Durant Nature Preserve

Overview

The Park office is located in the Training Lodge just off the North Parking lot at 8305 Camp Durant Road.

Check out one of our Discovery Backpacks to learn more about ponds, insects, birds, animal tracking, or nature art! The Park Office loans these free of charge. They are available to be checked out during office hours.

• Office hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
• Please call the office for park closing times, which vary throughout the year.
• Public restrooms are located about 200 yards down the path starting at the big orange gate in the North Parking lot.

Programs

Durant offers year-round general public programs for all ages, as well as self-guided interpretive gardens and hiking trails which highlight our unique habitats and abundance of plant and animal life.

• Browse and register for programs and classes at Durant Nature Preserve on RecLink.
• Tree ID Trail
• Explore City of Raleigh Nature Preserves through our new Nature Quest!
  Visit each of the preserves and participate in activities there to earn a special stamp from each site.  If you earn stamps from all of the sites, you earn a prize!

Park Rules

• Pets must be restrained at all times on a 6-foot leash.
• Park only in designated areas.
• Hike only on designated trails.
• No personal boats are allowed.
• Remote controlled devices, motorized equipment, and motorized toys are not allowed.
• No organized team play is allowed on playfields.
• Prohibited items and activities include alcoholic beverages, smoking, swimming, balloons, collection or removal of any animal or plant material, metal detectors, Geocaches, Munzees, Letter Boxing, amplified music, open fires of any kind (unless special permission is given by park staff), hunting, off-road vehicles, and personal grills.
• Any commercial film or photography productions taking place in a City of Raleigh Park/Preserve require a film permit. To apply for one, please contact Jennie Saponaro at 919-996-4905 or jennie.saponaro@raleighnc.gov.
• All City of Raleigh ordinances apply.
• Bike only on designated trails when they are open. Call for bike trail status.

Amenities

Durant Nature Preserve has a lot of amenities including lakes/fishing, discovery backpacks, bird garden, butterfly garden, sensory and nature play garden, and picnicking.

Learn more about Durant Nature Preserve amenities.

Try Our Tree Trail!

Walk White House Road in the preserve and use the guides (keys) to identify 12 numbered trees along the road.

• Summer Tree Trail
• Winter Tree Trail
  Note: For the winter tree trail, it might be best to start with tree #2 or #3, as tree # 1 can be challenging.

Trails

There are five miles of trails that explore the park's 237-acres. Hike along a stream, through hardwood and pine forests, past wildflowers and ferns, through wetlands, and alongside two lakes.

Mountain biking is allowed on designated trails only when trail surfaces are dry. To check the status of mountain bike trails, please call the park office 919-996-2271.

Park maps are available in the park office and are posted at key intersections throughout the park.

View Park map.

Site Rentals

919-996-2271 | email

Campbell Lodge

Address: 3237 Spottswood Street, Raleigh, NC

Campbell Lodge is managed by the staff at Durant Nature Preserve. 

• Take a 360 tour of Campbell Lodge.
• Campbell Lodge Rental Information
• Request your rental online using RecLink or by reaching out to the facility. 
• Take note: Requests will be subject to staff approval. Please allow up to 7 days to review reservation requests. Upon approval, payment will be required to confirm the reservation. Your reservation is not finalized until you receive confirmation of your payment.

Campfire Circle

• Located in the field near the north parking lot (along the gravel path leading to the restrooms) 
• Campfire circle available by reservation only (call the office to reserve)
• Reservations not accepted less than two weeks before the date requested
• $15 flat rate with 2-hour maximum
• Firewood provided
• Rental hours: 9 a.m. to dusk
• Alcohol strictly prohibited
  
   

Shelters

Request your rental online using RecLink or by reaching out to the facility. 

Take note: Requests will be subject to staff approval. Upon approval, payment will be required to confirm the reservation. Your reservation is not finalized until you receive confirmation of your payment.

Sassafras Picnic Shelter

• Located near a 12-acre lake, playground, large open playfield, restrooms, and access to trailheads
• Approximately a 200-yard walk from the parking lot down a dirt and gravel path (walk-in only; no vehicle access allowed)
• Capacity: 75
• 12 tables
• 2 grills
• $24 per hour (2-hour minimum)
• Reservations not accepted less than two weeks before date requested
• Rental hours: 9 a.m. to dusk
• Alcohol strictly prohibited
• Renter responsible for leaving the shelter in the same condition as how it was found
• Use of candles, luminaries, or other flames of any kind prohibited
• No electricity
• Use of balloons, confetti, and open flame (other than the use of the grills onsite) prohibited

Sweetgum Picnic Shelter

• Located near the 12-acre lake, playground, large open playfield, restrooms, and access to trailheads
• First-come, first-served basis and non-reservable
• Capacity: 50
• 8 tables
• 1 grill
• No electricity

Sycamore Picnic Shelter

• Located near the 12-acre lake, playground, large open playfield, restrooms, and access to trailheads
• First-come, first-served basis and non-reservable
• Capacity: 30
• 6 tables
• No grill
• No electricity

View other shelter locations.

Courts

Sand Volleyball Court

• 1 unlit court
• First-come, first-served basis

View other court locations.

Playgrounds

Ages 2–12

• Woodchip surface

View other playground locations.

Volunteering

Durant Nature Preserve offers year-round volunteer opportunities. For more information about volunteering, call the park office at 919-996-2271.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities in our Parks.