Copperhead Trail at Country Park - Greensboro, NC

North Carolina

Dec 1

“May the good Lord be with you down every road you roam / and may sunshine and happiness surround you when you are far from home!” - “Forever Young” - Rod Stewart

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” - Confucius

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” - Henry Ford

“The root of joy is gratefulness…It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” - David Steindl-Rast

A Blustery, Root-Dodging Adventure

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from hiking, it’s this: Mother Nature always has a sense of humor. And on my recent hike along the Copperhead Trail at Country Park in Greensboro, she was absolutely cracking up.

Cold, Windy, and Completely Worth It

I set out on the Copperhead Trail expecting a casual loop—something to stretch the legs, clear the mind, and get a decent dose of fresh air. What I didn’t expect was to be wind-blasted the entire time. The kind of cold wind that makes your eyes water and your nose go numb. But there’s something invigorating about a trail that doesn’t care how cozy you’d prefer to be. It wakes you up. It reminds you that you’re alive.

And on this 5-mile, moderate hike with gentle elevation changes, I definitely felt alive.

Roots: 1 | Me: 0

Let’s talk about the roots.

Copperhead Trail is lovely—wooded sections, peaceful stretches along the water, and a surprising amount of solitude for a city park. But it’s also basically a root obstacle course. I tripped so many times I lost count somewhere around the double digits. Nothing major—just those quick, awkward stumbles where you pretend you meant to do that.

If you hike this trail often enough, you’ll either develop impeccable footwork or gain a whole new appreciation for gravity.

Multi-Use Means Eyes and Ears Open

Copperhead is a multi-use trail, which means it’s shared by hikers, runners, and—most noticeably—mountain bikers. We crossed paths with about half a dozen during the hike, and every single one of them was polite, slowed down, and made space. No human pancakes were created in the making of this adventure.

Still, it’s worth keeping an ear out, especially on the narrower, curvy sections of the trail. The roots might trip you, but a mountain biker coming around a bend at full speed will definitely get your attention.

A Quiet View With an Unexpected Neighbor

About midway through the hike, the trail runs near a large cemetery. It’s surprisingly peaceful—one of those spots where the trees thin out just enough to catch glimpses of headstones stretching across the hillside. It adds a moment of stillness to the route, almost contemplative, especially on a cold, windy day when everything feels a little extra dramatic.

Trail Vibes

Despite the comedy of errors underfoot, the trail itself is beautiful. Subtle elevation changes keep things interesting without pushing you into the “Is this a workout or an existential crisis?” category. The wooded sections offer a break from the wind, while the open areas remind you why layers were invented.

Even on a frigid day, Copperhead Trail has that grounded, woodsy charm that settles your mind in all the right ways.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in Greensboro and want a hike that blends light challenge, woodland wandering, the occasional biker cameo, and a few inevitable root-related stumbles, Copperhead Trail is a great pick. Just watch your footing, keep your ears open, and embrace the wind for the personality-builder it is.

Cold? Yes. Windy? Brutally. Worth it? Absolutely.

Because sometimes the best hikes aren’t the perfect ones—they’re the ones that knock you around just enough to remind you why you love being out there in the first place.

Hike more. Worry less. Trip occasionally.