Eno River

Named after the Eno tribe of Native Americans who lived along its shore before English and Scottish settlers arrived in the 17th century… and located northwest of the City of Durham, Eno River State Park was created in 1975.

Like the creation of many state parks, a group of concerned citizens initiated the effort by challenging a proposal to flood the river’s valley and create a reservoir. Thanks to the Eno River Association and the Nature Conservancy, the state of North Carolina established the park by initially protecting 1,000 acres of land east of Hillsborough. Today, the park encompasses 4,000 acres, has 5 access points along the river, and maintains over 30 miles of trails.

During the last few months, I have visited the park three times and each time it has grown more peaceful. Perhaps with cooler temperatures, fewer leaves on the trees, and earlier sunsets, visitors aren’t able to get outside as often as they’d like. As you might guess, this is fine with me. The light, textures, and reflections in the water make for a peaceful escape into nature.