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Sowell Trail

Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
 4.5 (4)
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …Raleigh - Durham Metro Area
  4. Horton Grove Nature Preserve
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“A trail through pines and mature hardwoods with a loop around a beautiful pond. ”

Matthew Rutledge
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0.8

Miles

1.2

KM

100%

Runnable

346' 106 m

High

296' 90 m

Low

55' 17 m

Up

20' 6 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

4%

Max Grade (2°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Wildlife

The trail is open from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year.

Description

Park at the Great Barn at Historic Stagville and take a run through the pines to a small 1.5 acre pond hidden in the trees. The trail loops up and around the pond through a mature hardwood forest before following an old farm road from the former Stagville Plantation. See the connection between the past and present by running the Sowell Trail and touring Historic Stagville!

Contacts

Local Club: Triangle Land Conservancy

May 15, 2026: Wild Ideas: You Are A Force for Nature

May 5, 2026: Connecting People to Place: My Experience in Education and Outreach at TLC

Apr 8, 2026: Reading the Landscape: The Shortleaf Pine on TLC Preserves

Land Manager: TLC - Horton Grove Nature Preserve

Shared By:

Matthew Rutledge
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 4 votes

#5

in Horton Grove Nature Preserve

#8603

Overall
  4.5 from 4 votes
5 Star
75%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
25%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#5

in Horton Grove Nature Pr…

#297

in North Carolina

#8,603

Overall
6 Views Last Month
278 Since Dec 21, 2015
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
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Photos

Sowell Trail
Oct 3, 2020 near Butner, NC
The pond along the Sowell Trail in January 2015
Jan 5, 2016 near Butner, NC
Pond along the loop on Sowell Trail.
Nov 28, 2020 near Butner, NC
View of the pond from Sowell Trail.
Dec 30, 2015 near Butner, NC
Pond at Horton Grove.
Dec 30, 2015 near Butner, NC

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