Little River Preserve
LITTLE RIVER PRESERVE - MATTHEWS TRACT
Address: 7321 Matthews Road
Hours: Open dawn to dusk year-round.
Home to dramatic bluffs, lush floodplains, and serene upland forest, the 359-acre Little River Preserve is comprised of several tracts along the Little River and protects water quality and wildlife habitat in northern Durham County. Approximately 2.2 miles of moderately difficult natural surface trails at the Matthews Road Tract provide visitors with a quiet, rugged hiking experience, all less than a thirty-minute drive from downtown Durham.
Trail Information
Little RIver Preserve contains three successive, moderately difficult natural surface loop trails, all accessible via the 0.1-mile Matthews Road Access Trail. Official County trails at the Preserve are marked with yellow blazes.
Click here for a trail map.
The Bluff Loop (0.6 miles), the steepest of the three trails, winds down to a tranquil spot along the Little River before quickly ascending to the top of rocky, laurel-covered bluffs reminiscent of some of North Carolina's more mountainous landscapes.
The Ridge Loop (1.0 miles) provides excellent opportunities for birding and wildlife viewing. A variety of neotropical migrant birds nest or pass through the rolling upland forest in this area, while herons, kingfishers, and ducks frequent the floodplain along the river. The variety of mammal tracks often visible near the river are a testament to the importance of Little River County Preserve as a refuge for wild animals.
Accessing the Pine Loop (0.5 miles) requires crossing a small creek from the Ridge Loop. The forest here is noticeably younger than in some other parts of the Preserve, its canopy dominated not by hardwood trees but by loblolly pines. County protection has helped this area recover from past logging activity.
To help us protect Little River Preserve, please observe the following rules during your visit:
- Please stay on the trail.
- Pets must kept on a leash at all times.
- Please pick up after your pet.
- The Bottomlands Trail is for foot traffic only. Bikes and motorized vehicles are not permitted in the Preserve.
- Hunting is prohibited. Fishing is permitted subject to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission regulations.
