Secretary Governor William G. Ross Jr. Ross G. William Michael F. Easley F. Michael Department of Environment and Natural Resources Natural and Environment of Department Recreation and State Parks State Welcome! Carolina North The Eno River is a swift, shallow stream flowing from northwest Orange County into Durham County for 33 miles where it joins the Flat River to become the Neuse River and flows into Falls Lake. Its waters roll through wilderness, passing historic mill sites, river bluffs covered with flowering shrubs, and fords used by early settlers. Rains can turn the river into a raging torrent, yet it quickly settles into a gentle current. It is a chain of rapids, pools, and riffles meandering through forest on a bed of rock. The valley of the river is narrow and steep walled. The rugged landscape is carved and sculpted by swift flowing water. Eno River State Park lies here, in the beauty of more than 3900 acres of natural resources. Five accesses – Cabe Lands, Cole Mill, Few’s Ford, Pleasant Green, and Pump Station – offer entry into this largely unspoiled river environment. Park State Eno River Eno Eno River State Park Information ✰ To discover more about Eno River State Park and to obtain reservation and fee information, contact: Eno River State Park 6101 Cole Mill Road Durham, NC 27705-9275 Eno River State Park is located in Durham and Orange Phone: (919) 383-1686 counties, northwest of Durham and east of Hillsborough. Fax: (919) 382-7378 Five access areas may be reached from I-85 by exit 173 Cole Email: [email protected] Mill Road or exit 170 Highway 70 west. To discover other North Carolina State Parks and Recreation Areas, contact: NC Division of Parks and Recreation Park Hours Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources November - February 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 1615 Mail Service Center March, October 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Raleigh, NC 27699-1615 April, September 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (919) 733-PARK May - August 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. On the web: http://www.ncsparks.net Pleasant Green and Cabe Lands open at 8:30 a.m. and Cole 25,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $3288.59 or .13 cents per copy. Mill opens at 9:00 a.m. All three accesses close 30 minutes 25 M 11/05 before the rest of the park. Picnicking Camping Flora & Fauna Rules & Regulations Fews Ford and Cole Mill picnic areas provide the perfect Find solitude and peace among tall trees and a symphony Make your visit a safe and rewarding experience. Many of spot for enjoying a meal in the open air. Each have tables, of forest creatures camping at Eno River State Park. The our rules are posted for the protection of our park and grills, restrooms, water, a picnic shelter, and parking. Most park has primitive backcountry camping available to visitors. A complete list is available at the park office. Help of the tables and all the facilities are wheelchair accessible. families and groups at the Fews Ford Access. A permit is preserve our natural resources by observing the following: Shelters may be reserved for a modest fee. required and there is a modest fee. All supplies must be ❏ The removal or disturbance of any plant, animal, packed in to the sites. There is not a potable water source artifact or mineral is prohibited. at the sites. Request a park camping flier for details. ❏ Do not litter. Place trash in proper receptacles. State law Trails requires aluminum cans be placed in recycling containers. Family Camping: : Follow a secondary trail off the Fanny’s ❏ Firearms and fireworks are prohibited. Ford trail to reach the family campsites, one mile from the ❏ The possession or consumption of alcoholic parking lot. There are five sites and a pit toilet on a hill a short beverages is prohibited. distance from the river. Each site has an impact pad for tents. ❏ North Carolina motor vehicle and traffic laws apply Open fires are not permitted and cooking is restricted to in the park. camp stoves. Obtain a camping permit at the park office ❏ All North Carolina State Parks are wildlife preserves; where sites are assigned in order of request. hunting or trapping is not permitted. ❏ Fishing is permitted only during park open hours Group Camping: The group camp is a short distance from Plant Life: In spite of urban development nearby, the except campers may fish after hours. Regulations of the Cox Mountain Trail and the suspension bridge across the woodlands of Eno River State Park are a peaceful haven. In the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission river and is set on a wooded ridge near the river. The hike the past farming and the timber industry took