The Bill Faver Lakeshore and Raccoon Run Trails at The Piedmont Environmental Center - Jamestown, NC

North Carolina

Nov 2

“A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.” - Confucius

“Everyone needs a place to retreat; a spot where the world grows quiet enough for the soul to speak.” - Angie Weiland-Crosby

The Story -

On Sunday afternoon Alex, Ginger, Sophie and I hiked three miles on the Bill Faver Lakeshore and Raccoon Run Trails at the Piedmont Environmental Center (PEC) in Jamestown, North Carolina. After a busy and eventful weekend, it was nice to escape to the peaceful and relaxing trails at the nearby PEC.

Piedmont Environmental Center -

Located in Jamestown, North Carolina at the convergence of the High Point Greenway and the Bicentennial Greenway, the Piedmont Environmental Center is a beautiful place to explore and learn more about our environment and the world we live in. The 376-acre nature preserve is home to nine natural trails totaling seven miles, mostly along the scenic High Point City Lake, as well as convenient access to both paved Greenways. It also includes a small reptile exhibit with live snakes and turtles, classrooms, a Mapscape, an engaging walk-on topographic map of the southeastern United States, and an amphitheater.

Spill The Tea -

We parked at the PEC and explored the unique topographical Mapscape and amphitheater before heading out on the easy-to-moderate Bill Faver Lakeshore Trail. The narrow trail takes you deep into the forest, passing by several small streams and numerous large boulders as well as several connectors to other trails. We did opt to take the short Raccoon Run trail to explore a small peninsula before rejoining the Lakeshore loop trail. Roots dominate the hard dirt-packed trail early on and you will encounter a large number of downed trees. Some appear to be remnants leftover from the recent Hurricane Ian and others from earlier storms. Fortunately, the number of roots and downed trees didn’t diminish from our experience or the beauty of the trail. There are multiple places to stop and admire the scenic lake and all the fabulous fall colors.

Add Some Cream and Sugar -

Finding the trailheads from the Piedmont Environmental Center building can be somewhat confusing yet fortunately, there was a helpful staff person in the PEC office to assist me. One of the trailheads is hidden directly behind the building and another one is at the side entrance to the parking lot. Chalk it up to being my first time visiting the PEC, and the delightful trails were definitely worth the early uncertainty.

Wrap It Up -

The Bill Faver Lakeshore and Raccoon Run Trails at the Piedmont Environmental Center are excellent short trails that provide a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Give them a try, you will not be disappointed.

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