Some facilities and areas closed due to COVID-19
Posted on: Thursday, August 13, 2020 - 9:24am |
Activities
Fews Ford and Cole Mill accesses are operating under normal hours. Trails and restrooms are open. The restrooms close regularly throughout the day for cleaning and sanitizing; entry will be prohibited during this time.
The picnic shelters are closed to promote social distancing. All water fountains and hydrants are off: please be prepared and bring filled, reusable water bottles.
Cabelands and Pleasant Green accesses are CLOSED at this time. Parking outside the gates and along the road is not permitted. You may not park on the road shoulder, block gates, or impede traffic and walk into the park from these accesses. Your vehicle will be subject to citation and or towing. Swimming is not permitted at the Eno Quarry at this time.
Tent campsites are open for reservations, with the exception of group campsites, which remain closed.
Visitors should make their visits brief and focus on moving through the park without stopping any place where multiple people may be in one area. This is not the time to “hang out” at the park.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide. Phase 2 has been extended until at least September 11, 2020.
Last updated on: Thursday, August 6, 2020The Pea Creek Trail (trailhead located at the Cole Mill access) is closed until further notice. Due to recent storms, erosion has undercut steps, put deep holes into the trail, and significantly damaged the trail. Do Not Enter From Any Access.
Last updated on: Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Contact the park
919-383-1686
eno.river@ncparks.gov
Addresses
Fews Ford access
and park office
6101 Cole Mill Road
Durham, NC 27705
GPS: 36.0783, -79.0050
Cabelands access
4950 Howe St.
Durham, NC 27705
GPS: 36.0400, -78.9888
Cole Mill access
4390 Old Cole Mill Road
Durham, NC 27712
GPS: 36.0599, -78.9804
Pleasant Green access
4770 Pleasant Green Road
Durham, NC 27705
GPS: 36.0459, -79.0115
Pump Station access
4023 Rivermont Road
Durham, NC 27712
GPS: 36.0594, -78.9652
Hours
►
- December to February:
7:00am to 7:00pm
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- November:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- December to February:
7:30am to 6:30pm
- March to April:
7:30am to 8:30pm
- May to September:
7:30am to 9:30pm
- October:
7:30am to 8:30pm
- November:
7:30am to 7:30pm
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- December to February:
8:30am to 5:30pm
- March to April:
8:30am to 7:30pm
- May to September:
8:30am to 8:30pm
- October:
8:30am to 7:30pm
- November:
8:30am to 6:30pm
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- November to February:
Monday to Friday:
8:30am to 4:30pm
Saturday to Sunday:
9:00am to 5:00pm
- March to October:
Monday to Thursday:
8:30am to 4:30pm
Friday:
8:30am to 8:00pm
Saturday to Sunday:
9:00am to 5:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
Things to do
Hiking
The park is a great place for a hike! See the Trails page for more information.
Paddling
Travel the Eno River by canoe or kayak passing through rolling hills and deep forest. Canoeing is usually difficult due to shallow water but is great fun right after a rain which raises the water level creating class I, II, and III rapids. Levels are measured from gauges painted on road bridges and the Durham station USGS river gauge which can be viewed on the internet. Optimal canoeing is 1 to 3 feet on the bridge gauges and 3 to 5 feet on the USGS gauge. Below these levels requires some portaging. Above these levels is dangerous. Personal flotation devices should always be worn.
The best rapids are between Highway 70 Bypass in Hillsborough and Roxboro Road in Durham. The river continues at a slower pace from there down stream to Falls Lake. Canoe accesses are located in several areas of the park. Please respect the rights of private landowners along the river.
Fishing
Wet your line in one of the best fishing streams in the Neuse River Basin. The Eno is a great place for fly-fishing, casting lures, or baiting with the ever reliable worms and crickets. Most of the river can be waded and there are many openings for bank fishing. Commonly caught game fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, and the feisty Roanoke bass. Roanoke bass, locally know as "red-eye" are found in only four river drainages in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Chubs and bullheads add to the fishing fun. All North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission fishing regulations are enforced.
Occoneechee Mountain, a nearby state natural area that is a administered by Eno River State Park, also offers fishing.
Picnicking
Two picnic areas provide the perfect spot for enjoying a meal in the open air. One of the picnic grounds is located in the Fews Ford access area, adjacent to the parking lot. Fews Ford has 20 picnic sites, 10 of which are handicapped accessible. An accessible water fountain and restrooms are nearby. A 12-table picnic shelter with a fireplace and grill is also accessible and can be reserved for a fee. The Cole Mill picnic area, nestled in a wooded setting, includes 10 tables and four grills with drinking water and restrooms nearby. A group picnic area includes three tables and grill. Cole Mill also has two wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and an accessible picnic shelter with eight tables and a grill. The shelter may be reserved for a modest fee.
Park Maps and Brochures:
