Lower Haw and Animal Paws
The Haw Slopes State Natural Area is truly a hidden gem right here in the Triangle. Combine that with a treat from the S&T Soda Shoppe, and you have the ingredients for a perfect day…
Beginning at the bridge on U.S. 64, follow the fisherman’s trail northwest through the Haw Slopes State Natural Area. The silence is only broken by the rustling leaves underfoot, the babbling river, and the occasional call of a great blue heron.
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TLC assisted in the acquisition of this property by the State in 2003. The Haw Slopes State Natural Area is the former Haw River Division of Duke Forest. Identified in the 1992 Chatham County Natural Heritage Inventory as an area of statewide importance, the property boasts many significant features, including habitat for rare species and more than four miles of river and stream buffer to protect the water quality of Jordan Lake, the drinking water source for many Triangle-region communities.
You’ll determine for yourself how long you would like to hike, since you will return on the same trail. You could hike just around the bend, or all the way to Bynum and back.
When you’re finished, head to Pittsboro for a bite to eat at the S&T Soda Shoppe. Stepping into this local destination is like traveling back in time. The marble countertop, friendly faces and 1920s decor – not to mention the fabulous shakes and sundaes – will have you coming back for more. Be sure to bring your appetite and a few friends to help you polish off the banana split!
You’ll want to leave the catnip in the car during this last stop. Visit the Carolina Tiger Rescue (CTR) and get close to the big cats, binturongs and kinkajous. CTR began in 1981 as a breeding facility for vanishing keystone carnivores – species critical to the survival of their ecosystems. Today, CTR is a wildlife sanctuary, providing homes to carnivores in need of rescue and educating the public about what threatens these animals: in the wild, in the pet trade and in the entertainment industry. Be sure to call ahead and make a reservation to tour this home of tigers and jaguars and leopards. Oh my!
Best time to visit: Fall and winter when the ticks and chiggers aren’t as active.
Photo by Jennifer Peterson
"I just really love the outdoors. For me, it’s the belief in something bigger than myself and also having the ability to leave a legacy, because this is all we’ve got."