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NCNorth Carolina rankings

Towns with the most trails in North Carolina

Ranked by miles of mapped hiking and walking trails per square mile of town. 155 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Davidson
North Carolina · Most trails

Where Davidson lands: #18 of 155

1.3 mi / sq mi miles of trail per square mile · Visit Davidson →

Carrboro 1 Carrboro 4.5 mi / sq mi Trail miles 29.2 mi Nags Head 2 Nags Head 3.9 mi / sq mi Trail miles 25.9 mi Chapel Hill 3 Chapel Hill 3.6 mi / sq mi Trail miles 78.3 mi
#TownTrail miles per sq miTrail milesParks & preserves
1 Carrboro Carrboro21,204 people 4.5 mi / sq mi 29.2 mi 7
2 Nags Head Nags Head3,160 people 3.9 mi / sq mi 25.9 mi 10
3 Chapel Hill Chapel Hill61,607 people 3.6 mi / sq mi 78.3 mi 24
4 Map of Whispering Pines Whispering Pines5,211 people 3.6 mi / sq mi 16.0 mi 7
5 Briar Chapel6,049 people 2.7 mi / sq mi 5.7 mi 4
6 Elizabethtown Elizabethtown3,277 people 2.7 mi / sq mi 14.2 mi 3
7 Boone Boone20,032 people 2.4 mi / sq mi 15.1 mi 11
8 Spring Lake Spring Lake11,573 people 1.9 mi / sq mi 46.0 mi 5
9 Bermuda Run3,211 people 1.9 mi / sq mi 5.0 mi 1
10 Carolina Shores5,017 people 1.8 mi / sq mi 5.3 mi 0
11 Map of Cramerton Cramerton5,450 people 1.8 mi / sq mi 8.6 mi 5
12 Southern Pines Southern Pines16,420 people 1.7 mi / sq mi 30.7 mi 9
13 Jamestown Jamestown3,708 people 1.6 mi / sq mi 4.8 mi 3
14 Weaverville Weaverville4,687 people 1.5 mi / sq mi 6.2 mi 2
15 Sunset Beach Sunset Beach4,351 people 1.5 mi / sq mi 11.0 mi 2
16 Stallings Stallings16,886 people 1.3 mi / sq mi 11.3 mi 2
17 Wilkesboro Wilkesboro3,646 people 1.3 mi / sq mi 8.5 mi 4
18 Davidson Davidson15,660 people 1.3 mi / sq mi 8.6 mi 11
19 Emerald Isle Emerald Isle3,934 people 1.3 mi / sq mi 6.3 mi 4
20 Elkin Elkin4,043 people 1.2 mi / sq mi 8.2 mi 3
21 St. James7,072 people 1.2 mi / sq mi 10.9 mi 0
22 Wake Forest Wake Forest52,844 people 1.2 mi / sq mi 23.1 mi 15
23 Carolina Beach Carolina Beach6,745 people 1.1 mi / sq mi 3.2 mi 3
24 Polkton Polkton2,555 people 1.1 mi / sq mi 3.3 mi 0
25 Map of Lowell Lowell3,768 people 1.0 mi / sq mi 3.8 mi 1
26 Hillsborough Hillsborough9,724 people 1.0 mi / sq mi 5.7 mi 7
27 Fayetteville Fayetteville210,815 people 1.0 mi / sq mi 144.8 mi 55
28 Swepsonville Swepsonville2,517 people 0.9 mi / sq mi 1.4 mi 0
29 Map of Jacksonville Jacksonville71,279 people 0.9 mi / sq mi 51.6 mi 25
30 Flat Rock Flat Rock3,530 people 0.9 mi / sq mi 7.2 mi 1
31 Boiling Spring Lakes Boiling Spring Lakes6,347 people 0.9 mi / sq mi 21.1 mi 6
32 Fletcher Fletcher8,098 people 0.8 mi / sq mi 5.3 mi 2
33 Map of Haw River Haw River2,824 people 0.8 mi / sq mi 2.5 mi 2
34 Valdese Valdese4,704 people 0.8 mi / sq mi 6.2 mi 5
35 Black Mountain Black Mountain8,513 people 0.8 mi / sq mi 5.2 mi 5
36 Greenville Greenville92,857 people 0.8 mi / sq mi 29.2 mi 16
37 Cary Cary179,306 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 45.7 mi 68
38 Map of Roanoke Rapids Roanoke Rapids14,856 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 7.2 mi 7
39 Belmont Belmont15,546 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 8.8 mi 10
40 Raleigh Raleigh481,031 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 106.4 mi 172
41 Durham Durham291,467 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 82.3 mi 85
42 Oak Island Oak Island9,030 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 13.3 mi 7
43 Asheboro Asheboro27,580 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 14.9 mi 9
44 Kill Devil Hills Kill Devil Hills7,761 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 3.7 mi 7
45 Salisbury Salisbury35,825 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 14.9 mi 14
46 Map of Goldsboro Goldsboro34,383 people 0.7 mi / sq mi 18.7 mi 18
47 Map of Havelock Havelock17,691 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 11.6 mi 4
48 Statesville Statesville29,894 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 19.0 mi 14
49 Map of Landis Landis3,765 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 2.2 mi 3
50 Red Springs3,125 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 2.3 mi 1
51 Southport Southport4,205 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 2.5 mi 6
52 Harrisburg Harrisburg19,633 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 7.5 mi 4
53 Mebane19,538 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 7.4 mi 6
54 Garner Garner34,473 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 12.2 mi 15
55 Rolesville Rolesville10,766 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 4.1 mi 4
56 Map of Kitty Hawk Kitty Hawk3,724 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 4.8 mi 3
57 Map of Asheville Asheville94,535 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 26.7 mi 42
