24 October . 2023
Discover Robertson Millpond Preserve
There are so many parks and trails in and around Wendell Falls, and today we are highlighting Robertson Millpond Preserve, an 85-acre preserve just six miles from the community! At the park, you can:
Go paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing
The preserve features a 1.15-mile paddling trail that you can explore with your own kayak, canoe, paddleboard or small trolling boat. The trail is marked with buoys, and the trail is wider and more open in buoys 1 – 26, making this a great area for stand-up paddleboards.
Check out the historic dam and mill
Robertson Millpond Preserve also has a rich cultural history. The millpond is a part of Buffalo Creek, and Native Americans would have likely lived here.
The dam dates to the 1820s and was likely built by William Avera, who operated a 600-acre farm and gristmill with his family. Read more about the dam and the remaining foundation of the mill, which are designated historic landmarks, here.
Immerse yourself in a nature
Robertson Millpond Preserve has been identified by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program as a significant natural area in Wake County and has also been recognized as a Wetland Treasure by the Carolina Wetlands Association.
The blackwater cypress-gum habitat and the Virginia blue flags that bloom near the boat dock in the spring are both rare sites to see in this region of North Carolina.
Watch wildlife
The preserve is a natural habitat for many species, such as birds, beavers, otters, frogs, turtles, snakes and more. There are also numerous wood duck and prothonotary warbler boxes that have been placed along the paddling trail by NCSU students and staff.
Go fishing
The pond features a variety of fish, including catfish, pickerel, and sunfish. Fishing is allowed from the boardwalk, which features benches and a platform with access to the pond, as well as from the shoreline, kayak, canoe or other boat with trolling motor.
In addition to Robertson Millpond Preserve, Turnipseed Nature Preserve and Sandy Pines Preserve are also less than 10 miles from Wendell Falls! Discover additional parks, trails, amenities and points of interest in and around Wendell Falls here.
Wendell Falls is located just 15 miles from downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S. Explore artfully crafted new homes and townhomes from the low $300,000s – $900,000s+.