Bolin Creek Trail

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Trail type	10’ wide paved trail through meadow and wooded floodplain
Length	~1.5 to 2 miles from Chapel Hill Community Center to Umstead Park, 2.5 total miles when connecting to Tanyard Branch Trail to the Trail Head, Downtown adjacent to Northside Elementary School.
Connections	Easy pedestrian and bicycle travel, including new ADA accesses, from the Chapel Hill Community Center on S. Estes Drive to Umstead Park, and the Northside neighborhood and Downtown Chapel Hill via the recently improved Tanyard Branch Trail. Also connects the Community Center Park and the Battle Branch Trail.
Parking	Parking is available at the Community Center Park, Umstead Park and along Bolinwood Drive

Update on Damaged Trails

OCTOBER 9, 2025

During the next several weeks, Town of Chapel Hill Public Works and Parks Maintenance staff are taking the first steps to repair and reopen greenways damaged during Chantal.

We’re closing sections of damaged trails with barricades while we make repairs. This is to keep you safe and give staff space to work.

We’re sharing timeline updates through Our Town – the Town’s weekly email newsletter. Sign up here to receive it every Thursday.

We recognize that our greenways are the only way for walkers, bikers, and rollers to travel well away from cars. This damage is a significant disruption to daily routines, and we appreciate everyone’s patience.

Phase 1 - Bolin Creek Trail

We’re starting repairs the week of October 13. Staff will begin with the section west of Umstead Drive to Umstead park, then from Umstead Drive east toward the Community Center – reopening the trail one section at a time. We expect this work to last three weeks – weather permitting.
Part of this initial repair work will be to temporarily narrow the width of the trail where the damage is most extensive – between Umstead Drive and Bolinwood Drive. This will allow this part of the trail to be used while the longer-term repair/restoration work can be designed and constructed.

Phase 2 - Fordham Side Path (east side of Fordham between Cleland Dr. and Ridgefield Rd.)

We’re making temporary repairs to the pedestrian bridge and side path. We expect these repairs to begin as we wrap up work on the Bolin Creek Trail. This work is expected to last two weeks – weather permitting.
We’ve added long-term repairs to an existing, upcoming project. We already had plans to extend the path to Willow Drive. Now, we’re creating a new, more resilient project. Design work is happening now, and we expect construction to begin in Summer 2026.

Phase 3 – Morgan Creek Trail

We expect to begin repair work after completing our temporary repairs on the Fordham side path. This work is expected to last two weeks – weather permitting.

Bolin Creek

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