Swift Creek Bluffs
Nature Preserve

Wander beneath centuries-old trees in one of Wake County’s most remarkable natural areas.

Discover Old-Growth Forests Just Minutes from Downtown Cary at Swift Creek Bluffs 

Forests with two-hundred-year-old trees are becoming a rarity in the rapidly growing Triangle region. Surprisingly, you can visit one just five miles from downtown Cary – Swift Creek Bluffs.   

Although the forest was selectively logged within the last 100 years and is tucked between a golf course and housing developments, it still gives you a taste of the Piedmont past. In the 26-acre preserve, north-facing slopes reach 100 feet and receive little direct sunlight, providing a summertime refuge for hikers who can wander beneath stately beech trees. A 1-mile trail system takes you through the creek’s floodplain and extends to the top of the bluffs on stairs dubbed “Stairway to heaven,” offering a steep and scenic workout. Several benches along the way offer places to rest.  

In spring, visitors will enjoy wildflowers like bloodroot and black cohosh. During late winter and early spring rains, spring peepers and upland chorus frogs call from temporary wetlands that form in the floodplain. You might also hear another lovely sound of early spring: the call of the Louisiana waterthrush. Neotropical migratory birds including ovenbird and common yellowthroat nest here each spring and summer after their long journeys north. The floodplain also offers uncommon oak species like overcup and Shumard.  

Swift Creek Bluffs is considered one of the most outstanding natural areas in Wake County and has been named a Wake Wonder. While you’re in the area, be sure to visit nearby Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, which is home to an unusual stand of Eastern hemlock, a species typically found in the southern Appalachian Mountains.  

Preserve Guidelines & What to Expect

All TLC preserves are open dawn to dusk.

All TLC preserves have designated parking lots. Please park and access the preserves only through these entrances. Some preserves, like Brumley Nature Preserve, have several parking access points. Williamson Preserve (specifically, the Bootleggers Loop) can be accessed from the Neuse River Greenway.

  • Mountain biking is available at Williamson Preserve in Wake County and Brumley South Preserve in Orange County. You can check the trail status at any time by visiting our trail status page. Please respect all trail closures, which help us maintain the trails and the fragile habitats near them.
  • Please note, all riders must wear helmets. E-bikes are not permitted.
  • Please observe good trail-sharing etiquette, including giving audible warnings and slowing down to pass hikers and other riders.

Yes! Dogs are welcome at all TLC preserves but they must be leashed at all times on a 6-foot physical leash. This is critical for the safety of other visitors, wildlife, and farm animals.

All pet waste must be bagged and disposed of off the premises to protect water quality and habitats.

Cell phone service varies depending on your carrier and so is not guaranteed at any of the preserves. Cell coverage is generally poor at the southern half of Williamson Preserve near the Neuse River Greenway Trail, as well as most of Horton Grove and White Pines. Please plan accordingly.

  • On shared hiking and mountain biking trails, please walk on the right side.
  • Mountain bikers should give an audible warning and slow down to pass hikers or other riders.
  • All dogs must be leashed and any waste bagged and disposed of off the premises.
  • Please stay on the marked trail in order to help us protect delicate plant and wildlife habitats.

Port-A-Johns are available at the Brumley South New Hope Church Road parking lot and at the Williamson Parking lot. No other preserves have restroom access or potable water.

  • Littering
  • Off-trail riding and hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Racing on bikes
  • Electric bikes (e-bikes)
  • Smoking
  • Bringing or consuming alcohol
  • Collecting plants and wildlife
  • Hunting
  • Feeding wildlife or livestock
  • Approaching or handling livestock or farm equipment
  • Firearms
  • Swimming
  • Tents and/or camping
  • Drone use
  • Metal detecting
  • Commercial activity of any kind

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