58 Holly Springs Holly Springs45,248 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 11.3 mi 7
59 Map of Holly Ridge Holly Ridge4,904 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 2.5 mi 0
60 New Bern New Bern32,734 people 0.6 mi / sq mi 16.7 mi 11
61 Map of Lenoir Lenoir18,299 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 11.0 mi 11
62 Greensboro Greensboro301,198 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 73.2 mi 99
63 Shallotte Shallotte4,639 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 5.1 mi 1
64 Morganton Morganton17,646 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 9.6 mi 14
65 Concord Concord108,719 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 31.4 mi 15
66 Rocky Mount Rocky Mount54,297 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 22.3 mi 20
67 Map of Woodfin Woodfin8,048 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 4.9 mi 2
68 Map of Locust Locust5,840 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 4.2 mi 1
69 Wrightsville Beach Wrightsville Beach2,665 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 1.1 mi 2
70 Gastonia Gastonia82,884 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 24.7 mi 11
71 Elizabeth City Elizabeth City18,871 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 5.3 mi 12
72 Pittsboro Pittsboro4,752 people 0.5 mi / sq mi 4.0 mi 3
73 Charlotte Charlotte903,844 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 138.4 mi 179
74 Pinehurst Pinehurst18,256 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 7.6 mi 0
75 Map of Clayton Clayton29,320 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 7.3 mi 12
76 Cornelius Cornelius32,783 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 5.4 mi 13
77 Map of Lumberton Lumberton18,859 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 7.5 mi 7
78 Newton Newton13,333 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 5.6 mi 8
79 Map of Washington Washington9,726 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 3.6 mi 4
80 Beaufort Beaufort4,689 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 3.2 mi 5
81 Morehead City Morehead City9,806 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 4.2 mi 11
82 Map of Oakboro Oakboro2,683 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 1.0 mi 2
83 Graham Graham18,048 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 4.3 mi 4
84 Leland Leland29,607 people 0.4 mi / sq mi 9.9 mi 5
85 Newport4,441 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 2.7 mi 3
86 Map of Burgaw Burgaw3,850 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 1.6 mi 0
87 Jonesville Jonesville2,860 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 1.0 mi 1
88 Map of Winston-Salem Winston-Salem252,037 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 44.7 mi 54
89 Map of Hudson Hudson3,772 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 1.2 mi 2
90 Map of Plymouth Plymouth3,250 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 1.3 mi 3
91 Mooresville Mooresville52,381 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 8.8 mi 13
92 Creedmoor Creedmoor4,997 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 1.8 mi 3
93 Wilmington Wilmington120,805 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 16.6 mi 33
94 Mint Hill Mint Hill27,556 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 7.6 mi 6
95 Archdale Archdale12,087 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 2.8 mi 1
96 Marion Marion7,579 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 2.1 mi 2
97 Map of King King7,408 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 1.9 mi 2
98 Map of Eden Eden15,356 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 4.1 mi 6
99 Indian Trail Indian Trail42,036 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 6.4 mi 9
100 Map of Tarboro Tarboro10,770 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 3.2 mi 4
101 Sanford Sanford31,478 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 9.0 mi 7
102 Southern Shores Southern Shores3,139 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 1.1 mi 0
103 Map of Wendell Wendell13,064 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 2.5 mi 3
104 Lillington Lillington4,709 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 2.1 mi 1
105 Laurinburg Laurinburg15,087 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 3.2 mi 1
106 Map of Smithfield Smithfield12,116 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 3.2 mi 3
107 Surf City Surf City4,396 people 0.3 mi / sq mi 2.5 mi 1
108 Huntersville Huntersville63,969 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 10.0 mi 18
109 Hickory Hickory44,258 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 8.1 mi 16
110 Matthews Matthews30,577 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 4.1 mi 15
