Cliffs of the Neuse State Park: Lake/Old Wagon Path Loop (Blog Hike #1080)

Trails: Lake Trail, Old Wagon Path, and connecting trails
Hike Location: Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
Geographic Location: southeast of Goldsboro, NC (35.23736, -77.88713)
Length: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A loop hike first around the park's swimming lake and then to the park's signature overlook.
Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/cliffs-neuse-state-park
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming March 13, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 70 and SR 111 on the east side of Goldsboro, take SR 111 south 8.4 miles to Park Entrance Road and turn left on Park Entrance Rd.  Aptly-named Park Entrance Rd. dead-ends at the park entrance.  Turn right at the first park road intersection to head for the Lake Area, and park in the large paved parking lot for the Lake Area.  The hike starts at the far end of this parking lot.

The hike: You might expect that a North Carolina state park with "Cliffs" in its name would be located in the rugged mountains of the state's west, but such is not the case with Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.  Cliffs of the Neuse State Park protects 1097 acres on the south/west side of the Neuse River, which begins near Durham and flows southeast for 275 miles before flowing into Pamlico Sound.  Near the midpoint of its course, the river passes under some interesting 90-foot limestone and sandstone cliffs, which were formed by erosion of an ancient fault.

            The riverside cliffs form the centerpiece of Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, which came to be due to a land donation from Lionel Weil via the Wayne Foundation in 1945.  The park features a small lake for fishing and swimming, a cozy 30-site campground, and 7 hiking trails totaling 5 miles.  The hike described here uses 2 of those trails plus some connector trails.  While it is not the longest possible hike at this park, it passes the lake and the cliffs, thus taking you to the park's 2 most popular attractions.

Main trailhead at Lake Area parking lot

            From the far/east side of the large parking area, follow the sign that says "trails" as the wide dirt/gravel trail heads into the woods with the park's swimming lake out of sight through the trees downhill and to the right.  Ignore a side trail that exits left as the main trail makes a sweeping right curve and heads moderately downhill.  At the bottom of the hill, you reach a trail intersection.  Angle softly left to walk across the dam that forms the swimming lake.  Enjoy the lake view to the right: it is the only clear view of the lake you will get on this hike.

Swim Lake

            At 0.25 miles, you cross a bridge at the south end of the dam and reach another trail intersection.  This trail intersection is the official start of the Lake Trail, and all of the trails you have hiked so far are officially connector trails.  Angle right to begin following the Lake Trail's yellow diamond plastic markers.

Hiking the Lake Trail

            The Lake Trail embarks on a gently undulating southwest course on a wide singletrack sandy dirt treadway.  The lake to the right can barely be seen through the trees.  The forest is a nice mix of broadleaf and pine trees, and some large beautiful beech trees live in this forest.

Still hiking the Lake Trail

            0.7 miles into the hike, you pass through a swale that contains a feeder stream of Swim Lake.  More gentle undulations and meandering come next, and at times the trail seems to be going in random directions and randomly up-and-down; keep following the yellow plastic diamonds.  At 1.3 miles, you cross an old road as the trail traces around numerous small and gradual ravines.

Lake Trail's end at Visitor Center

            At 1.7 miles, you come out at the Visitor Center parking lot, where the Lake Trail ends.  To continue this hike, turn left and cross the park entrance road, following signs for the Longleaf Trail and the Old Wagon Path.  Just after crossing the road, turn right to begin the Old Wagon Path.  Note that the Longleaf Trail offers a longer route to the main clifftop overlook we are heading to, but I did this hike on a warm Sunday afternoon when I was feeling sick and thus opted for the shorter and easier route.

Old Wagon Path

            The Old Wagon Path is a nearly straight, nearly flat wide sandy dirt trail that parallels the park entrance road for its entire distance.  While this trail does not make for the most inspiring hiking, it is far better than walking along the park road.  At 2.2 miles, you reach the Old Wagon Path's east end at the overlook parking lot.  Walk across the parking lot to reach the main clifftop overlook.

Clifftop overlook

            This overlook may offer the best non-ocean view in the entire North Carolina coastal plain.  The wide Neuse River curves to the base of the cliff below, and wooded land extends as far as the eye can see.  The narrow sandy beach on the other side of the river looks inviting, but there is no way to access it from here.  Some benches atop the cliff invite you to sit, rest, and admire the view.

Hiking the final connector trail

            All that remains of this hike is to get back to the lake parking area, but there is no direct trail that takes you there.  To begin the journey, walk back to the overlook parking lot, then start walking out the park road that accesses this parking lot; do not retrace your steps on the Old Wagon Path.  Turn left on the second trail that exits left; the first trail going left is a two-track dirt road that leads to the river bank.  Hike the unmarked connector past a picnic shelter and through a shallow ravine to return to the lake parking area and complete the hike.