Entrance:

Google will be glad to give you directions to Few’s Ford Access Area.

Environment:

The Holden’s Mill Trail is one of two trails available from the Buckquarter Creek Trail. The trail entrance is obvious with marked signs and a bridge crossing the Buckquarter Creek. The Holden’s Mill Trail is actually two loops connected by a short common path. The large loop contains most of the distance while the small loop around the ruins of Holden’s Mill is the climax of the hike.

The riverside portions of the loops are typical of most Eno hikes. Rapids and rock-hops are common and beautiful. During our hike the water was very low and very clear. The higher ridge portion of the large loop contains a moderate climb of 200-300 feet through hardwoods. The leaves were just beginnning to change for autumn.

Mid way through the large loop, a small creek is crossed to join the smaller loop around Holden’s Mill. Several rows of stacked rock suggests that a mighty structure once lived here. Rock remants of the dam are visible on both sides of the river. Certain times of the years, planted flowers are visible that hint where a schoolhouse was once located. The walls of stacked rock are facinating and stimulate a lot of imagination on how the area must have looked when the mill was active.

After finishing the small mill loop, the small common path returns the hiker back to the larger loop to complete the hike. After crossing the bridge, the hiker may wish to complete the Buckquarter Creek Trail.

Details:

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Surface: Natural
• Bicycles: No
• Length: 2.6 Miles Alone (4.1 with Buckquarter)
• Blazes: Yellow

Maps/Links:

• Map of Western Eno River State Park (pdf)
• KMZ of Holden’s Mill Trail
• Google Map/Google Earth Map of Holden’s Mill Trail

Photos:

Kirk – Holden’s Mill Trail Photos (23)
Qmchenry – Holden’s Mill Trail Photos (22)

Entrances:

From I-85 take exit 173 onto Cole Mill Road north. The road ends at the park. After you pass the park office on the right, take the first right. Google maps gives good directions.

Environment:

The Buckquarter Creek Trail is the base trail for several interesting Few’s Ford hikes. However, this trail in solo has both wonderful scenery and a challenging climb. After just a few yards, the trail opens up at Few’s Ford. In reference to the picture to the left, you approach the ford where the truck (ironically, a Chevy) is sitting. After your trek is over, this is a nice place to wade across the river to cool your heels. My kids would have played in the ford all day. The ford is formed by river stones so water footwear is highly recommended for play here.

Following the trail along the river, you will mirror the Fanny’s Ford trail for a bit. This includes crossing a wooden overlook that views the small but roaring falls.

The trail breaks away from the Eno and follows the Buckquarter Creek for a short way. One may cross the creek at a wooden bridge to add the Holden Mill Trail to this hike. Soon the trail turns east and starts to gain elevation. The take off to the Ridge trail is found here. The southeast return to the trailhead is the most difficult of the loop. The two steep hills provide nice cardiovascular stimulation before you close the loop back at the ford.

Details:

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Surface: Natural
• Bicycles: No
• Length: 1.5 Miles
• Blazes: Red Dots on Trees

Maps/Links

• Google Maps/Earth Map of Buckquarter Creek Trails
• KMZ of Buckquarter Creek Trail
  
• Map of Western Eno River State Park (pdf)
  

You gotta love it when you see a family of deer on the way out of the park too…

Photos:

Buckquarter Creek Photos (13)

Entrances:

This is the Eno entrance that is best marked. From I-85 take exit 173 onto Cole Mill Road north. The road ends at the park. Stop for trail maps outside the office on the right near the park entrance. Leaving the office, stay straight until the parking area for this set of trails. Google maps gives good directions here as well.

Environment:

When done in full, Cox Mountain is a suprisingly difficult amateur hike for this area. Fanny’s Ford is an easy, beautiful addition. Even if a strenous climb is not in your plans, most of the hike’s highpoints can be experienced anyway. Click on the map below to see the trail in google maps:

Coming out of the parking lot, the trail is initially paved sidewalk. A large area of picnic tables are on the right. The trail continues into the woods and takes a pretty rapid descent to the riverside. After about 0.2 miles, the trail shadows the river briefly before crossing a swinging bridge. This area is often populated with kids exploring the bridge and playing in the river. Other small unmarked trails allow for further river exploration in this area. This is as far as a lot of the park’s visitors go in exploring this area.

Continuing past the bridge, the Cox Mountain trail forks. Taking the left (western) trail will get the strenuous ascent part of the trail over while your legs are still fresh. Under the canopy, interesting stacks of rocks can be seen on the “mountain”.
My hiking partner for this trip, Mike, speculated that this might have been some way that land was marked in previous times. Around the trail interesting pieces of stone such as quartz are easily found. A few scattered benches allow for rest, but for the most part, the mountain hike is simply a workout.

As the trail returns near the previously described fork, the take off to the Fanny’s Ford loop can be found. After a brief flat hike through the woods, the trail follows a wonderful area of river. Be watching for a small unmarked fork near the river that takes the hiker near a tiny waterfall. I would have missed it except we could hear the roaring of the water.

This trail ends on an old coach road at Few’s Ford. Both children and adults alike can enjoy the shallow moving water while imagining horse-drawn carriages crossing the river here many years ago. Completing the loop will bring you back to the swinging bridge and toward the parking area.

Casual hikers may wish to avoid the steep mountain climb and just take the trail straight to Fanny’s Ford Trail. This would be a kid-friendly hike that hits most of the beauty of the hike.

Positives:

• The Cox Mountain ascent/descent is rare challenging hike for this area
• However, the difficult areas can be avoided for family fun
• Fanny’s Ford, small falls, and river near the bridge is ripe for child’s play
• Swinging bridge is enjoyed by all
• Superb trail care and markings

Kid’s Interests:

• Multiple areas for water play
• Swinging bridge
• Water fowl, turtles, amphibians
• Small falls
• Fanny’s Ford

Details:

Cox Mountain Trail:

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Surface: Natural
• Bicycles: No
• Length: 3.6 Miles
• Blazes: Blue Dots on Trees

Fanny’s Ford Trail:

• Difficulty: Easy
• Surface: Natural
• Bicycles: No
• Length: 0.9 Miles
• Blazes: Purple dots on Trees

Maps/Links:

• Google Maps/Earth Map of Cox Mountain and Fanny’s Ford Trails
• KML: Cox Mountain and Fanny’s Ford Trails
• Eno River Association: Trails of Western Eno River
• PDF: Western Eno River Trails Printable Map

Photos:

Flickr: Cox Mountain and Fanny’s Ford Trails Pictures (36)