J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center
Park
59 acres1.5 mi of trail
Bear TrailLaurel TrailWetlands Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Photo: Public domain, City of Fayetteville · Public domainB+Outdoors
Outdoors in Fayetteville
40% of Fayetteville’s land is conserved: 37,887 acres
145 miles of mapped trail cross Fayetteville, 1.0 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center (1.5 mi), Tokay Park (0.9 mi), North Carolina Veterans Park (0.9 mi). 41% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 73% of U.S. towns · #40 of 290 in North Carolina. What drives it
Conserved land
40%
37,887 acres · of 148.3 sq mi of land
Trails
145 mi
1.0 per sq mi of land
Park land
2,138 ac
10 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
41%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
30 mi
9.9 mi lanes · 20 mi paths
Highest peak
463 ft
Coolyconch Mountain
Lakes & rivers
29
1 beach · 2 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Fayetteville?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Fayetteville have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Fayetteville is ahead of 73% of U.S. towns, #40 of 290 in North Carolina. Conserved land holds the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
B+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Fayetteville’s overall grade.
Conserved land40% of the land · typical NC town 3% · U.S. 4%A+Trails1.0 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (145 mi) · NC 0.2 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land10 acres of park per 1,000 residents (2,138 acres) · NC 8 · U.S. 13B−Parks close to home41% of residents within a half mile of a park · NC 51% · U.S. 72%C+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 73%
LessMore
North Carolina towns of 2,500+ (290)Ahead of 87%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Fayetteville ranks #257 on Outdoors.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A−. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center, with 1.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Tokay Park
Park
28 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
North Carolina Veterans Park
Park
12 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Cross Creek Linear Park
Managed by City of Fayetteville
54 acres0.8 mi of trail
Harry F. Shaw Linear Park Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Westover Recreation Center
Park
17 acres0.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
FSU Greek Plots
Park
4 acres0.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Mazarick Memorial Park
Park
92 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 55 parks & preserves
J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center59 acres · 1.5 mi of trail
Tokay Park28 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
North Carolina Veterans Park12 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsCross Creek Linear Park54 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · City of Fayetteville
DirectionsLake Rim Park30 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsWestover Recreation Center17 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
FSU Greek Plots4 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
Mazarick Memorial Park92 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
FSU Gardens and Gazebo3 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Rowan Park21 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Fayettive Parks and Recrecation
DirectionsLamon Street Park15 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsFestival Park12 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsRoy G. Turner Park10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Fayetteville Area Transpotation & Local History Museum2 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsCollege Lakes Park13 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Honeycutt Park10 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsPerson Street Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsGlenn Reilly Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Jordan Soccer Complex32 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Jesse A. Brayboy Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMuseum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsFreedom Memorial Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsFayetteville Independent Light Infantry Historical Parade Grounds / Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Garden2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMaiden Lane Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHollywood Heights Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
NC Wildlife Resources Commission - Lake Rim268 acres
DirectionsMazarick Park133 acres
Cape Fear River Trail & Bike Path98 acres
New Century International Complex32 acres
DirectionsWilson Park30 acres
DirectionsNorth Street Park23 acres
J S Spivey Recreation Center22 acres
DirectionsDr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park9 acres
Massey Hill Park9 acres
Brentwood Park8 acres
Riverside Dog Park6 acres
DirectionsG.B. Meyers Recreation Ground6 acres
Playground4 acres
Cornerstone Christian Academy Field3 acres
Sherwood Park3 acres
Arsenal Park3 acres
DirectionsGreenwood Park2 acres
Woodland Park2 acres
Fanny Farmer Memorial Park2 acres · Methodist University
Woodrow Park2 acres
Whispering Pines Park2 acres
Cumberland Heights Park2 acres
General Lee Park2 acres
Pine Valley Park2 acres
Mable C. Smith Park1 acres
Windsor Terrance Park1 acres
Hope Playground1 acres
DirectionsChurch Field1 acres
Market House National Landmark1 acres
DirectionsArran Lakes Park1 acres
Who protects it
37,887 conserved acres
40% of Fayetteville’s land. Who manages Fayetteville’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city1,044 ac
State conservation303 ac
Joint282 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits71 ac
County27 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)6 ac
Not recorded38,587 ac
Military Land · 34,595 acLocal Other or Unknown · 2,164 acLocal Recreation Area · 1,235 acState Other or Unknown · 836 acConservation Easement · 345 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 110 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 42 of 87 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bragg Military Reservation Military Land | Not recorded | 34,595 | Unknown |
| City of Fayetteville Open Space Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 1,929 | Unknown |
| Fayetteville Public Works Land Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 869 | Open |
| Cumberland County Open Space Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 371 | Unknown |
| NC Land and Water Fund Conservation Agreement State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 350 | Restricted |
| Fayetteville Fish Hatchery State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 240 | Restricted |
| City of Fayetteville - Glenville Lake and Mazarick Memorial Park Local Recreation Area | Not recorded | 237 | Unknown |
| Bonnie Doone/Kornbow Lake Registered Heritage Area State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 204 | Unknown |
| Bonnie Doone Watershed (City of Fayetteville) Registered Heritage Area State Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 180 | Unknown |
| City of Fayetteville - College Lake Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 82 | Unknown |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
126 places to go in Fayetteville
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Fayetteville
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Public pools in Fayetteville
2 public pools without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Fayetteville
DEFY Fayetteville
DirectionsMable C. Smith PlaygroundIn Mable C. Smith Park
DirectionsPerson Street Park PlaygroundIn Person Street Park
DirectionsRowan Park PlaygroundIn Rowan Park
Directions114 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Fayetteville
2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Fayetteville
2 boat launches without a name on the map.
