Wood Duck Way - Greensboro, NC
"May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace, both now and forever more.” - Numbers 6:24-26
“Be still and know that I am God.” - Psalm 46:10
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:18
Hike at a Glance
Length: Less than 0.5 miles (one way)
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Point-to-point (Hidden connector)
Features: Lake Brandt views, fishing pond, historical Eagle Scout benches, wildlife sanctuary, and pickleball connection
Time to read: 3.5 minutes
The Secret Path
Tucked away in the vibrant expanses of Bur-Mil Park lies a path that most visitors completely overlook. The Wood Duck Way Trail is the least used trail in the entire park system. Its quiet nature isn't just because it is short—less than a half-mile one way—but mostly because its entry points are beautifully hidden. To find it, you have to look closely behind the Bur-Mil fishing pond. The exit on the other end is equally secluded, emerging about a football field's length away from the local pickleball courts. Because it requires a bit of searching, the general public and even daily pickleball players rarely step foot on it. It remains a quiet sanctuary waiting for those who know how to look for the hidden spaces in life.
A Daily Morning Ritual
For me, this trail is much more than a simple stretch of dirt; it is a sacred bridge, the vital connective tissue of my daily morning routine. Most mornings, my day begins on the pier overlooking Lake Brandt, watching the sunrise paint the sky above the water. What follows is a dedicated time of praying, meditating, listening to music, reading, and relaxed breathing. Once my soul is grounded and centered, I step onto Wood Duck Way to transition from spiritual stillness to physical movement. The trail guides me directly to the pickleball courts, where I clean up any stray debris or trash before hitting 200-plus practice serves and shots before anyone else even arrives at the courts.
An Open Invitation to Watershed Hikers
If you frequent Bur-Mil Park, chances are you are there to log miles on the better-known trails. You might be tearing through the winding dirt of the Owl’s Roost Trail, circling the scenic woods of the Big Loop Trail, or putting in miles on the paved Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway. These trails are magnificent, but they are often shared with rushing mountain bikers and other hikers. If you are already out at Bur-Mil, you absolutely should add this short trek to your day. Wood Duck Way serves as the perfect, meditative cool-down or a quiet detour. It is a chance to step away from the active pace of the main loops and dive into a completely different, untouched pocket of the park.
Familiarity in the Fade
I have walked these woods so many times that the terrain is permanently etched into my memory. The path winds through a grand canopy of massive pine trees and mature hardwood forests, its floor almost entirely blanketed by soft pine needles. There are very slight elevation changes, though you do have to mind your step for roots and downed branches that the maintenance crews have cleared over the seasons. In the winter, the trail challenges you as it completely disappears beneath a thick carpet of fallen leaves and fresh pine needles. Yet, I am so deeply familiar with its twists and turns that I truly believe I could close my eyes and navigate the path in total darkness without losing my way. The forest has become a part of me.
Class Is in Session
Almost immediately after you take the short wooden staircase at the beginning of the trail near the fishing pond, you stumble upon a remarkable little clearing that carries a sense of timeless purpose. Years ago, a local Boy Scout chose this precise spot for his Eagle Scout project, constructing a wooden podium and 8 sturdy, pew-like benches. It feels like an open-air classroom dropped right into the middle of the North Carolina woods. It is the absolute perfect spot to sit, relax, and let your mind drift. Over the years, these benches and logs have served as witnesses to meditation, places to rest, and on one particularly peaceful afternoon, the perfect venue for a quick nap right on the pine needles.
Wildlife and Wild Adventures
Because humans rarely frequent Wood Duck Way, the local wildlife has completely reclaimed it, turning it into a thriving, hidden sanctuary. Over the years, I have crossed paths with dozens of deer, raccoons, possums, groundhogs, skunks, frogs, lizards, and a snake or two. In all my mornings here, I have only ever run into one other human being—and, fortunately, zero bears! Of course, a spiritual connection doesn't mean I am immune to the wildness of the woods. I have stumbled over hidden roots, tripped up a few times, and once got soundly attacked by a stubborn briar patch when I decided to be a bit too adventurous off the main path.
A Place to Call Home
Some of my friends at the courts like to tease me that I actually live out at Bur-Mil Park. Truthfully, looking out at the water through the trees, I think I really could live here and love most every second of it. I even maintain an office right on top of the hill looking directly down over the pickleball courts. Between the sunrise on the pier, the quiet canopy of the trees, and the crisp morning air, this isn't just a park trail to me. It is a daily reminder to slow down, breathe, and connect. It is my absolute happy place, and my own little piece of heaven on earth.
Peaceful easy feeling