What are the Best Parks to Walk in Raleigh?
While all of these places listed will be completely biased and strictly my own opinion, after living in Raleigh for some time and trying out a variety of different parks, this list contains the parks that I enjoyed the most above all.
1. Fred G. Bond Park (Cary, NC)
The first time I went to this park I instantly fell in love. The drive in separates you from civilization and urban sprawl to being surrounded by wilderness and beauty. It has a beautiful lake in the center, which you can see from many of the walking trails. There is a nice boathouse that sells snacks and has rentals for kayaks and canoes during the warm months of the year. I am not quite sure what it is, but Fred G. has just always been my favorite park to go and walk and clear my head whenever needed. Coming here in the Fall when the leaves are changing is surreal and looks like something out of a movie. There is also a yearly race here, which I have done myself with my partner, which was awesome.
2. Apex Community Park (Apex, NC)
Apex community park is a fantastic place to come and walk, as it surrounds the stunning Apex Lake and has tons of wildlife like birds and fish. The walk around the lake is simple and low maintenance with it only being around 2 miles.
3. Shelley Lake Park (Raleigh, NC)
Centered more centrally within Raleigh, Shelley Lake Park is a great place to go to for a nice 2ish mile walk around the lake. Shelley is especially great for wildlife, as you can see many different types of wildlife here including Bald Eagles and even beavers! You will often find many wildlife photographers coming here to snap some shots of these awesome furry friends. This walk is something I do frequently during the work week.
Go Find out Which is Your Favorite Park in the RTP
While these are simply just the top 3 parks I enjoy to frequent, there is a plethora of different parks and trailheads to chose from in the RTP area. If you have not been to any of the above parks, give them a try and maybe they will make your top 3!