Fishing spots in Fayetteville
Texas Pond Recreational Fishing Area
DirectionsPeaks in Fayetteville
Coolyconch Mountain463 ft elevation
Directionsend point run
DirectionsPicnic areas in Fayetteville
Mable C. Smith Picnic siteIn Mable C. Smith Park
DirectionsCampgrounds in Fayetteville
1 campground without a name on the map.
Trails & water
5 named trails and 29 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 0.8 miUnpaved · 9.0 mi
Chason Ridge Nature Trail0.8 mi
Bear Trail0.6 mi
Wetlands Trail0.4 mi
Laurel Trail0.4 mi
Harry F. Shaw Linear Park Trail0.2 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Arran LakereservoirBeaver Creek PondreservoirBonnie Doone LakeBranson LakeChason Ridge PondpondClarks PondreservoirCollege LakereservoirCountry Club LakereservoirEvans LakereservoirGlenville LakeHutaff LakeJ C Keith LakereservoirKornbow LakeLake RimLommond LakereservoirLoraine LakereservoirLower Mckellars PondMcfayden PondMintz PondSimmons LakereservoirSmall Woodstream LakeSmith LakereservoirTexas PondreservoirUpper Mckellars PondWallace PondreservoirWooded LakeBlounts CreekCape Fear RiverCross Creek
Biking & sports
30 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
9.9 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
20 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
98Tennis
82Baseball
26Basketball
16Soccer
11Football
9Pickleball
5Beach volleyball
4Volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →56 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 15 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Nimocks HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itBelden-Horne HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itKyle HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itCool Spring PlaceBuilding · listed 1972
About itFayetteville Women's Club and Oval BallroomBuilding · listed 1973
About itMansard Roof HouseBuilding · listed 1973
About itLiberty RowDistrict · listed 1973
About itLong Street ChurchBuilding · listed 1974
About itSt. John's Episcopal ChurchBuilding · listed 1974
About itSedberry-Holmes HouseBuilding · listed 1975
About itFirst Presbyterian ChurchBuilding · listed 1976
About it44 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Fayetteville: April and May
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 10.0 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 14.5 | 14.3 | 13.5 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 10.3 | 9.8 |
| High (°F) | 54 | 58 | 65 | 74 | 81 | 88 | 91 | 89 | 83 | 74 | 64 | 57 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
February is the driest month (3.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 91 °F). 5.4 inches fall in July, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 91 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Fayetteville →
Next door
Fayetteville and its neighbors
Fayetteville has the most mapped trails of the 4 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | 40% | 1.0 | 10 | 41% | B+ |
| Spring Lake | 82% | 2.0 | 7 | 65% | A− |
| Hope Mills | 4% | 0.1 | 7 | 45% | C+ |
| Eastover | 1% | under 0.1 | 11 | 12% | D |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Fayetteville
Where can I hike in Fayetteville?
The longest trail networks: J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center, 1.5 miles; Tokay Park, 0.9 miles; North Carolina Veterans Park, 0.9 miles; Cross Creek Linear Park, 0.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Fayetteville is conserved land?
40% of its land, against a typical 3% for a North Carolina town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Fayetteville’s trails?
J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center and Tokay Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Fayetteville?
30 miles of bike routes are on the map: 9.9 of painted or protected lanes and 20 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Fayetteville?
6,849 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Fayetteville or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 2,138 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Fayetteville have?
Ahead of 73% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #40 of 290 in North Carolina. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Fayetteville neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →