Sports & Recreation

Sports in Orange County revolve mostly around the Tar Heel basketball, football and other teams for obvious reasons, but outdoor activities are very big here, too, because the county and towns have a long-standing commitment to the preservation, development and promotion of parkland—25% of the county's nearly 400 square miles is undeveloped—including nature preserves, parks and playgrounds, walking trails and bicycle routes and paths, not to mention state parks and lakes and reservoirs. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for personal athletic activities, e.g. biking, fitness, golf, swimming and even ice-skating year-round.

University Lake

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130 University Lake Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

phone (919) 942-8007

Open from late Mar. to mid-Nov., Fri.-Mon., 6:30am-6pm.

The 213-acre lake was built by the University in 1932 as a source of drinking water for the University and the communities of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, as well as an outdoor recreation facility. Free picnic and sunbathing areas. Rowboats, canoes and motors are available for rent. Call for rates and reservations.

Upper Bolin Creek

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Off East Franklin St
Chapel Hill, NC

(919) 968-2784

Open dawn to dusk.

Starts at the Chapel Hill Community Center off South Estes Dr and runs west for 1.5 miles to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, formerly Airport Rd. A extension runs about a mile further, connecting with a trail in neighboring Carrboro.

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Did You Know?

Orange County offers a wide range of spectator and recreational sports and leisure activities, and is home to the fastest 3/8-mile oval stock car race track in the U.S.