Bailey and Sarah
Williamson Preserve
Explore 447 Acres of Forests, Meadows, and Trails 20 minutes from Raleigh
Bailey and Sarah
Discover 16+ Miles of Scenic Trails near Raleigh at Williamson Preserve
The Williamson Preserve is a rare find in the booming Triangle area. Not far from the busy highways surrounding Raleigh, this 447-acre property in Wake and Johnson Counties offers a unique mix of forests and meadows, farm fields, and ponds and streams. One of the largest and most popular mountain biking spots in this part of the Triangle, the preserve’s more than 16 miles of walking and biking trails connect to the Neuse River Greenway and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
A hike or bike through the preserve gives you a chance to enjoy the Piedmont’s classic nature experiences such as walking through towering hardwood and pine forests and pausing on the riverbank in hope of spying a great blue heron, or maybe a river otter. Springtime brings a showy display of forest wildflowers such as atamasco lilies and breathtaking lady’s slippers. The preserve provides an important habitat for animals like great horned owls that thrive in unfragmented woodlands. In addition, the preserve’s expansive wildflower meadow hosts beautiful insects like bumblebees and monarch butterflies.
Close to two miles of trail are open to foot traffic only. Bikers and walkers share the rest of the trails by following directional signs, and hikers should note that the preserve is extremely popular with bikers on the weekend. Trails periodically close due to weather - you can find the most updated trail status information here.
Special Features at Williamson Preserve
The Williamson Preserve has a long and layered history. Long before the Williamsons, Indigenous people passed through and possibly farmed here. As Walnut Hill plantation, the land was worked by enslaved Black people, including 33 individuals owned by the Mial family in 1860. By then, Walnut Hill had grown to 2,240 acres and was among Wake County’s largest plantations. Over time and generations, the land was divided among family.
In the 1950s, Carl and Betty Williamson farmed tobacco, grains, and cattle. They later divided their land among their sons, and Bailey and Sarah Williamson came to own the 405 acres that now make up the preserve. They farmed tobacco until 1967, then transitioned to row crops and cattle. When Triangle Land Conservancy purchased the land in 2013, their daughters helped fulfill their parents’ wish to permanently protect its fields and woods—an open space Bailey deeply cherished.
Triangle Land Conservancy and the UNC Community Histories Workshop have partnered to share this fuller history through the preserve’s kiosks.
The main parking lot of Williamson Preserve is located at 4409 Old Country Mial Road, but hikers can access walking-only trail like the Bootlegger’s Loop via the Neuse River Greenway at 6090 Mial Plantation Road.
Springtime brings a showy display of forest wildflowers such as atamasco lilies and breathtaking lady’s slippers. In addition, the preserve’s expansive wildflower meadow hosts beautiful insects like bumblebees and monarch butterflies.
Preserve Guidelines & What to Expect
When are the preserves open?
All TLC preserves are open dawn to dusk.
Where do I park?
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.
Can I mountain bike at TLC preserves?
- 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.
Can I bring my dog to TLC preserves?
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.
Will there be cell phone service?
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.
Is there any trail etiquette I should use?
- 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.
Are there restrooms or water available at the preserves?
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.
What activities are prohibited?
- 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
Let’s Do This Together
With your support, we can secure a thriving tomorrow by taking action today