Story:
This trip includes the Campbell Creek Trail, the Lanier Fall Trail, and the Family Wilderness Camp loop in Raven Rock State Park which is between Sanford and Lillington, NC. This is one of my favorite short hikes. I have done it in as little as 1 1/2 hours or taken as long as 4 hours depending on how much time I have.
This trip includes the Campbell Creek Trail, the Lanier Fall Trail, and the Family Wilderness Camp loop in Raven Rock State Park which is between Sanford and Lillington, NC. This is one of my favorite short hikes. I have done it in as little as 1 1/2 hours or taken as long as 4 hours depending on how much time I have.
Raven Rock State Park is very close to my house so when I cannot get away for a full day I usually end up here. The Campbell Creek Trail is the 'other' trail at Raven Rock State Park. The 'star attraction' at this park is actually Raven Rock which is at the end of the Raven Rock Trail.
[Sidenote: Unless I get to the park at opening, I avoid the Raven Rock Trail. Recently, I attempted the Raven Rock trail in the middle of the day and I felt like I was on a NY city sidewalk...just way too many people and dogs and whining kids, etc... ]
The Campbell Creek trail is generally quiet and much less traveled. There are several reasons for this. The trail is longer, has several steep hills, and there isn't Raven Rock at the end. Generally, I may pass 1/2 dozen people during the 5 mile hike and there may be a few people down at Lanier Falls.
After descending down to Campbell Creek from the parking lot you have a decision to make right after crossing the creek - the high road or the low road? I generally take the high road (left fork) and save the low road( right fork) for the return trip but today I decided to take the low road and follow the creek for awhile.
Eventually, the creek leads to the cape fear river and the trail turns and follows the river until you get to the Lanier Falls Trail. The Lanier Falls Trail is a 1/4 mile spur trail that leads to the falls. The falls are really a small dip in the river, just a couple of feet really but it is a pretty location to sit on the rocks and relax in the shade.
After returning from the Lanier Falls Trail and continuing on the Campbell Creek Trail you will run into a Vault Toilet and a loop for the family wilderness campground. This campground has 5 flat, secluded sites each with a fire pit. Site 1 is closest to the toilet and site 4 is the most secluded. It is very wooded so there are not any good views to the river, but site 3 may have some view in winter since it is closest to the river. I have never seen more than 2 of the sites being used at any one time.
The rest of the hike is through the hills with some small stream crossings. Eventually, you will get back to Campbell Creek, cross the bridge and walk up the hill to the parking lot.
Tips:
Visitor's Center - One of the better ones in the NC State Parks system. There is a small museum with geological info and also includes information on the building of the visitor's center in 2010. The center is LEED certified and there is a small display explaining some of the things they did to achieve that certification.
Visitor's Center - One of the better ones in the NC State Parks system. There is a small museum with geological info and also includes information on the building of the visitor's center in 2010. The center is LEED certified and there is a small display explaining some of the things they did to achieve that certification.
Summer Visit - You can swim in the water at Lanier Falls in the summer. i would STRONGLY recommend water shoes of some kind, but the water is refreshing.
Tags:
Hiking, north carolina, raven rock state park, campbell creek, lanier falls, cape fear river
Hiking, north carolina, raven rock state park, campbell creek, lanier falls, cape fear river
Comments (0)
Facebook