away much of fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, and are enforced. is 3/8 mile from parking. The site has tent pads, picnic tables, the forest. Now the ridges, slopes, and flood plains are once the feisty Roanoke bass. Roanoke bass, locally know as “red- ❏ two fire rings with benches, and a pit toilet. Maximum again thick with vegetation. Oak, beech, poplar, maple, Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet at all times. On the River eye” are found in only four river drainages in northeastern accommodation is 26 persons. All tents must fit on the pads. dogwood, pine, and hickory dominate the uplands. Sy- ❏ Camping is permitted only on the designated camp North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Chubs and bull- Reservations are required. camore, birch, and hornbeam shade the river banks. sites and requires a permit. The Eno River is the focus of recreation at this state park. You heads add to the fishing fun. All North Carolina Wildlife can shoot the rapids, cast a line or follow a scenic trail along ❏ Resources Commission fishing regulations are enforced. Mountain laurel, Catawba rhododendron and ferns grow Do not leave cars in the park after hours unless you the riverbank. on the slopes and bluffs. Wildflowers bloom in the fields are a registered camper. and forest from February through November. Vines such ❏ As a courtesy to other campers, observe campground Canoeing: Travel the Eno by canoe passing through rolling History Highlights as greenbrier, grape, and trumpet flower are part of the quiet hours. hills and deep forest. Canoeing is usually difficult due to backdrop of natural beauty at the park. ❏ shallow water but is great right after a rain which raises the Open fires are not permitted in the park. Fires are water level creating class I, II, and III rapids. Levels are permitted only in the Fews Ford group camp and measured from gauges painted on road bridges and the picnic area fire rings. Charcoal grills are available in Durham station USGS river gauge. Optimal canoeing is 1 to the picnic areas. 3 feet on the bridge gauges and 3 to 5 feet on the USGS ❏ Respect the rights of private land owners when gauge. Below these levels requires some portaging. Above Follow the river bank, journey through the woodlands, or parking vehicles, hiking and canoeing. these levels is dangerous. Watch out for dangerous hydrau- hike a short nature trail for a close look at Eno River State ❏ Horses, motorized vehicles, and bicycles are not lics below the Pleasant Green Dam. Personal flotation Park. Go up Cox Mountain for a challenging climb through permitted on hiking trails. devices should always be worn. scenic hardwood forest. Travel the Bobbitt Hole Trail to one of the most scenic spots on the river, where water rushes over rocks and greenery hangs from stone-lined For Your Safety bluffs. Eno River has more than 24 miles of trail to take you into the heart of nature. All trails are blazed and signed. To prevent accidents or illness remember these safety tips: Request a park trail map for descriptions and distances. ❏ Check with park staff on water conditions before canoeing/kayaking. ❏ Wear a personal flotation device when canoeing/ Archaeology tells us that men first walked trails along the kayaking. Eno long before recorded history. Indians of the Eno, ❏ Shakori, and Occoneechee tribes, lived along the river Animal Life: Plant communities along the river provide the In the event of a canoe spill, stay on the upstream side when the first European explorers passed through. Some perfect home for various animals. In the old fields you can of your boat to avoid being pinned against a rock.. of the tribes merged in the late 17th century and estab- find eastern cottontails and ground hogs. White-tailed deer, ❏ Boating and hiking alone are not advised. lished a village near present day Durham. Settlers moved raccoons, squirrels, and oppossums feed on the fruits and ❏ in during the mid 1700’s to set up farms and gristmills. seeds of the hardwood forest. Lucky visitors catch glimpses There are no protected swimming areas in the park. More than 30 mills were located along the length of the of chipmunks, otters, and possibly a bobcat. ❏ Poison ivy, chiggers, ticks, yellow jackets, and poison Eno. Nature's Classroom Birds serenade everywhere in the park. The calls of the red- ous copperhead snakes may be found throughout the The best rapids are between Highway 70 Bypass in tailed hawk, barred owl, and crows mingle with the melo- park. Be alert! Efforts to establish Eno River State Park started in 1965, Hillsborough and Roxboro Road in Durham. The river Nature is fascinating at Eno River State Park. Unlock the dies of more than one-hundred kinds of song birds.