A flat, easy trail that follows an old rail corridor out of downtown to a historic wooden trestle over Burgaw Creek. Nobody talks about it much. It is a genuinely pleasant half-hour.
The old Atlantic Coast Line rail corridor that passes through Burgaw has been converted to a walking trail for a section south of town, ending at the wooden trestle bridge where the line once crossed Burgaw Creek. The trail is flat, shaded by a mix of loblolly pine and hardwood, and wide enough that you'll encounter joggers, dog walkers, and the occasional parent with a stroller.
The trestle itself is the destination. It's not grand — the span is modest, the water below a slow dark creek — but there is something satisfying about standing on a structure that was built to carry freight trains through swamp country and is now just a place to stop and watch a heron work the shallow edges. The age shows in the timber, which has weathered to silver-gray, and in the way the planking sounds underfoot.
This is the kind of place that works best when you have no particular agenda. Bring a dog. Bring a coffee from wherever you found one downtown. The whole thing is under 30 minutes out and back, which makes it easy to fold into a broader downtown morning without planning around it.
Practical tips
- Access the trail from the southern end of downtown near Fremont Street — look for the crushed-gravel path
- The trestle planking can be slippery when wet; solid shoes recommended in wet weather
- Best in late afternoon when the light comes through the pines at a low angle
- The creek below is good for spotting turtles in warm months
- The trail connects loosely to other walking paths around the edge of downtown
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Worth combining with this
Downtown Burgaw
A main street that still feels like one.
The kind of town square that has become rare — a working courthouse, local shops with actual character, and sidewalks worth strolling. Best on a Friday afternoon when the energy is right.
Pender County Courthouse
One of the better-looking courthouses in eastern NC.
The 1937 courthouse is a genuine landmark — handsome brick, well-kept grounds, and worth a short walk around. Not a destination on its own, but a good anchor for any downtown visit.