Outdoor Programs

What's Happening Now:

Join us for a guided outdoor trip, class or program.  Whatever you choose, get out and enjoy it! Check out the calendar of events. 

For active adults over 55+ check out these outdoor recreation events just for you!

Do you have a group that would like a private adventure or custom outdoor program? We can help - contact us!

GET HIKING! SERIES


Get hiking on local hikes around Burlington, Alamance County and beyond! Expect natural surface trails, rolling terrain with a few steep hills and a moderate pace. Wear comfortable walking shoes (closed-toed) or boots. Bring a water bottle, bug spray & sunscreen. Hikes generally last between 1.5-2 hours. All ages welcome, but minors must be accompanied by an adult. Well mannered dogs also welcome!
Free, but registration required!

Thursday, August 30 at 6:00 pm
Great Bend Park - 350 Greenwood Dr. Burlington | 2.5 miles
Register

Tuesday, September 18 at 5:30 pm
HRT at Glencoe Paddle Access - 2348 Glencoe St. Burlington | 2 miles
Register

Thursday, October 4 at 5:30 pm
Cedarock Park - 4242 R. Dean Coleman Rd. Burlington | 2 miles
Register

Fall Foliage Hike Sunday, October 28 at 1:30 pm
Guilford Mackintosh Park & Marina - 1345 NC HWY 61, Whitsett | 3 miles
Register

Trail Running Meet-Up Group


September: Wednesdays at 6 pm, October: Saturdays at 8 am
Ages: 13 and up. Minors must be accompanied by a participating adult. All participants should have previous running experience.
Free
Do you enjoy running? Do you want to run trails, but not sure how to get started or where to go or don't know anyone to run with? Join Burlington Recreation and Parks along with Alamance County Parks to get running on our local trails! Runs will be facilitated by park staff and no runner will be left behind. Runs will be 3-4 miles. 

Wednesday, September 5 at 6:00 pm
HRT/Glencoe Paddle Access - 2348 Glencoe St. Burlington 
Notes: 2 miles, mostly flat terrain, portable restroom at trail head
Register

Wednesday, September 12 at 6:00 pm
HRT/Longmeadow Trail Head - 1120 Valley Dr. Graham
Notes: 3 miles, mostly flat terrain, no restroom at trail head
Register

Wednesday, September 19 at 6:00 pm
HRT/Great Bend Park - 350 Greenwood Dr. Burlington
Notes: 3 miles, mostly flat terrain with a few hills, primitive restroom at trail head
Register

Wednesday, September 26 at 6:00 pm
Shallow Ford Natural Area - 1955 Gerringer Mill Rd. Burlington
Notes: 3 miles, rolling terrain with a few steep sections, primitive restroom at trail head
Register

Saturday, October 6 at 8:00 am
Cedarock Park - 4242 R Dean Coleman Rd. Burlington
Notes: 3 miles, rolling terrain with some steep or rocky sections, restroom at trail head
Register

Saturday, October 13 at 8:00 am
Saxapahaw Island Park - 5550 Church Rd. Graham
Notes: 3 miles, flat terrain, no restroom at trail head
Register

Saturday, October 20 at 8:00 am
HRT/Sellers Falls Section - Address coming soon
Notes: 3-4 miles, mostly flat terrain with some rolling hills
Register

Saturday, October 27 
Try the Haw River Trailathon - paddle, run & bike! Participate in at least 3 trail runs for a discount on the Trailathon registration. More info coming soon!


Kayak Programs


SUNSET PADDLES


Locations, dates and times vary.
Ages: 13 and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Fee: $20/person; $8/person with personal boat. Registration required.
Let your stress melt away as you enjoy a leisurely, 2-hour guided paddle. Paddlers will have a guide who provides basic paddling instruction as needed and leads the group on the lake. Fee includes kayak, paddle, PFD, lake fees and guide. Register online below or call Burlington Recreation and Parks to register and pay by phone at 336-222-5030.
Tuesday, August 21 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Guilford Mackintosh Lake
1345 NC 61 Whitsett, NC 27377
Wait list for solo kayak rental or register for personal boat.

Tuesday, September 4 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Guilford Mackintosh Lake
1345 NC 61 Whitsett, NC 27377
Wait list for solo kayak rental or register for personal boat.

Participant cancellations must be made 24 hours prior to the start of a program for a full refund less online service fees.

Intro to Kayaking


TBA
Guilford Mackintosh Park and Marina
1345 NC HWY 61, Whitsett
Ages: 13 and up. Minors must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Fee: $30. Registration required.
This is a class for new or beginner paddlers to build confidence and skills on the water. Class will cover the basics of kayaking: water safety, fitting PFD and kayak, getting in/out of the boat, launching from shore, proper and efficient paddle strokes. Half the class is on the land and half on the water. Fee includes instructor, kayak rental, PFD and paddle. Participants should be comfortable around water and have basic swimming abilities. 

Custom kayak programs 

Guilford Mackintosh park and Marina
1345 NC HWY 61 Whitsett
Ages: 11 and up
Fee: Varies. Contact us for a quote - typically between $20-$30/person.
Private, small group kayak programs are available by appointment for groups up to 7. Email Melissa, the Outdoor Program Coordinator, for more information on setting up a program. Programs include the following, but we can customize or create a program based on your needs.

  • Intro to Kayaking
    A class for new or beginner paddlers to build confidence and skills on the water. Cover the basics of kayaking: water safety, fitting PFD and kayak, getting in/out of the boat, launching from shore, proper and efficient paddle strokes. Half the class is on-land and half on-water. Class taught by ACA certified kayak instructor. Participants should be comfortable around water and have basic swimming abilities. 
  • Youth Paddle Clinic
    Youth learn all about kayaking from an ACA certified kayak instructor. Clinic covers everything from water safety, fitting your PFD, parts of the kayak, how to properly get in and out of the boat, basic paddle stokes and more. We'll save some time to paddle and explore the lake as well! Clinic includes on-land and on-water lessons. Students should know how to swim and be prepared to be active throughout the clinic.
  • Guided Group Paddles
    Let us provide the kayaks, gear and guide to help your group explore the lake safely and confidently. Guide will provide basic instruction, assist the group during launching/landing as well as lead the group on the water to the best spots on the lake. Fees includes solo kayaks (up to 7), paddles, PFDs, lake fees and guide.

Nature Play


Nature Play programs are geared to get families outdoors in nature, learning, playing and having fun! Some of them include more education and some are purely fun! All ages are welcome, but minors must be accompanied by a participating adult. These programs are free or low cost, but space is limited for all programs and registration is required! 

  • Nature Scavenger Hunt-Hike (in Celebration of Take a Child Outside Week!)


    Monday, September 24 at 5:15 pm
    Guilford Mackintosh Park and Marina - 1345 NC HWY 61, Whitsett
    All ages welcome, but most appropriate for ages 5-10. Minors to be accompanied by adult.
    Free. Register now.
    Come explore the diversity of nature at Guilford Mackintosh Park and Marina. We'll hike a little less than a mile through the woods and along the lake shore in search of items on our scavenger hunt. Feel free to come early and enjoy the playground before the hike!

  • Fort Building


    Thursday, October 11 at 4:30 pm
    Playground behind the Splash Park - 1402 Overbrook Rd. Burlington
    All ages welcome. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
    Free. Registration opening soon.
    Wanna play outside? Wanna build a fort? Bring your creativity and build a fort out of bamboo, sheets, card board, tape and rope. This simple and fun activity will get you and your family active outside having fun!  Come early or stay late and enjoy the playground.

  • Geocaching


    Wednesday, November 21 at 2:00 pm
    Civitan Shelter in Burlington City Park - on Overbrook Rd. across from the Park Restaurant
    All ages welcome, but most appropriate for ages 8 and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
    Free. Registration coming soon.
    Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants use a GPS device to navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates where a cache is hidden. After an introduction to geocaching and the GPS device, we'll head out and geocache around the Park. Plan on walking 2+ miles so wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water.

For more information on any of these programs, email or call the Outdoor Program Coordinator at (336) 222-5135.

Of all the paths you take, make sure a few of them are dirt.