Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve

"Gates closed Mondays and Fridays (maintenance days.) Gorgeous woodsy trails that cut through the meadow periodically. Can be long or short hikes. Ample parking. Visitor center. Beautiful and serene."

"I absolutely adore this place. It took me awhile but I have hiked the entire park. I found my favorite spot and now enjoying visiting it a couple times a month to enjoy a new book."

"I live near Banshee Reeks so I'm there most weekends with my dog. It's nice and quiet. Even if there are tons of cars in the parking lot, you may not see anyone else. The trail map is helpful - took me some time to figure it out but all in all a helpful resource. With the way the trails are laid out you can do a short or long hike. It's a lovely place and I highly recommend it. Pro tip for summertime - When I'm there in the summer I've found that the area towards Goose creek has a lot of ticks so I usually hike the White Oak trail side of the park."

"Once at the natural preserve there are two parking lots: one by the visitor center where the trail begins just behind the visitor center and the other is just above that. There are maps available of all the trails at the trailhead behind the visitor center. There are really good trail markers to follow the path that you want to follow. Sometimes you have to look on all sides of the trail markers to figure out which direction to go for the next trail. The sounds of the creek that abut the trails are soothing and meditative. The port-a-potty at the parking lot closest to the visitor center doesn’t have a lock nor is there any sanitizer today so bring your own. But it was very pretty and nice with varying wooded environment and terrain."

"a great spot to spend the day hiking about — with about 20 miles of interconnected trails, it is easy to spend a day here exploring and communing in nature. make sure to pick up a map as trails are only marked as they intersect each other and there is no real guidance to reach the visitor center once on trails — it’s not overly confusing but if you’re bad with a map it may provide issue. trails are not paved but just mowed earth, so it may often be muddy. we hiked there today and if it weren’t so cold it would have been awful muddy. we just kept going on trails as we intersected with them and took ones that led us back to the visitor center when we got tired. minimal elevation gain for the most part, so suitable for all who do not have mobility issues. several trails have interpretative signage about trees which was cool, and there are ponds as well as goose creek to see. you’re at the foot of the mountains too so there are some pretty views to be had near the visitor center. no entrance fee makes it a perfect spot to enjoy a day and get your steps in."