This article originally appeared in the Winston-Salem Journal .

Greensboro's watershed trails are the city's best kept secret. Now maybe I'm a little bit biased. I met my wife while leading a hike on one of these trails. But I can think of few towns Greensboro's size where you can find a wilderness setting so close to the city. Hike in a mile or so on the Laurel Bluff or Owl's Roost Trails and you'll forget there's a major metropolitan area less than 10 minutes away.

This 32 mile network of watershed trails is a blessed side-effect of the city's otherwise unfortunate geography. Unlike its water-wealthy neighbor to the west - Winston-Salem - Greensboro sits at the top of the Cape Fear River basin, with no large rivers nearby to quench its thirst. In response, the city built a stair-step reservoir system about 10 miles north of downtown that collects water from a 105 square mile watershed and deposits it in Lakes Higgins, Brandt, and Townsend. When originally constructed, the land surrounding these lakes was primarily rural. But by the mid 1980's, development was booming in the watershed as Greensboro's suburbs marched outward. A save-the-watershed movement sprang up, and in 1988, Guilford County residents approved a bond issue to purchase a 750 ft. buffer of undisturbed land for the three lakes. In so doing, the county's residents purchased not only watershed protection but a superb recreation facility as well.

Although funded with county money, Greensboro's Parks and Recreation Department is charged with overseeing the trails. Through a cooperative effort, the city supplies materials and local civic organizations, such as the Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, and the Greensboro Fat Tire Society provide labor to build and maintain the trails.

These trails are so highly regarded that several of them have been incorporated into North Carolina's Mountains to the Sea Trail (MST). At 20.6 miles, this portion of the MST (look for the white diamond-shaped blaze) is a bit long for a single-day hike. But road crossings are frequent, so its easy to break the hike up into several short sections. Why not hike it over several consecutive weekends this spring? It's an intimate way to experience the transition from the barren landscape of late winter to the exuberant coming-out of mid-spring.

Here's how: Start at Bur-Mil Park and follow the Owl's Roost Trail along the shore of Lake Brandt. At a little over five miles you'll intersect with the Lake Brandt Greenway. Turn left and cross the Piedmont Land Conservancy's Weaver Bridge, then take a left onto the Nat Greene Trail and follow it for 3.2 miles until you reach the Lake Brandt Marina. Cross the road and catch the Laurel Bluff Trail along the south side of Reedy Fork Creek and the upper end of Lake Townsend. When you reach Church St., cross the road and follow the Peninsula Trail a short 1.2 miles until you come back out on Church St. Take Church St. across the bridge and dive into the Osprey Trail on your left. Follow it to Yanceyville Rd., cross and continue on the Townsend Trail all the way into Bryan Park and the Lake Townsend Marina. (Roadside parking is available at all trailheads.)

Greensboro's watershed trails are also the triad's premier mountain biking destination. The Greensboro Fat Tire Society has worked closely with the Parks and Recreation Department to develop and maintain more than 15 miles of trails. Almost all of these miles are highly-prized single track, the narrow twisting paths through the woods that are the most challenging and exhilarating for serious mountain bikers. (See below for a list of the trails that are open to mountain bikes.)

Of course, there's a good chance that once initiated, you'll find that hiking or biking these trails one time isn't enough. I find myself going back to the same trails repeatedly, hiking them in every season, time of day, and weather. There's always a surprise in store. One day a couple years ago I found a Columbine in bloom smack in the middle of the Laurel Bluff Trail. I've been spooked on several occasions by the thunderous liftoff of a flock of Wild Turkeys. Other pleasures are more subtle. I've mentally cataloged the gradual disintegration of a red oak brought down by Hurricane Fran in 1996. And every year I watch the earth in a favorite patch of deep woods sprout Mayapple, Dwarf Crested Iris, Foamflower, Orchids, Bloodroot, Green 'n Golds, and Black Cohosh.

But these trails aren't just for nature study. They provide a window into human history too. On the Peninsula Trail you'll walk over a forest floor covered in leaves and pine needles that hides the wavelike turf beneath, a telltale reminder of this land's previous incarnation as a farmer's field. And portions of some trails skirt the edges of suburban backyards, offering a glimpse of our piedmont landscape's future. No matter what type of outdoor experience you're looking for, these trails have something to offer.

Consider: The Lake Higgins Trail, a short loop trail of one-half mile, is an excellent trail for children and is often used by the marina's staff as an outdoor classroom. For a true wilderness experience, hike from Bur-Mil Park along the Owl's Roost Trail to the fire lanes that cross the interior of the peninsula. (Look out for mountain bikers; in this remote section of woods you'll also find some of the best single-track in the triad.) For solitude, try the Laurel Bluff Trail between Church St. and Lake Brandt Rd. For a spectacular view of wetlands and waterfowl, particularly in fall or spring, try the Beech Bluff Trail between Lewiston Rd. and Brass Eagle Loop. To experience a classic piedmont bottomland hardwood forest, hike or bike the Reedy Fork Trail between Lake Brandt Rd. and Church St. And if you want to see Guilford County's only known Bald Eagle nesting site, hike or bike the aptly named Bald Eagle Trail from the Lake Higgins Marina to Carlson Dairy Rd.

