West Point on the Eno River, Durham

West Point on the Eno River has a little-cabin-in-the-woods charm. Immediately upon entering, you see a historic farmhouse, tobacco packhouse, and mill, spread out around a park with picnic tables and plenty of trees. The mill can grind corn flour and wheat flour. It's fun for kids to stand on the bridge and watch the water flowing past the mill. Continue on and you come to a long dam across the river, like a waterfall, created to change the height of the water so that the water flow by the mill will be strong. People launch canoes here and it's fun to watch them paddle upriver. A very short trail through the forest- perfect for kids- starts here. Stop and check out the tee pee in a clearing. At the end, check out the logs in a circle. They look like an area for a bonfire, but are actually play equipment, a natural playground.

Another spot to check out on the Eno River is Turtle Hole (also called Sennett Hole), just west half a mile (but an 8 minute drive), where you will find a swimming hole amid some rocks. It is accessed at the end of Landis Drive. I don't know how clean the water is.
Next, head to Madhatters Cafe and Bakeshop, near Duke East Campus, for a bite to eat. It is a 13 minute drive south.
Nearby, check out Museum of Life and Science, the nicest place to go with kids in Durham. Don't miss out on this beautiful and exciting place, which is mostly outdoors, so come when the weather is good. On hot days, you can cool of at their Into The Mist exhibit.

Directions

West Point on the Eno is located at 5101 N Roxboro St, Durham, NC 27704. There is a dirt/gravel parking lot under trees.

Click on map for interactive view