Rhodo Trail to New Hope Creek Trail Loop

This is a collection of trails strung together to form a longer loop in the Korstian section of Duke Forest in Durham. Park in the layby on the right hand side of Whitfield Rd, just across from Wisteria Dr. Take the Concrete Bridge Road a short way until reaching the start of the forest. Turn right onto the trail marked Gate 25-26 Connector. Follow this until reaching signs for New Hope Creek south trail. Just after the sign for Slick Hill Foot trail, cross over the creek to continue right following the creek on New Hope Creek north trail. This is an easy crossing in times of low water. Use caution for the crossing at other times. Continue on New Hope creek north until reaching a sign on the left marked for Mrs Brown's trail. There will be a minor creek (Pine Mt creek) crossing before then. Use caution in higher water. Take Mrs Brown's trail on the left which loops around to eventually re-join New Hope creek north.Retrace steps on New Hope creek north to reach a trail on the right not marked but which heads uphill steeply. This is the trail that scales up Piney Mountain. At the summit there will be a wide path off to the left which is a fire road heading down to Mt Sinai Road. Continue straight on to skirt the top and back down Mt Piney. At the end of the mountain, bear right to continue upstream on New Hope Creek north trail. The blazes and route can be easily mistaken here. The route on New Hope creek north is quite rocky in places and caution should be noted in foot placement.Eventually a road like dam is reached to turn left back on Concrete bridge road to retrace steps to the start. A further loop can be added at this junction by continuing on New Hope creek trail north, bearing around to the right and then taking a right turn marked for Big Bend foot trail and then another right for Concrete Bright Road. This additional loop would add another 1.2 miles and bring the total mileage up to 6.9 miles. Blue blazes are visible throughout the trail.