Company Mill Trail

Company Mill Trail is a 5.8-mile loop hike in William B. Umstead State Park near Raleigh, North Carolina, marked with orange squares. It’s set up as a longer loop outing but stays in the park’s easy-access trail network and is typically finished in about 2.5–3 hours at a steady pace. The mapped distance for this route is about 7.96 km.

This route runs through forested sections and brings you to Crabtree Creek. Expect a mix of gradual climbing/descending with uneven footwork; the tread includes rocky and rooty sections and several small footbridges along the way.

A key waypoint is the Crabtree Creek crossing: there’s a footbridge over Crabtree Creek where the loop behavior centers. Past the bridge, the trail skirts the creek briefly before turning back into a climb toward the bike-and-bridle trail corridor.

The historic features are part of the point of the hike. You pass the Company Mill site area, with remnants tied to the old grist mill history and a dam/stone-mill context along the creek side.

The loop is easy to extend if you want more than the core circuit: the route length is given as 5.8 miles, and sources also note a 6.2-mile variation when connecting to Reedy Creek Trail. For the core loop itself, keep the orange-square blazes as your main confirmation in the woods where paths can feel confusing.

Bring basic trail-hiking shoes: the trail is described as natural surface with exposed roots/rocks in places, and it includes short slightly steeper, narrow sections. Dogs are permitted on leash; bikes and horses aren’t.

Access is from the Reedy Creek/Harrison Avenue entrance area. A common start point described is the back-left corner of the parking area, with the trailhead tying in beside the parking facilities.

More information: Tips For Hiking The Company Mill Trail (Umstead State Park), Trails - William B Umstead State Park, The Company Mill Trail at The William B. Umstead State Park