So I am getting a little bored going up and down the 8 miles of completed American Tobacco Trail here in Durham, so I decided to venture out past The Streets at Southpoint to check out that part of the trail. Everntually, it’s all supposed to connect, but after my venture out there, I’m realizing that’s not going to happen any time soon, which kind of bums me out.

So right now, the trail starts at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in downtown Durham, and is paved from there all the way past where I live. It stops at Ruby Tuesday outside the old apartment complex I used to live in, Southpoint Crossing.

So anyway, eventually there’s going to be a bridge from that area, crossing I-40 and connecting the trail. I’ve yet to figure out where exactly that’s going, as Southpoint Mall is right there.

There are less developed parts of the trail open if one crosses NC 54 and takes Fayetteville Road down past the mall and makes a right onto Massey Chapel Road. This is where I went today. I initially past by the Massey Chapel Rd. entrance to the trail, but there is a makeshift sign that says ATT, and the trail itself is makeshift. Eventually, it will be paved like the first 8.5 miles.

So I fly down this part of the trail this afternoon and the trail is marked as a construction zone and they warn to ride this part at your own risk. My mountain bike and me were up for the challenge. It wasn’t too bad, but it was hard to know exactly what to expect.

The trail basically has a couple of worn paths perfect for bikes and is a combination of dirt, gravel and clay. The trail continues down and crosses over Scott King Road, which is near where my parents lived when I was in college. The first pic below is of that entrance on Scott King Road, taken from a PDF about the ATT. I’m thinking I may take a camera out there one day and shoot a few photos myself.

From Scott King, it continues for a few miles, passing an electrical substation and some pretty forest areas. I was disapointed when too quickly I came to a road block. A big wooden barricade is up and there are supports for a bridge with wooden trestles on the supports. There is a body of water, which I later found out was Northeast Creek. The second pic below, from that same PDF Two steep and narrow trails descend down to the creek, I assume, but I didn’t want to take my bike down there. Another day.

So I turned around, and went back to Scott King Road and then onto Massey Chapel. I realized there was some trail on the other side, but it’s totally not developed and not worth riding off of Massey Chapel onto it. Riding back up Massey Chapel to Fayetteville was a bit tiring too. It seemed to be fairly steep, but maybe it was jsut fatigue from the non-paved ATT I had just left. Regardless, next time I may take Massey Chapel the other way out to 751 and see if that’s any better. I don’t think it will be though.

I think I’ll venture out that part of the trail again tomorrow, maybe with the camera in tow. It’s fun riding for sure. I was hoping to soon be able to take the trail all the way from home into work, but I don’t forsee it being an option any time soon… kind of discouraging.

Supposedly the Northeast Creek Trestle and another bridge further up the trail are having problems due to lack of funds. I wouldn’t be surprised if the I-40 crossing is in the same boat. Regardless, I’m enjoying what is there now, just looking forward to its eventual completion.

Scott King Road American Tobacco Trail Trail Marker

End of the Road for Me — Northeast Creek with No Bridge Yet