Hike to the Zombie Tunnels! – Schenk Forest’s Richland Creek Trail

Most recently updated November 24th, 2025

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

The Zombie Tunnel Hike is a route that goes from Umstead State Park, and all the way through Carl Alwin Schenk Memorial Forest to the Lenovo arena – with the help of the Richland Creek Trail and Capital Area Greenways.

I’ve been leading this hike for years, and people really enjoy it. 

zombie tunnel
This is the actual tunnel we go through on this hike….

At over 12 miles, it’s a good long hike.  It’s pretty flat, but has a lot of different features – like Zombie tunnels!

Okay, there may not *actually* be any Zombies, but it sure looks like there could be….and one time I did find a mutant fish in there 🙂

I don’t host this hike very often because conditions need to be just right or the route is impassable, and I hate to disappoint anyone.

Just in time for Halloween, I hiked the route again AND (for a spook-tacular add-on) took a Ghost Walk in Raleigh the next day!!

According to legend, Brigadoon only appears for one day every 300 years.
According to legend, Brigadoon only appears for one day every 300 years.

(I’ll tell you all about the Ghost walk and how you can take one too, but first – the hike!)

Depending on recent weather conditions or new construction, parts of the trail have been known to disappear like Brigadoon at sunrise.

So earlier this year, before I posted the hike for others to join me, I decided to take a look and see if the route was still there – and still the same.

Good news!  The route was still there – and still mostly the same.  In fact some parts had actually been improved!  

The other tunnel is just for water.

Now I’ll tell you about the trail so you can try this somewhat spooky hike for yourself… perhaps followed by an equally spooky Ghost Walk!

 

 

 

Continue reading Hike to the Zombie Tunnels! – Schenk Forest’s Richland Creek Trail

Hike and Bike Your Local Greenways

Most recently updated February 10th, 2026

Estimated Reading Time: 24 minutes

We have miles and miles of local greenways available near where I live in North Carolina.

Greenways are a great off-road resource for healthy outdoor family activities like bike rides, hikes and walks.

This is especially important these days, when most State Parks and National Parks have been closed or partially closed since some recent devastating hurricanes, flooding, and ice storms – and we don’t know when we’ll be allowed to fully use them again.

Empty playground at Pullen Park.
Empty playground at Pullen Park.

When schools have been closed for whatever reason, and children have been home for weeks, they need someplace to play outside!

Fortunately, if you choose to leave your yard for outdoor activities, our greenways locally and across the State usually remain open for use.

If you don’t live right next to one or haven’t explored the greenways yet, it can be hard to figure out where to go.

Best Local Greenways

Black Creek Greenway, White Oak Creek Greenway,  and the American Tobacco Trail are some of the longest and most used greenways in the Cary/Apex area.

The greenways also connect through some of the most popular local parks!  

Continue reading Hike and Bike Your Local Greenways