Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve is a joint project between the North Carolina state park system and the Town of Cary in Wake County, North Carolina in the United States. Located in Cary, it covers approximately 140acres in the Research Triangle region of the state. The state owns 97acres of the preserve, known as Hemlock Bluffs State Natural Area. The Town of Cary owns approximately 42acres of the preserve, and the town leases the state's land for management. The preserve protects a population of Eastern Hemlock trees and other vegetation more typically found further west, in the Appalachian Mountains. The tall, north-facing bluffs of Swift Creek provide conditions similar enough to the mountains to have allowed the plant communities to have survived here since the last ice age.Plan to see Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and other attractions that appeal to you using our Cary tour itinerary builder site .
The Stevens Nature Center is a nature center located on Cary's portion of the preserve, which provides the preserve's core visitor facilities. It provides information about the natural history of the area and the plants and animals that live in the Nature Preserve.
The preserve has approximately 3 miles of hiking trails.
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Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve Reviews
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Soft, mulched trail and plenty of shade. There are a lot of stairs on one side which brings you down into the beautiful bluff. This is a unique spot with plenty of wildlife to see. more »
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Went there to get out and walk the dogs, great trails and plenty of interesting things to see. Will go back, didn't get to see it all. more »
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The Nature Preserve is so beautiful, and the trails are excellent. It really makes you forget there are busy streets anywhere near by. We took our dog for a great walk, and met a few nice people along the way. Even though there was a bit of snow on the ground, it still made for a great bit of exercise. I am excited to see what the other seasons look like!
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Wonderful little park. Very shaded with easy trails (excluding a section of stairs). Museum/nature center is small but has some fun nature exhibits illustrating animals in their habitats. Trails are very well maintained and mulched. Hemlocks have a pretty neat story - not typically present in locations like this. Highly recommended for a fun nature filled afternoon.
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