This trail extends from Burlington Mills Road south to the Neuse River Greenway, west of Caddell Woods and Moss Creek subdivisions. Greenway users have the opportunity to experience views of aquatic and wetland life along Smith Creek. This partially shaded trail offers a cool escape from the summer heat. From atop the 558-ft bridge, watch for boaters enjoying the Neuse River.
Trail Type
10-feet wide paved asphalt trail
Length
1.15 miles with a 33 mile connection to the Neuse River Greenway Trail (one way)
Connecting to Smith Creek Greenway is made via Neuse River Greenway Trail.
History
The Smith Creek Greenway offers approximately 1.15 miles of paved trails with connections to Creek Moss Avenue and The City of Raleigh's Neuse River Greenway. The trail extends from Burlington Mills Road, south along Smith Creek, crossing the Neuse River, to the Neuse River Greenway. The Neuse River Greenway is part of an extensive 28-mile greenway system that links Wake Forest, Knightdale, Raleigh, and Clayton.
The first segment, only 0.75 miles long, was constructed in 2003 from Burlington Mills Road to the southern edge of Moss Creek subdivision. As part of the Neuse River Greenway project in 2011-2012, the Town of Wake Forest funded a $1.4M pedestrian bridge over the Neuse River and constructed a segment of trail to connect with the existing section of Smith Creek Greenway. At 558 feet, this bridge is the largest pedestrian bridge in North Carolina! While this project added only one-third mile of 10-foot wide, paved greenway to the town, it gives trail users access to Raleigh's Neuse River Greenway Trail.
The "Function at the Junction" celebrated the grand opening of the latest greenway segment on November 14, 2012.
The trail was repaved in it's entirety after the Smith Creek Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Upgrade, which was completed by the City of Raleigh in 2016.
Smith Creek Greenway Phases 2 & 3
Smith Creek Greenway Phases 2 and 3 will add 2.5 miles of public 10-foot-wide hard surface greenway trail filling a key gap in the Wake Forest greenway network and connecting to the Neuse River Greenway Trail.
The greenway will begin at Burlington Mills Road and connect to the existing Smith Creek and Sanford Creek Greenways near Heritage High School. Along the way, trail users will have access to nearby neighborhoods and parking areas. This partially shaded trail will offer opportunities to enjoy scenic views of Smith Creek and observe local aquatic and wetland wildlife, providing a peaceful escape from the summer heat.
