Unpaved and secluded, the J. Bayard Clark Park boasts a series of short trails perfect for various ages and abilities.
With three individual trails totaling 1.4 miles and loads of activities available, a visit can be shaped as a brief, self-guided nature walk, or as a pinecone scavenger hunt complete with a visit to the Nature Center or playground.
Park Ranger Supervisor Denise Brown vouched for the distinctiveness of the Clark Park Trails, explaining that the seclusion and organic footpaths provide a close-up look at a large variety of plant and animal life.
“You can hear a lot of bird sounds out on the trails this time of year. If we have a decent amount of rain like we have lately, you can overlook the waterfall near the start of the Bear trail and see it flowing. Our trails are particularly shady as well, which I think is noteworthy this time of year. The Wetlands trail is my personal favorite for walking on a warm day.”
The Wetland Trail, the Laurel Trail and the Bear Trail are the Park’s three main attractions for those interested in strolling. Each trail offers something different. Measuring .3 miles, the Laurel Trail is the shortest and features a fairy garden at the start of the trail. The second longest is the Wetland Trail, which features a somewhat swampy terrain. Brown says it’s perfect for spotting animal tracks.
The Bear Trail offers the longest stretch of path. It’s .6 miles and takes visitors closer to the Cape Fear River. All three trails can be walked in succession, and alltrails.com advises that it only takes an average of 26 minutes to do so. This includes a slight elevation gain of 59ft on portions of the trail.
As you walk, you can soak up the joys of nature at your own pace, or you can participate in one of several trail-themed activities the park offers. Currently, there’s a pinecone scavenger hunt on the Laurel Trail, which encourages visitors to keep their eyes peeled for specimens that fall from the towering pines above.
There’s also an event called Fun with Fungi. According to Brown, participants will learn about the fascinating world of fungi and their importance to the forest. This includes toadstools, morels, fairy rings, puffballs, truffles, mold and lichens. Participants get to view preserved specimens before heading down the trail to find living fungi. It’s a free event that will take place Thursday, Aug. 22 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is suitable for all ages.
For a fusion of self-paced and guided experiences, there’s a stretch of paved trail near the playground featuring StoryWalk. StoryWalk is a collaboration between Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation and the Cumberland County Public Library. Funded by the Women’s Giving Circle, the trail features a series of stands displaying pages of the picture book Mouse House Tales.
By walking the trail, visitors can follow the story of turning a house into a home and learn from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) themes the book features.
The park also welcomes volunteers and provides training for all roles. For those who prefer to take an active role in helping others enjoy the outdoors, the park offers Nature Hike Guide training. As a Nature Hike Guide, participants learn to give structured Nature Hikes to groups ages 4 to 12 years. It’s a perfect way to pass on the joy of nature and exploration while spending time outdoors.
Consistent with the park’s focus on engaging visitors of all ages, the trails feature free activity stations as part of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s “Kids in Parks” network of trails. According to their mission statement, Kids in Parks began in 2018 as a way to “Engage kids and families in outdoor recreation to foster lifelong wellness and meaningful connections to public lands.”
Fayetteville-Cumberland Co. Parks and Recreation explains how Kids in Parks works: “Goals are to encourage physical activity and build connections with nature to inspire the next generation of public land stewards. Each station has a series of brochures that turn an ordinary hike into an adventure. Pamphlets encourage children to identify plants and animals, view the forest from the perspective of creatures, and search for natural features. Children can record their adventures at KidsinParks.com to earn PRIZES and plan more adventures.”
Mailed prizes include collectible stickers, first aid kits, bike lights, and more.
Visitors can access the trailheads and the rich variety of free activities at J. Bayard Clark Park by parking in the paved lot at 631 Sherman Dr.

(Photo: StoryWalk is part of a paved stretch of trails with a collaboration between the Fayetteville Cumberland Parks and Recreation and the Cumberland County Public Library. The trail features displays of the picture book "Mouse House Tales." Photo courtesy of City of Fayetteville Flickr)