"Enjoyed the nice hike through Howell Woods."
Land
There are over 25 miles of unpaved roads and trails for you to enjoy at Howell Woods. The boardwalk on Leopold Loop, pictured right, provides a unique view of some of the seasonal wetlands.
Interested in a short day hike? There are well-marked trails adjacent to the Learning Center. Many of these trails are features of the North Carolina Birding Trail.
Pack your lunch and eat it under the 10 x 10 covered picnic shelter adjacent to Lone Pine Pond on Diversity Way trail. There is also a 10x12 10-foot-high observation platform/picnic shelter on Muir Trail. Both are a short five minute walk from the Learning Center or a one minute drive when the main gate is open.
Find out how you can enjoy the many trails available at Howell Woods.
Water
Within view of the Learning Center porch and picnic areas is a two-acre wildlife and aquatic education pond. A four-foot wide grass trail will guide you all the way around the pond.
A new 60+ acre wildlife and outdoor recreation lake is currently under construction. When completed sometime between 2009 and 2012, this new lake will provide wonderful habitat for a variety of plants and animals that thrive in larger, deeper bodies of water other than most small "farm" ponds.
Johnston Community College receives a monthly royalty to support the ongoing operations at Howell Woods through the sell of sand by-product from the construction on this lake. Our goal, to be obtained through environmental stewardship during construction as well as the final design, is to provide a high-quality, accessible, large, deep body aquatic ecosystem with native plants and animals.
Like to fish? Learn more about fishing at Howell Woods.
