After a ride around Raleigh the day before, it was time to explore some new greenways. I had been eying the Neuse River Greenway trails for a while, but I try to avoid driving out somewhere to ride the bike—these trails were totally worth it.

I drove out to Anderson Point Park where you can access to the Neuse River Greenway [PDF] around mile marker 17. You can choose to go north towards Horseshoe Farm Park or south to Johnston County. This was my first time checking out the Neuse River Greenway so I asked someone who was finishing up their ride about the area. A very friendly person gave me the skinny and I was on my way.

I chose to go north and made it to Horseshoe Farm (about nine miles one way). I was thinking about riding all the way up to Falls Lake, but soon discovered the greenway stopped (it’s in the plan to continue though). I turned around and almost made it back to Anderson Point Park when I took an exploratory detour east, on the Knightdale Connector. After a few miles on that trail (which seemed really new), I turned around and then went south on the Neuse River Greenway.

I was really excited when I saw the Walnut Creek Greenway tie into the trail. I ride that from the house all the time and have been waiting for this trail to connect to the Neuse. I rode on it for about two miles until the trail turned into gravel. I’ve hit the other side of the gravel portion from the eastbound part of the greenway. When I got home and looked at the map, I estimated that the gravel part of the trail is less than a mile. I’ll give that a try some other time.

To finish up the 37 mile bike ride, I headed back toward Anderson Point Park, but took an extended break along the river, checking out a rocky section and enjoying the water flowing south. What a great way to end the bike ride and be on the water without being in the water.

I will definitely be coming back to explore more of the Neuse River. I’d even like to go kayaking one day with Zander or the entire family. That would be a great day to spend in North Carolina. Until then, enjoy these pictures.