Historic Bethabara Park

Founded in 1753 by German-speaking Moravians, Bethabara was the first European settlement in the North Carolina Piedmont. A National Historic Landmark and Local Historic District, historic Bethabara Park encompasses 183 acres of preserved wildlife, historic buildings and grounds, walking and birding trails, and protected wetlands.

The TRACK Trail at Historic Bethabara Park follows the Mill Creek Trail, a 2.3-miles loop where you can hike to the Mill Site. Thought to be the largest industrial complex in the Carolinas during the 1750s, remnants of the Bethabara Mill still sit in the creek. A millstone is also present, once used for grinding flax seeds into linseed oil.

Stop by the Visitor Center for the history of Bethabara’s residents, stories of the enslaved, and the Moravians' relationship with Native groups in the region throughout the French & Indian War and Cherokee War.

Track an adventure here
Track Trail sticker for Historic Bethabara Park, featuring a Northern Cardinal on an old mill stone.

Location Details

Recreational Features: Picnic Tables, Interpretive Programs, Birding
Amenities: Restrooms, Visitor Center, Gift Shop
ADA Compliant: Partial
Seasonality: Open all year
TRACK Trail trailhead kiosk
Manarcas Creek
View of Manarcas Creek
Meadow view along Mill Creek Loop

Adventures for Historic Bethabara Park

Hiking

Birds of the Woods and Wetlands

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
2.30
The Birds of the Woods and Wetlands brochure shows kids where to look for different birds along the trail. The brochure contains illustrations of some of the more common birds you might spot and information on how to identify them through various clues.
Hiking

Nature's Hide & Seek

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
2.30
The Nature's Hide & Seek brochure is designed so that kids of all ages can walk along the trail and discover common things that are often overlooked in nature. Some of them are hard to find, others are easy. Best of all, the adventure never ends because every time you walk the trail you will discover new things hiding in nature.
Hiking

Pond Life

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
2.30
Ponds may seem quiet, but they are actually teeming with all kinds of life. With the Pond Life brochure, kids will learn the difference between producer and consumer organisms, and how to identify where a plant, animal, or insect fits into the ecosystem of a pond. This brochure will have kids keep an eye out for 12 common pond residents, and teach how these plants and animals use the pond.
Hiking

Types of Trees

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
2.30
It’s easy to get confused with the various types of trees that can be found in the forest. Use this guide to identify and learn about a few of the common types of trees in the area.

Directions

2163 Bethabara Rd
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Latitude: 36.155832263376
Longitude: -80.297255589924

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