Summary - Greensboro Watershed Trails Location: Northwest Greensboro, (Guilford County) Access: US 220/Battleground Ave. to Owls Roost Rd. and Bur-Mil Park. US 220/Battleground Ave. to Hamburg Mill Rd and the Lake Higgins marina. Lake Brandt Rd. to the Lake Brandt marina. Church St. or Yanceyville Rd. north to several trailheads along the roadside. Thirty-two miles of trails, including a 20 mile section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) Lake Higgins Trail - 1/2 mile. Bicycles prohibited. Bald Eagle Trail - 3 miles. Bicycles allowed. Beech Bluff Trail - 1 mile. Bicycles prohibited. Map Piedmont Trail - 3 miles. Bicycles prohibited. Owls Roost Trail - 5.2 miles. Bicycles allowed. Nat Greene Trail - 3.2 miles. Bicycles prohibited. Map Laurel Bluff Trail - 3.5 miles. Bicycles Prohibited. Reedy Fork Trail - 3.7 miles. Bicycles allowed. Map Peninsula Trail - 1.2 miles. Bicycles prohibited. Osprey Trail - 2.4 miles. Bicycles prohibited. Townsend Trail - 5.1 miles. Bicycles prohibited. Map For more information, pick up a copy of "Trails of Greensboro," published by the Greensboro Parks & Recreation Trails Division, at your local outdoor store. Local Links Greensboro Parks & Recreation Trails Page Piedmont Land Conservancy - The land trust for Guilford and eight other northern piedmont counties. Sierra Club - Piedmont Plateau Group - The local Sierra Club group for Guilford, Randolph, and Rockingham counties. Join them for a hike. Streamflow - Reedy Fork Creek near Oak Ridge. Streamflow - Brushy Creek at Fleming Rd.

Books on the Piedmont and Southern Appalachians Field Guide to the Piedmont - by Michael A. Godfrey. Yes, the Sauratown Range is in the piedmont. Thorough and scholarly, yet very readable, this is the ultimate natural history guide to the area between the Blue Ridge and the coastal plain. The Dying of the Trees : The Pandemic in America's Forests - by Charles Little. A good introduction to the effects of acid rain and exotic pests on the Blacks and other mountains. An Appalachian Tragedy : Air Pollution and Tree Death in the Eastern Forests of North America - edited by Harvard Ayers and Charles Little. Photos by Jenny Hager. A disturbing and provocative book. Spectacular photography. Cabins in the Laurel - by Muriel Earley Sheppard. A classic. Wonderful photos from the 20s and 30s, as well as compelling descriptions of life and people in the Toe River valley of the Black Mountains prior to WWII. Our Southern Highlanders : A Narrative of Adventure in the Southern Appalachians and a Study of Life Among the Mountaineers - by Horace Kephart. Simply the best book on life in the Southern Appalachians prior to the First World War. Humorous and insightful. If I could have only one book on this region, this would be my choice. Highroad Guide to the North Carolina Mountains - by Lynda McDaniel. Rated 5 stars by Amazon reviewers. North Carolina Hiking Trails - by Allen de Hart. Comprehensive. Covers 968 trails. My favorite. Hiking North Carolina (Falcon Guide) - by Randy Johnson. Covers fewer trails than de Hart's book, but covers them in more detail; maps and photos included. Trails of the Triad : Over 140 Hikes in the Winston-Salem/Greensboro/High Point Area - by Allen de Hart. A detailed look at trails in the triad. Maps and photos included. Hiking North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea Trail - by Allen de Hart. Exploring North Carolina's Natural Areas: Parks, Nature Preserves, and Hiking Trails - edited by Dirk Frankenberger. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide - The best field guide. My copy is only two years old, but already dogeared. Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains Belongs on the bookshelf, not in the backpack. With over 600 color plates, this is an excellent keep-at-home companion to Newcomb's guide. Eastern Trees (Peterson Field Guides) A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians (Peterson Field Guides) A Field Guide to the Birds (Peterson Field Guides) Music of the Southern Appalachians O Brother, Where Art Thou? - Soundtrack from the movie. An incredible collection of old time music. This is REAL country music. It is everything that today's slick new Nashville pop isn't. Featuring Norman Blake, Emmy Lou Harris, Gillian Welch, Allison Kraus, John Hartford, The Stanley Brothers, and more. An astonishing collection! Rated five stars by Amazon reviewers. Salt Sea Bound - Polecat Creek. First release (March 2002) from this triad-based group. Original music in the Old Time tradition. Outstanding song writing and beautiful harmonies. My favorite album of 2002. Ballads, Banjo Tunes, And Sacred Songs of Western North Carolina - by Bascom Lamar Lunsford. A Smithsonian Folkways CD, rated five stars by Amazon reviewers. Clarence Ashley And Doc Watson: The Original Folkways Recordings, 1960-1962 - Doc is a NC legend and national treasure. This is one of his earliest recordings. A Smithsonian Folkways 2-CD Set. Rated five stars by Amazon reviewers. The High Lonesome Sound - by Roscoe Holcomb. One of the greatest of the old-time banjo players, Holcomb did almost all of his playing at Holiness Church services and square dances. A Smithsonian Folkways recording. Rated five stars by Amazon reviewers. Music From The Lost Provinces: Old-Time-Stringbands From Ashe County, North Carolina & Vicinity 1927-1931 Various artists. A classic of the old-time genre. Rated four stars by Amazon reviewers. The Legacy Of Tommy Jarrell, Vol. 1: 1: Sail Away Ladies - Tommy Jarrell was one of the greatest old-time fiddlers. Rated five stars by Amazon reviewers. Ways That are Dark - by Daniel Gore, with Peter Rowan, Tim O'Brien, Jack Lawrence, and others. A musical companion to Horace Kephart's classic book, Our Southern Highlanders .