Review of Falls Lake Dam Recreation Area, Wake Forest, North Carolina

 

Falls Lake Dam Recreation Area, Wake Forest, NC

After my wife and I sold our home at the end of August 2020, we headed down to Wake Forest, North Carolina.  This would mark the beginning of our early retirement.  We wanted to spend time with my brother in law and his family, who we haven’t seen in over a year.  It was during this visit that we discovered this fantastic recreation area.

Falls Lake Dam Recreation Area is a man made reservoir located in the upper portion of the Neuse River Basin, nestled near North Carolina’s bustling Triangle Area.  The reservoir covers nearly 12,500 acres of water and is surrounded by 25,500 acres of public land.  

The lake stretches 22 miles upstream to the confluence of three rivers: Eno, Flat, and Little Rivers.

Falls Lake Dam Recreation Area boasts hiking trails, fishing, water sports, biking, wildlife viewing, etc.

See my notes below when visiting the Recreation Area:

  • The main entrance to the Recreation Area is accessible from the Falls of Neuse Road.  There is an entrance fee from April thru September.  You can either park at the entrance to the Recreation Area, then walk into the area, or drive to the dam.  The jogging/walking trail is paved and it winds through the woods leading up to the Falls Dam.  
View from the top of the Falls Lake Dam
  • Another entrance you can take is by parking at the Falls Lake Tailrace Parking area on Old Falls of Neuse Road.  This area does not charge an entrance fee.  Look for ‘The Bike Guy’ at the entrance to this parking lot.  This parking lot is fairly small by comparison to the main entrance area.  If you arrive early enough, you should be able to find a parking spot.  Expect to walk a little to get to the Falls Dam.
  • The visitor center area is a good place to start your exploration.  Park your car there, then walk towards the lakeshore.  There are multiple hiking trails that meander off of the visitor center that’ll take you to the lakeshore.  This was my favorite thing to do there!  Even on a hot summer day in August, the breeze off of the lake provided an awesome respite from the heat.  Trees also help in providing shade...
View from the lakeshore

Our Pomeranian enjoying his hike at the Falls Lake Dam
  • If you’re parking at the ‘Falls Lake Tailrace Parking Lot’, look for the ‘Upper Neuse Greenway’, which is a multi purpose paved trail that is 27.5 miles long.  Greenway offers scenic views of the Neuse River, winding Boardwalk area through wetlands, historical sights, and agricultural fields.
View of the Neuse River from the Upper Neuse Greenway

  • You can rent a bike from ‘The Bike Guy’ on Old Falls of Neuse Road.  They are a full service bike shop that rents and repairs bikes.  You won’t be disappointed by the views on the Greenway!
If you’re visiting the Raleigh area of North Carolina, please visit the Falls Lake Dam Recreation Area.  You’ll enjoy it like we did!

Tip:  If you get hungry after exploring/hiking, my favorite restaurant in Raleigh area is ‘Secrets Cajun Kitchen’.  You can’t go wrong with Cajun shrimp boil, fried fish po-boy, or shrimp etouffee.  They also offer lunch specials Mondays thru Fridays.

We hope you enjoyed our trip notes to the Falls Lake Dam Recreation Area, in Wake Forest, North Carolina!  Thank you for reading!


Jake

Wandering Money Pig 


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