Raven Rock State Park: Raven Rock Loop Trail (Blog Hike #1079; Golden Staff Hike)

Trail: Raven Rock Loop Trail
Hike Location: Raven Rock State Park
Geographic Location: west of Lillington, NC (35.46188, -78.91150)
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A loop hike, mostly easy but with 1 long set of wooden stairs. 
Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/raven-rock-state-park
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming March 27, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Lillington, take US 421 west 6.2 miles to Raven Rock Road and turn right on Raven Rock Rd.  Raven Rock Rd. deadends at the park entrance in 3.3 miles.  Park in the large parking lot for the Raven Rock Loop Trail on the right just after you enter the park or in any of the lots near the Visitor Center.

The hike: Originally named Patterson's Rock after an early settler who found refuge here when his canoe capsized, Raven Rock stretches for a mile and towers up to 150 feet above the Cape Fear River.  The rock is located 40 miles southwest of Raleigh on the geological boundary between the Piedmont to the west and the coastal plain to the east.  Raven Rock is part of the Piedmont's erosion-resistant rocks, and it became exposed when the softer rock and sediment of the coastal plain eroded away.  The rock became the centerpiece of 4667-acre Raven Rock State Park in 1969 due to an act of the North Carolina General Assembly.

            Raven Rock State Park is light on amenities, but it does feature a cozy 24-site developed campground, some picnic areas, and paddling on the Cape Fear River.  This park's main attraction is its trails, of which it has many that total 26 miles of hiking, 13.5 miles of mountain biking, and 8 miles of horseback riding.  The park's signature hiking trail is the popular Raven Rock Loop Trail, which is the trail described here.  Not only does this trail take you to Raven Rock, but it also passes a scenic river overlook and takes you through some nice Piedmont forest.

Start of Raven Rock Loop Trail

            The Raven Rock Loop Trail forms a true loop, and this description goes clockwise around the loop by heading north from the northwest corner of the large trailhead parking lot.  The Raven Rock Loop Trail is marked with orange plastic circles, and the abundant trail markings combined with the wide, well-worn path makes it difficult to lose your way.  The initial segment of trail seems to follow an old road as it gradually descends through the usual Piedmont mixture of pine and broadleaf trees.

Descending gradually on Raven Rock Loop Trail

            Just shy of 0.4 miles, you reach a trail intersection.  The Fish Traps and Northington Ferry Trails continue straight, and both of those trails head for the Cape Fear River.  Our trail turns right to stay atop the bluff; watch for the orange circles.

Cape Fear River overlook

            At 0.85 miles, you reach the point the trail map calls "Overlook."  This point indeed stands atop a cliff roughly 100 feet above the Cape Fear River, but the trees have sufficiently grown up so that only a sliver of the river can be seen.  Past the overlook, the trail continues east, and soon you reach the first noticeable elevation change: a downgrade that uses some wooden steps built into the ground.

Stairs at base of Raven Rock

            1.2 miles into the hike, you reach the trail intersection at the top of Raven Rock.  The loop trail continues to the right, and we will go that way eventually.  First turn left and descend a long wooden staircase to reach the base of Raven Rock.  You should go both left and right on the short exploratory trail at the bottom of the stairs, as interesting sights can be seen each direction.  To the left is a large rock shelter, and to the right is where Raven Rock meets the Cape Fear River.  This area was popular when I came here on a Saturday morning in mid-September.  Take your time and see all there is to see.

Raven Rock and Cape Fear River

Rock shelter in Raven Rock

            Climb back up the stairs, then continue straight to continue the Raven Rock Loop Trail.  The two ends of the Little Creek Trail exit left in quick order, and you could add that 1.5 mile loop if you wanted to extend the hike.  I had a football game to attend that afternoon, so I stayed on the Raven Rock Loop Trail.

Hiking near Little Creek

            The next segment of trail stays near Little Creek.  A decent amount of rhododendron grows here, and I heard a woodpecker searching for lunch in a tree.  A gradual climb that gains 100 feet over 0.25 miles returns you to the trailhead elevation at 2.3 miles.  Ignore the short American Beech Trail that exits left, and return to the parking lot at 2.5 miles.