By Tucked into the rolling, wooded hills of northwest Greensboro, Bur-Mil Park is the kind of place that quietly does everything. Across more than 250 acres you will find a lighted par 3 golf course, a summer pool, two stocked fishing ponds, a Wildlife Education Center, picnic shelters, and some of the best mountain biking and lakeside hiking in the Triad. Whether you are a visitor looking for an easy half-day outdoors or a local who needs a reliable spot to walk the dog, swim, or sneak in nine holes after work, this is your complete guide to making the most of it.
A Quick History and the Lay of the Land
The name “Bur-Mil” is a holdover from the property’s past as the country club for the Burlington Mills textile company. Today it is a public park managed by Guilford County Parks, and that mill-era heritage shows in the handsome clubhouse and the mature, manicured grounds. The land slopes down toward Lake Brandt, one of Greensboro’s drinking-water reservoirs, which means the views get prettier the closer you wander to the water.
The park is genuinely large and split into distinct zones: the golf and clubhouse area near the entrance, a family recreation cluster with the pool and playground, the fishing ponds and Wildlife Education Center, and the trail network that spills out toward Lake Brandt. First-timers should not try to cram it all into one visit. Pick a focus, park near it, and explore from there.
The Trails: Hiking, Biking, and the Greenway
For many locals, the trails are the main event. From the parking lot at the Wildlife Education Center you can step straight onto the Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway, a flat, crushed-stone path built on a former railroad bed that once hauled goods between Mount Airy and Wilmington. It is stroller and bike friendly, shaded by hardwoods and pines, and it connects all the way south toward Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, making it a popular long-distance walking and cycling route.
Owl’s Roost Trail
The crown jewel for cyclists is the Owl’s Roost Trail, a roughly 3.7-mile singletrack loop that runs along the wooded shoreline of Lake Brandt. It is the most technical ride in Greensboro’s watershed trail system, with roots, rocks, and brisk flowy sections that earned it national recognition years ago as one of the country’s best urban mountain biking trails. Hikers and runners use it too, though courtesy goes a long way: yield to the bikes, and consider going early or midweek when traffic is lighter. Access it by parking at the Wildlife Education Center and walking a short stretch on the greenway to the marked trailhead.
The Watershed Trails
Owl’s Roost is one of several connected watershed trails threading through the Lake Brandt and Lake Townsend area, and portions are designated as part of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail. From Bur-Mil you can link toward the Nat Greene Trail and beyond, turning a casual outing into a serious half-day trek. There is no entrance fee for the park or the trails, which makes this one of the best free outdoor resources in the city.
Fishing and the Wildlife Education Center
Bur-Mil has two ponds, a smaller one of about an acre and a larger one near 3.5 acres, stocked with bass, catfish, bream, and sunfish. Between them sits the Wildlife Education Center, a small, family-focused hub that is a genuine highlight for first-time visitors with kids. It carries live bait and educational materials, and it loans fishing rods to youth ages 15 and under at no charge, which makes it easy to introduce a child to fishing without buying gear.
The Wildlife Education Center keeps a seasonal schedule, open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., May through September. Outside those months the ponds and surrounding paths are still open for a quiet walk, and the area is a known birding spot thanks to its mix of water, woods, and field edges.
Golf and the Driving Range
Bur-Mil’s par 3 golf course is one of the friendliest places in the Triad to learn the game or play a relaxed round. It is a nine-hole, lighted course with holes ranging from about 63 to 134 yards, short enough to be unintimidating but with enough variety to be fun. Because it is lighted, you can squeeze in a round after work on a long summer evening.
Green fees are refreshingly affordable: roughly $7 on weekdays and $8 on weekends for nine holes, with discounted rates for juniors and seniors, and the course is open for year-round play. The adjacent driving range stretches 250 yards with 20 mat positions plus a grassed tee area, sand bunkers, and chipping and putting greens. Buckets run about $6 small, $8 large, and $12 jumbo, with punch cards available for regulars. The Golf Shop and Driving Range operate daily 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., May through September. For tee times, current rates, or weather updates, call the golf shop at 336-641-2021. Full details are on the Guilford County golf course page.
The Aquatic Center (Summer Pool)
The Bur-Mil Park Family Aquatic Center is a summer favorite, with diving boards for older kids, plus a toddler slide, spray features, and a zero-depth beach entry that makes it comfortable for the youngest swimmers. It runs on a typical seasonal schedule built around the warm months.
For the 2026 season the pool opens weekends only beginning Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 23 through Sunday, June 7), then shifts to seven days a week from Saturday, June 13 through Sunday, August 16, before returning to weekends through Labor Day (Monday, September 7). During full summer operation, hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for guests 13 and older, $5 for children 12 and under, and free for children under two. A 10-entry discount pass is available for $40. Because weather can close the pool on short notice, it is worth calling ahead to 336-641-7275 on iffy days. You can confirm current dates on the Guilford County aquatic centers page.
Picnics, Playgrounds, and Courts
Beyond the headline attractions, Bur-Mil is set up for low-key family days. There is a playground, picnic shelters that can be reserved for gatherings, and courts for tennis, pickleball, volleyball, and horseshoes. A pier on Lake Brandt gives non-anglers a scenic spot to take in the water. The handsome clubhouse is a popular rental for weddings and events; showings are by appointment through the park office. For shelter reservations or event rentals, the park office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where to Stay Nearby
Bur-Mil sits along the US-220/Battleground Avenue corridor in northwest Greensboro, close to a cluster of hotels near the Wendover Avenue and Friendly Center shopping areas just a few minutes south. Visitors planning a weekend of trails, golf, and nearby attractions like Guilford Courthouse will find plenty of Greensboro hotels bookable on Expedia, from familiar mid-range chains to a few full-service options closer to downtown. For trip ideas and seasonal events around the city, Visit Greensboro and the statewide Visit NC site are reliable starting points.
Plan Your Visit
- Address: 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road, Greensboro, NC 27410
- Main park phone: 336-641-7275 (golf shop 336-641-2021)
- Park hours: Open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
- Park office: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission: Free to enter the park and use the trails. Fees apply for golf and the pool.
- Official website: Guilford County Parks: Bur-Mil Park
Local tip: If you only have a couple of hours, park at the Wildlife Education Center. From that one lot you can fish the ponds, walk the flat greenway with a stroller, or jump onto Owl’s Roost for a real trail workout, all without moving your car. Go early on summer weekends to beat both the pool crowds and the midday heat.