The Duke Forest is comprised of over 7,000 acres in three counties in Central NC. The landbase is not contiguous and can only be accessed via indicated Forest gates, providing that all Regulations and Safety Guidelines are followed. Detailed maps can be found at every major Duke Forest gate and up-to-date digital ones can be downloaded by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.
Tips for orienting in the Duke Forest
- Take note of the road where you parked and the gate number you walked through (white numbers on the green gates).
- Service can be spotty. Do not rely on GPS based apps—which also often show misrepresentations. Study and take a picture of the map posted at the trailhead (All major trailheads popular with recreational visitors have maps).
- Follow the Duke Blue Dot 🔵 blazes for authorized foot trails. If you have stepped off of a Fire Road onto a trail without a Blue Dot, you are in an unauthorized location of the Duke Forest)
- Remember: Dogs must remain on leash at all times in our research forest. And bikes are not allowed on foot trails. Please abide by posted signage.
General Locator Map
Recreating Responsibly
Detailed Recreation Maps
In the past, detailed maps showing all forest roads, foot trail, creeks, and topographic contours have been available for purchase from the Office of the Duke Forest. However, when our inventory of paper maps was exhausted, our team decided to make official digital PDF maps. Our recreation maps are available for download via the link below. After agreeing to our rules and regulations, maps will be instantly emailed to the provided address.
Forest Maps on the Duke Explore App
Download the Duke Explore app for a new digital guide to the Duke Forest. The app features free georeferenced recreation maps for each Forest division, allowing visitors with cellular data services to track their location in real time and stay on authorized roads and trails. Recreational visitors who previously used Avenza Maps should note that Avenza now requires a paid subscription for continued map use. Duke Explore offers the same geolocation functionality for free, along with regulations, safety guidance, and other helpful visitor resources.
Standard PDF maps remain available, and we encourage you to use them before your visit, as cellular data service may not be available in all locations within the Forest.
Download the app on your smartphone and find “Duke Forest Teaching and Research Laboratory.”