The Eno River runs west to east across the northern edge of Durham, dropping through a narrow rocky gorge that was protected as a state park in the 1970s after a vigorous local campaign blocked plans to dam it. The park preserves twenty-eight miles of riverside, with a network of well-marked trails of varying difficulty and several photogenic crossings on swing bridges.
The Cox Mountain Trail (4 miles round trip from the Few's Ford access) is the classic walk — climbing the modest ridge above the river then descending to a sandy beach at the foot. Spring and autumn are the most rewarding months. The annual Festival for the Eno, held over the Fourth of July weekend, is one of Durham's signature events.