Capitol Area Greenway - Report1: The Rocky Branch Trail 1.5 Miles

Capitol Area Greenway - Report1: The Rocky Branch Trail 1.5 miles

Raleigh Greenway System Rocky Branch Trail

Background:

For those visiting Raleigh or are new residents of Raleigh not be aware of the wonderful park system and the "Capitol Area Greenway."

The "Capitol Area Greenway" is a project in process. Started in March 1974 by the city council of Raleigh it has a master plan to make sure that there is open space for residents throughout the city. It is being built one trail, park and community area at a time.

Today the city boasts more than 50 miles of trails connecting many of the 3000 acres of city park land. Over the next few years I plan to follow all of these trails and share my impressions.

After a good start with the master plan, the parks and trails were damaged badly in 1996 by Hurricane Fran. Although a lot of clearing and rebuilding had to occur the years immediately after the storm the city is well underway on its project to create links between the various greenways. Though many of the trails are not yet connected, those that are create wonderful off road access to many parts of the city, especially for bikers and runners.

Rocky Branch NCSU Trail - Report 1

Directions:

Parking is available at Pullen Park at 105 Pullen Road. The entry to the trail is located near the little railroad tracks. There is a small train that runs around the park; it is really a little railroad.

Rocky Branch Trail:

Rocky Branch Trail runs from Willington Street south of the city center westward along Western Blvd. Technically the first two or three tenths of a mile is running along Martin Luther King Blvd. before it turns into Western.

The trail technically ends across from Pullen Road, though due to lack of markers it is impossible to tell where the trail ends. The endpoint is important if you are trying to follow the trail to the NCSU Rocky Branch Trail. One end of that trail is right across the street connecting from Pullen Road and going westward along the branch creek.

Though I started at the Pullen end of the trail, I will start my narrative from the Willington Street end.