River Walk on the Neuse

Butterfly Fence Along River WalkMaybe you'd like to strap on a helmet and embark on a 32-mile scenic trek from Clayton to Falls Lake Dam in Raleigh.

Perhaps you'd like to get your children away from the iPads and give them a breath of fresh air riding their bicycles along the sparkling Neuse River. Or maybe you just need some quality family time to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the picturesque view from the pedestrian bridge spanning the river. Then you should definitely check out the greenway that WRAL called a "piece of paradise!"

Clayton River Walk on the Neuse is a beautiful 4-mile, 10-foot wide paved trail that begins at the Wake County/Johnston County line and parallels the Neuse River under Covered Bridge Road.  It is part of the 1,000-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail, which will connect Clingman's Dome in North Carolina's Great Smokey Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge State Park all the way at the coast. Clayton's section has also been designated as part of the 2,500-mile East Coast Greenway that will extend from Maine to Florida, linking cities in every state on the eastern seaboard.

Clayton River Walk on the Neuse connects with the recently completed Sam's Branch Greenway, a 1.25 mile 10-foot-wide paved multi-purpose trail which was also made possible with $600,000 in funding from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Sam's Branch is adorned with a gorgeous butterfly public art project involving a local artist and school children.

To ease access to these trails, the Town of Clayton just finished a trailhead/parking lot and access ramp at the intersection of the Neuse River and Covered Bridge Road. It was made possible by grant money from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality.

These greenways also provide a safe way for families to criss-cross the state. Clayton has gone the extra mile to ensure that safety. The Clayton Police Department does regular patrols on a four-wheeled ATV along the trail route. In addition, the Clayton Fire Department and Planning Department worked diligently to map the trail and designate addresses along the route so that if someone makes a 911 call from the trail, their location would immediately be pinpointed by emergency responders.

Location

Additional Information

  • Pets must be leashed
  • No motorized vehicles are allowed
  • Bicyclists are welcome!