City: Durham, NC

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (919) 383-1686

Address: 6101 Cole Mill Rd.

Description: As the name implies, the shallow waterway that winds through this park is its defining feature. Canoeing and tubing are popular ways to see the beauty of the river and its surrounding steep banks and woodlands. Within the 3,900-acre park are five access points to the water: Cabe Lands, Cole Mill, Few’s Ford, Pleasant Green, and Pump Station. The Eno is a tricky river to gauge. If you put a canoe in when the water is too low, expect to get caught on the rocks. If you put in after heavy rains, prepare for swift currents that move you rapidly through its many twists and turns. Rapids are usually short, but it’s easy to be surprised by them. The park’s Web site offers a “Current Conditions” tab to help canoeists and kayakers determine if water levels are appropriate for their skill levels. Park rangers are always happy to advise by phone.For those who want to remain on dry land, the Eno River State Park has more than 24 miles of trails that range in difficulty from the easy 1-mile Fanny’s Ford trail along the river in the Few’s Ford area to the strenuous, 4-mile Cox Mountain Trail. The Few’s Ford and Cole Mill areas have backcountry camping sites for individuals and families. No drinking water is available at the sites. Settlements on the Eno date back to long before European exploration when American Indians lived and traveled along its banks. During Colonial and post-Revolutionary times, the river powered a series of mills and fostered logging operations that gave rise to small communities. Evidence still stands at a few of those settlements. The area became a state park in 1972. Admission to the park is free. Reservations are required for group camping areas and strongly advised for individual areas. Permits, which cost $12 per day, must be obtained either online or at the park office. The office is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through February. Friday hours are extended until 8 p.m. March through October. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m. March through October. Saturday and Sunday hours are noon to 4 p.m. November through February.