Rd; however, you know you have passed it when you reach the bridge that spans New Hope Creek! There is a metal gate that marks the beginning of the trail and as you head down the trail you will cross a small concrete foot bridge that allows for some of the water to spill over into a small creek. The trail is flanked on both sides by a Carolina wetland landscape. The pooled water that surrounds the trees and brush are alive with birds and the tree branches create a canopy of shade from above. The marshy environment on either side is a beautiful contrast to the above grade rail-trail. It is very bike friendly and quite a few hikers, joggers, and dog-walkers can be found all along the trail as it is a popular place to enjoy an afternoon stroll. The end of the trail opens out onto Jordan Lake—a small jetty that sweeps out roughly 200 feet onto the water. This is a great spot for a picnic or tossing a ball for your favorite water-loving dog, as it receives a nice cross breeze and is tree-lined for shade. At times some of the trail gets slightly narrow, and this is especially true in the spring and summer time when the brush and plants are in full bloom, so be prepared for getting a little close to nature around these times of year! This trail is also well managed and felled trees can be seen recently removed along the side of the pathway. The hard packed dirt has a few roots emerging, making the trek a little slow going for bikes, as well as some small to medium sized rocks. These tiny interventions are few and far between and still make the trail a fairly easy ride for most bikers. The Eagle Spur rail provides the perfect opportunity for families and nature-lovers alike, a small escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby Durham and Chapel Hill. The evidence of a once-active train may not lie in rusting tracks peeking out from underneath the packed dirt, but the elevated perspective one gets when traveling along this trail is reminiscent of what a conductor or passenger must have seen and felt; a perfect reminder of the legacy that rail-trails capture throughout the state of North Carolina.

Trail Photos