Forest Theater - Photo by Julie JarvisBattle Park is a is wonderful natural area nestled in the middle of the University of North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill, NC with over 2 miles of hiking trails in 93 acres of forest.   The land and its trails are maintained by the North Carolina Botanical Garden and was acquired by the University in 1793.  In addition to trails, the park also is home to Forest Theater, which is an outdoor amphitheater that has been hosting live performances since 1919.   The park was named for Kemp Plummer Battle who was University president from 1876-1891 and blazed the first trails through the area.

The main hiking trail of the park is offen referred to as the Battle Branch Trail and goes from Forest Theater across the park to a connector trail (maintained by OWASA) that connects to the trail to the Chapel Hill Community Center. Dogs are allowed on the trails but must be on a leash, at all times, no longer that 6 feet.

You can find a current trail map at the NC Botanical Garden website here: http://ncbg.unc.edu/uploads/files/BattlePark_Trailmap2010.pdf

You can find an additional map on the Town of Chapel Hill website that shows the OWASA connector trail extention that connects the Battle Park/Branch Trails to the Chapel Hill Community Center here:  http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1342
 

Trail Access Parking

The Town of Chapel Hill website specifically states: "Parking [for Battle Park] is available at the Community Center Park. [Battle Park] Greenway parking on UNC Campus is prohibited M-F 8-5:00. "  

The Community Center Park is located at 120 S Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.  To access the Battle Park trail, while facing the Community Center you will see a sign for Battle Park on the left.  Follow the trail over two small bridges and you will come to a street (Shepard Lane).  Go right and follow the sidewalk along the street about 100 feet and you will see the beginning of the trail OWASA connector trail that leads to Battle Park.

To access the park and trails from the UNC campus outside the hours of M-F 8:00-5:00, there is street parking along Country Club Rd,  near the intersection of Country Club Rd and S. Bountry St..  The intersection is the corner of the park and is where the entrance to Forest Theater is located.  There is also a small parking lot behind Forest Theater and is where the trail head begins for the hiking trails.