111 Map of Oak Ridge Oak Ridge7,744 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 4.0 mi 2
112 Map of High Point High Point116,245 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 13.4 mi 28
113 Wilson Wilson48,370 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 7.6 mi 18
114 Kernersville Kernersville27,830 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 4.4 mi 10
115 Mount Holly Mount Holly18,208 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 2.6 mi 11
116 Map of Oxford Oxford8,914 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.5 mi 0
117 Map of Ahoskie Ahoskie4,764 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.0 mi 1
118 Map of Kings Mountain Kings Mountain12,039 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 3.3 mi 4
119 Midland4,860 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 2.9 mi 2
120 Wesley Chapel Wesley Chapel9,090 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 2.1 mi 1
121 Map of North Wilkesboro North Wilkesboro4,421 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.4 mi 4
122 Map of Apex Apex70,630 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 5.5 mi 25
123 Burlington Burlington59,610 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 6.6 mi 16
124 Map of Thomasville Thomasville27,321 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 3.3 mi 12
125 Mills River Mills River7,281 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 4.4 mi 2
126 Waynesville Waynesville10,502 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.7 mi 3
127 Barbecue5,910 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.1 mi 0
128 Waxhaw Waxhaw22,275 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 2.4 mi 6
129 Clemmons Clemmons21,871 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 2.2 mi 2
130 Map of Marvin Marvin6,692 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.1 mi 1
131 Map of Shelby Shelby22,100 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 3.8 mi 10
132 Mount Airy Mount Airy10,633 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 2.0 mi 6
133 Cherryville Cherryville6,226 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.0 mi 7
134 Morrisville Morrisville31,422 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.5 mi 6
135 Hendersonville Hendersonville15,408 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.3 mi 6
136 Clinton Clinton8,304 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.2 mi 2
137 Carthage Carthage2,896 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.1 mi 3
138 Tobaccoville Tobaccoville2,664 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.2 mi 1
139 Monroe Monroe36,759 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 5.0 mi 6
140 Lexington Lexington19,690 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 2.9 mi 4
141 Conover Conover8,580 people 0.2 mi / sq mi 1.8 mi 7
142 Fuquay-Varina Fuquay-Varina40,485 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 2.7 mi 14
143 Albemarle Albemarle16,762 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 2.3 mi 7
144 Map of Troutman Troutman3,995 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.1 mi 3
145 Kannapolis Kannapolis57,890 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 4.4 mi 7
146 Map of Hope Mills Hope Mills17,939 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.0 mi 4
147 Lincolnton Lincolnton11,783 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.0 mi 3
148 Fairview3,619 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 3.3 mi 1
149 Lake Norman of Catawba9,906 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 2.9 mi 2
150 Red Oak Red Oak3,405 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.7 mi 1
151 Map of Wentworth Wentworth2,692 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.2 mi 3
152 Lewisville Lewisville13,828 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.0 mi 4
153 Butner Butner8,065 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.0 mi 1
154 Map of Trinity Trinity7,111 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.2 mi 1
155 Map of Summerfield Summerfield11,116 people 0.1 mi / sq mi 1.6 mi 1

How this ranking works

We rank every town by miles of mapped hiking and walking trails per square mile of town. Paths, bridleways, woods roads and footways in parks count; sidewalks don't. Towns need at least a mile of trail to be ranked. Trails come from OpenStreetMap, so a well-mapped town can edge out an equally trail-rich one that's mapped less thoroughly. The town with the highest figure ranks #1.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Trails, streets and parks: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Conserved land: USGS PAD-US. Measured within each town's Census boundary. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

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