Little River Regional Park Click here for viewable map: The Little River Park and Natural Area features 7+ miles of hiking trails and 8 miles of single-track mountain biking trails.There are also 2 picnic shelters with grills, public restrooms, and a great playground! Enjoy! Click here to download a park brochure (2 mb pdf)

photo by Sonke Johnsen

Picnic shelters are first come, first serve, but can be reserved for groups by calling #(919)245-2660. Questions, concerns, or suggestions should be voiced to park staff at the Little River Park office, #(919)732-5505, or the Orange County Recreation and Parks Department at #(919)245-2660.

Park Hours:
May–Sept:7:00 am–Dusk, Oct–April:8:00 am–Dusk
Closed Christmas Eve and Day and New Years Day

The Little River is one of the cleanest in the state, with vibrant aquatic habitat for otter, beaver, rare freshwater mussels and many other species. Sycamores, river birches and other riparian trees edge it's banks. From their branches, indigenous and migratory birds, among them tanagers, warblers, whippoorwills and woodpeckers nest, feed fly and sing.

The park is located on Guess Road, 1.1 miles north of the Orange County Line. It is well marked with a prominent sign on the east side of the road.

Mountain Biking:
Blue markers indicate mountain bike trails. Over seven miles of single track trails are newly designed, built, and ready for use! Markers are found only at intersections and hiking trail crossings, and therefore signal areas where riders should minimize speed and exhibit added caution. Extra care should also be taken at trail-heads and around the parking lot, where multiple users of the park come together, possibly including horse riders.
The mountain bike trails are specially designed to prevent erosion and maintain stream and river water quality. Bikers are asked to remain on posted mountain bike trails at all times. Biking on the gravel logging roads should be limited to emergency situations only.
The level of technical difficulty on trails increases with distance from the trail-head. Since use of the gravel roads is not meant for bikers, please plan a route that permits a return path along the mountain bike trails. Don’t forget that the park’s gates lock at dusk!
Bikers must be aware that hikers, while not encouraged to use the bike trails, are allowed to explore the trail system. However, biking trails are made for bikers, and hikers are advised to yield to riders on the mountain bike trails. Please report any problems encountered along the trails to park staff.

Hiking:
Over seven miles of hiking trails are available in the park. Hikers should follow the green trail markers. They are spaced to retain the natural beauty of the area, but found at critical points to assist hikers. Symbols depict the permitted uses of trails. Marker numbers indicate location within the trail system, with intersections referenced on the map. Odd numbers mark the Ridge and N. River Trails, while even numbers mark the S. River Loop Trail. Signs at trail intersections show trail names and directions. Please notify park staff of any difficulties on the trail system, as this is a work in progress. Hikers are encouraged to carry water, and choose a route that fits their physical abilities. The route along the Ridge Trail and North River Trail offers beautiful natural settings and scenic vistas, but is approximately 4 miles and can easily take 4 hours to complete. The South River Loop is slightly shorter in distance, but may still take 3 hours or longer. Plan a route that allows enough time for enjoyment, and don’t forget that the park’s gates lock at dusk! Hikers are also permitted to hike on the mountain bike trails. Be aware that these are hilly, winding, narrow, single-track trails, which are designed for bikers, and made for one user at a time. Hikers must yield to bikers on these trails!

The Little River Regional Park and Natural Area is a cooperative project between Durham and Orange Counties, funded equally by both, with major assistance from the Eno River Association, Triangle Land Conservancy, NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The park is managed by Orange County.

The project would not have been possible without the generous help of hundreds of volunteers, scouts, students, community members, and neighbors, to whom we are extremely grateful. However, this park is a work in progress, and opportunities for volunteering will continue to be available. If you are interested in helping out, please leave your info on the volunteer list in Park Office, or call #(919)732-5505.

Visit Orange County's Little River Park page: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/RecParks/little_river_park.asp

Directions to Little River Regional Park---

From Hillsborough:
Take St. Mary's Road east out of Hillsborough. After crossing US 70 continue on St Mary's for 1.5 miles and turn left onto New Sharon Church Road. Travel about 6 miles to intersection with Guess Road (SR 1003). Turn right on Guess Road and drive 1/2 mile. See park entrance on left.'

From Durham:
Take Guess Road north out of Durham. About 4 miles north of the Durham city limits, watch for the following landmarks, in order: St Mary's Road, South Lowell Road, Little River bridge, Bromley Road and the Durham/Orange County line. After crossing over the Orange County line continue driving north for approximately 1 mile and the park entrance will be on the right.

From the Raleigh/Cary Area:
Take 1-40 and the Durham Freeway (NC 147) to Durham
From the Durham Freeway exit onto US 15/501 North
From US 15/501 North take I-85 South
Use exit 175-Guess Road at the stoplight at the end of the exit ramp
The park is located 10-11 miles north (after you cross the county line from Durham into
Orange County we are about 1 mile on the right.)
The driveway for the park will be on your right and is marked with a white sign.

From Chapel Hill:
Take US 15/501 North to I-85 North
Use exit 175-Guess Road (also known as HWY 157)
Make a left onto Guess Road at the stoplight at the end of the exit ramp
The park is located 10-11 miles north (after you cross the county line from Durham into
Orange County we are about 1 mile on the right.)
The driveway for the park will be on your right and is marked with a white sign.

from Chatham County:
Take US 15/501 North to Chapel Hill and continue until to I-85 North
Use exit 175-Guess Road (also known as HWY 157)
Make a left onto Guess Road at the stoplight at the end of the exit ramp
The park is located 10-11 miles north (after you cross the county line from Durham into
Orange County we are about 1 mile on the right)
The driveway for the park will be on your right and is marked with a white sign.

From US 70 in Durham/Raleigh:
Take US-70 to I-85 North
Use exit 175-Guess Road (also known as HWY 157)
Make a left onto Guess Road at the stoplight at the end of the exit ramp
The park is located 10-11 miles north (after you cross the county line from Durham into Orange County
We are about 1 mile on the right)
The driveway for the park will be on your right and is marked with a white sign.

From Person County (Roxboro) and areas to the north:
Take US HWY 501/57 south to HWY 57 south (look for the BP gas station on your left.) Coming
south you can only make a right onto HWY 57 south. Continue south on HWY 57 until you come to a flashing yellow light (there will be another BP gas station diagonally on your right.) Make a left turn onto Guess Road (also known as HWY 157.) Drive south on Guess Road approximately 4-5 miles. Look for the cross road of New Sharon Church Road and the park entrance is on the left approximately 1/4 mile after New Sharon Church Road.

 

last updated: September 28, 2006