For all the details regarding this hike, please visit our previous Cole Mill and Bobbitts Hole Trails post.

The Eno is finally full again after some desperately needed rain. My daughter was itching to see the raging river so we revisited the 2.6 mile dual loop. Although the hike has not changed since my previous post about it, I wanted to post a few pictures documenting this new experience. Click on the pictures to see them much bigger…

My daughter was leader for the majority of the hike…

I have never heard that there was an old homestead on this trail. However, the patch of buttercups erupting in the woods nearby may hint of one.

From the turtles sunning themselves to the last few fall colors, this hike surrounds with beautiful nature.

The lack of leaves this time of year exposes the beauty of raw wood. Gnarled or termite-patterned, the trees really stand out.

No polarizing filter. No photoshop. I promise that this was really the color of the sky.

Entrances:

As these trails are part of the Eastern Eno trails, we have discussed directions to the entrance in our previous posting about this area. This google map marks the location to the eastern trail parking.

Environment:

Cole Mill Trail and Bobbitt’s Hole Trail are connecting loops. (For reference, Bobbitt’s Hole trail is also known as Bobbit’s or Bobbit Hole Trails.) Cole Mill has two trailheads at the parking lot, and Bobbitt’s Hole Trail is a gem of an extension that allows the hiker to experience Bobbitt’s Hole itself.

Once on Cole Mill Trail, stay to the right. This will get the steep challenging climbing part of the hike over when the legs are fresh. Total climb over the entire hike is about 250 ft. Interesting stone types are seen during the climb and in washed away areas of the trail. Several bridges cross small creeks. After the first powercut, the Cole Mill Loop/Bobbitt’s Hole fork is present. After the second powercut, the Piper Creek campgrounds with a latrine are passed. A tenth of a mile after the campgrounds, the small spur trail to Bobbit’s Hole can be found.

Bobbitt’s Hole was evidently named for a man named Bobbitt who drowned here. This history does not prevent people from enjoying rock climbing and sun-absorbing in this area. Benches and flat areas for picnics make this area a wonderful resting place. The spur continues a way up the river although evidently it runs into private land. Paths into other private land areas branch away from this spur as well.

The rest of the trail follows the river downstream. Beaver slides near the river are evident. At the powercut, the Cole Mill Loop (from the previously described fork) rejoins this trail. We happened upon a nice park ranger near some fencing near the river. He informed us that the fencing is being used to divert people from using a few areas of older trails near the river that have started to wash. He also brought to our attention that several trees have small metal cages surrounding them to protect them from the hungry beavers in the area.

The trail finishes up near the trailhead for Pea Creek.

Kid’s Interests:

• Interesting rocks on the climb
• Exploring the campgrounds
  

• Bobbit’s Hole
• Bridges
• Looking for beavers and water fowl

Details:

Cole Mill Trail:

• Difficulty: Moderate, shaded
• Surface: Natural
• Bicycles: No
• Length: 1.2 miles
• Blazes: Yellow dots
  

• Difficulty: Easy, shaded
• Surface: Natural
• Bicycles: No
• Length: 1.4 miles
• Blazes: Red dots

Maps and Links:

• Google Maps/Earth: Cole Mill and Bobbitt’s Hole Trails
• Cole Mill and Bobbitt’s Hole Trails KMZ file
• Eno River Association Description of Eastern Trails
• PDF map of Eastern Trails

Flickr Photos from Cole Mill and Bobbit’s Hole Trails (35)

Entrances:

Eastern Eno River State Park — Parking for the eastern trails can be found at the end of Old Cole Mill Road which branches off the much large Cole Mill Road. Most GPS systems including google maps does not have this location. Through this trail head you will enter the Pea Creek Trail which can be extended by the Dunnagan Trail.

Continental Road Access – Limited parking is available here; however, it is an excellent option if one wishes to hike only the Dunnagan Trail.

**Here are google maps locations for both of these trail entrances.**

Environment:

Both of these trails include a southern leg that parallels the Eno River and a northern leg through more upland forests.

Pea Creek Trail — This trail, blazed with blue dots, starts at the most southern end of the Eastern Trails parking lot. Multiple trails start here and well marked signs eliminate confusion. The Pea Creek trail descends down multiple steps to the river. Flowers are commonplace. The beauty is temporarily interrupted by an early crossing under the Cole Mill Road Bridge. The trail turns to the north where Pea Creek enters the Eno. By *not* crossing the bridge, the hiker will return through the forest to complete the loop. By crossing the Pea Creek Bridge (an example of a well-done Eagle Scout project), this trail can be extended to the Dunnagan trail.

Dunnagan Trail — Blazed with red dots, the riverside portion of this trail gives the hiker another 3/4 of a mile of Eno. Before the trail turns away from the river, the stone wall remains of Durham’s first water pumping station are visible across the river. A deep area of the river known as Bob’s Hole is also found in this area. After climbing up the ridge to the northwest for the loop back, the short Continental Access trail heads north while the trail stays on the ridge to the west. An eerie shaded clearing filled with ferns, stones, and flowers is apparent on the inside of the loop from this upper ridge. A tiny sunken cemetery, which includes Catherine Dunnagan’s headstone, provides mystery and reflection to this experience.

Kid’s Interests

• Easy river access
• Flowers
• Higher ridges have interesting stone types
• Turtles
• Cemetery
• Old home places
• Old pump station

Details:

Pea Creek Trail:

• Difficulty: Moderate, shaded
• Surface: Natural
• Bicycles: No
• Length: 1.4 miles
• Blazes: Blue dots
  

Dunnagan Trail:

• Difficulty: Moderate, shaded
• Surface: Natural
• Bicycles: No
• Length: 1.8 miles
• Blazes: Red dots
  

Maps/Links

• Google Maps: Pea Creek Trail and Dunnagan’s Trail
• Pea Creek and Dunnagan’s Trail KMZ File
• Eno River Association Description of Eastern Trails
• PDF Map of Eastern Trails

Pictures:

Flickr Photos of Pea Creek and Dunnagan Trails (22)