Forest

Established in 1931, the Duke Forest is the university's outdoor laboratory for teaching and research in the natural sciences. It is comprised of 7,050 acres of land in six divisions. A short drive from campus will take one well into many parts of the Durham Division, and a network of roads and fire trails makes almost all areas of the Forest easily accessible. The Forest lies primarily in Durham and Orange counties, near the eastern edge of the piedmont plateau, and supports a cross section of the woodlands found in the upper coastal plain and lower piedmont of the Southeast.

The forest is managed for multiple uses, including education, research, protection of wildlife and rare plant species, and demonstration of timber management practices. Selected roads and fire trails are open to visitors for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Two picnic shelters off of N.C. 751 are available for rent. Forest maps showing roads and trails are also available.