Horton Grove Nature Preserve

708 acres in Durham County
GPS Coordinates: 36.142293, -78.843658

Opened in 2012, Horton Grove Nature Preserve is Triangle Land Conservancy’s largest public preserve. Visitors can currently enjoy approximately eight miles of hiking trails, including the That Makes Sense Interpretative Trail for kids. TLC is working to expand the trail network to provide further hiking opportunities, including a connection to the Stagville State Historic Site. Once the entire trail network is completed, Horton Grove will provide over ten miles of trails perfect for hiking, trail running, families, or walking your dog.

Trails at Horton Grove are named after Black families — Holman, Peaks, Hart, Justice, Latta, Walker, Jordan, and Sowell — whose ancestors were enslaved and forced to work on the land, which was once part of one of the largest plantations in North Carolina. Their stories, which are shared on the kiosks thanks to the research and work of staff with Historic Stagville, illuminate enslaved families’ resilience and their persistent struggle for freedom.