By The Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway is the spine of Greensboro’s outdoor network: a 7.7-mile paved corridor that follows the bed of a railroad that stopped running in 1950, threading past a Revolutionary War battlefield, around the shoreline of Lake Brandt, and through some of the prettiest pine and hardwood forest in the Triad. Whether you are a visitor looking for a half-day adventure or a local hunting for a reliable running and cycling loop, the A&Y (as everyone here calls it) is the trail to know.
What the Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway Is
The greenway takes its name and its route from the old Atlantic and Yadkin Railroad, which operated between 1899 and 1950 and once hauled granite and carried sightseers out to the Guilford Courthouse battlefield. When the rails came up, the corridor became one of the region’s best rail-trails. Today the City of Greensboro markets the A&Y as a single 7.7-mile route that stitches together three formerly separate segments: the Bicentennial Greenway, the Battleground Rail-Trail, and the Lake Brandt portion. You will see the old A&Y steam-engine logo on trail markers along the way, a nice nod to the history under your feet.
The trail runs roughly north to south, from the Summerfield Road area in the north down to the Markland Drive end near Country Park and Lewis Recreation Center in Greensboro. Most of it is paved with asphalt or concrete, with a few stretches of crushed stone and short sections that follow city sidewalks. It is generally flat with only gentle grades, which is exactly what you want from a rail-trail. That makes it friendly to walkers, runners, road and hybrid cyclists, stroller-pushing parents, and anyone using a wheelchair or other mobility device.
The Highlights Along the Route
Lake Brandt and the Michael Weaver Bridge
The northern half is the scenic showpiece. The greenway hugs Lake Brandt, a 816-acre city reservoir, and crosses it on the H. Michael Weaver Bridge, a roughly 140-foot span that is a favorite photo stop. This is prime wildlife watching territory: bald eagles, great blue herons, egrets, and ospreys are all regularly spotted over the water. Note that bridge and lakeside sections occasionally close for repairs, so check current trail conditions with the city before you build a whole outing around the crossing.
If you want to get out on the water, Lake Brandt Marina sits right along the trail at 5945 Lake Brandt Road and rents rowboats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards in season (typically May through October). Call ahead at (336) 373-3741 to confirm seasonal hours, which are limited and shift year to year.
Bur-Mil Park
One of the best access points and rest stops is Bur-Mil Park, a 250-acre county park adjacent to Lake Brandt. It is a destination in its own right, with a golf course and driving range, an aquatic center, fishing ponds, shelters, and the Frank Sharpe Jr. Wildlife Education Center, a free, family-friendly nature center with exhibits and live programs. Maps and information are available here, making it a smart launching point if you are new to the A&Y.
Bur-Mil Park: 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road, Greensboro, NC 27410. Park grounds are generally open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; phone (336) 641-7275. The Wildlife Education Center keeps shorter, mostly weekend hours, so verify before visiting.
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Farther south, the greenway runs alongside Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, the site of the pivotal March 1781 Revolutionary War battle where General Nathanael Greene’s forces wore down Lord Cornwallis’s army on the road to Yorktown. The National Park Service maintains a free visitor center, a museum, a battle-map program, monuments, and a tour road winding through the battlefield. Trail users can park at the military park lot off Old Battleground Road, near the New Garden Road intersection, and pick up the greenway from there. It is a rare combination: a serious workout and a serious history lesson on the same morning.
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park: 2332 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC 27410. Visitor center open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; tour road open daily 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Admission and parking are free; phone (336) 288-1776.
Country Park and Lewis Recreation Center
The southern end anchors at Country Park and the Lewis Recreation Center area off Forest Lawn Drive, where you will find lakes, sports fields, playgrounds, and easy parking. This is the most amenity-rich trailhead and a logical turnaround point for an out-and-back from the south.
Where to Start: Trailheads and Parking
Because the A&Y is a linear trail, your day is shaped by where you park. The most useful access points, north to south:
- Strawberry Road trailhead (north end): a dedicated trailhead parking lot near the northern terminus, good for the lake and bridge sections.
- Bur-Mil Park: 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road, with abundant parking, restrooms, and maps.
- Lake Brandt Marina: 5945 Lake Brandt Road, for water access and the central lakeside stretch.
- Guilford Courthouse military park lot: off Old Battleground Road near New Garden Road, free parking and a historic detour.
- Lewis Recreation Center / Country Park: off Forest Lawn Drive, the amenity-heavy southern trailhead.
Connecting Trails and Side Routes
One reason locals love the A&Y is that it is a hub, not a dead end. Around Lake Brandt and Country Park it connects to a web of natural-surface hiking and mountain biking trails, including the Nat Greene Trail, the Palmetto Trail, and Owl’s Roost, the last of which has been ranked among the best urban mountain biking trails in the country. Through Greensboro, the broader system links toward the Bicentennial Greenway, which continues south through the city. In total, Greensboro maintains more than 100 miles of trails and greenways, and the A&Y is the connective tissue for much of the northern network. Mountain bikers should note the singletrack side trails are unpaved and are a different experience from the smooth paved spine.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
- Best for: easy-to-moderate walking, running, road or hybrid cycling, birdwatching, and family outings. The flat grade makes it stroller- and wheelchair-accessible on the paved sections.
- Dogs: leashed dogs are welcome on the greenway, so it is a popular spot for a long, scenic dog walk.
- Distance planning: doing the full route one-way is about 7.7 miles, so plan for a shuttle or treat it as a long out-and-back. Many people just sample a single segment, such as Bur-Mil to the Weaver Bridge.
- Seasons: spring brings wildflowers and active waterfowl, fall delivers strong color through the hardwoods, and summer mornings are best before the humidity sets in. Marina rentals run roughly May to October.
- Conditions: bridge and lakeside repairs can temporarily close sections, so check current status with Greensboro Parks and Recreation before relying on a specific stretch.
- Restrooms and water: available at Bur-Mil Park, Country Park, and the Guilford Courthouse visitor center; carry water for the long stretches in between.
Where to Stay Nearby
The greenway’s northern access points sit in northwest Greensboro near the Battleground Avenue and Wendover corridors, where you will find a cluster of Greensboro hotels from national chains to comfortable mid-range options, many within a short drive of Bur-Mil Park and the military park. Booking a hotel on this side of town puts you minutes from the trailheads and keeps the rest of Greensboro’s restaurants and attractions within easy reach.
Plan Your Visit
Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway
- Length: approximately 7.7 miles, paved (asphalt and concrete with some crushed stone)
- Hours: dawn to dusk; trailhead parks such as Bur-Mil generally open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Admission: free
- Trail info and conditions: Greensboro Parks and Recreation, (336) 373-2489
- More detail: City of Greensboro greenways and Visit Greensboro trails guide
Planning tip: for a first visit that captures the best of the trail in a couple of hours, park at Bur-Mil Park, walk or ride north to the Michael Weaver Bridge over Lake Brandt, and turn around there. You will get the water views, the wildlife, and the history of the corridor without committing to the full 15-mile round trip.