December 2025 at Harris Lake County Park and the American Tobacco Trail

DECEMBER 2025

DECEMBER PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Programs are free of charge but

require pre-registration through our

online system.

Programs at Harris Lake County Park

Kids Discover Nature: Owl Moon

Thursday, Dec. 4; 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

For ages 2-5 with accompanying adult

What animal comes out after you have gone to bed? OWLS! Learn how to talk to the owls as we "hoot" our way through Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, a lovely story about a father who takes his daughter out for a moonlit walk in the snowy woods. We will explore the woods to look for places where owls might be hiding, play owl games, and make owls to take home.

Meet at the Cypress Shelter.

Night Tree and Wildlife Treat Creations

Sunday, Dec. 7; 2-3 p.m.

For all ages

As winter approaches, don't forget the wildlife this season! We will read Night Tree by Eve Bunting and then spend time creating treats for you to take home for your backyard wildlife. Dress comfortably for outdoor fun in nature!

Meet at the Cypress Shelter.

Harris Lake ecoEXPLORERS

Saturday, Dec. 13; 2-3:30 p.m.

For ages 7 and up

Interested in becoming a citizen scientist and improving your nature identification skills with park staff? We’ve got the opportunity for you! Harris Lake County Park is an ecoEXPLORE HotSpot which means it’s a place where you can make observations of plants and animals and share them with scientists!

Our focus for today's program will be on mammals! Come learn about the mammal species we have at the park and help us search for them and the evidence they leave behind. Please create a profile at https://www.ecoexplore.net/signup prior to the program. Meet at the Loblolly Shelter and bring your device for taking photos and capturing data. For ages 7 and up, must be registered with an adult. Space is limited!

Meet at the Loblolly Shelter.

Programs at the

American Tobacco Trail

Night Hike on the ATT

Friday, Dec. 5; 4:30-6 p.m.

For all ages

R egister Here

*Only a few spaces remaining!

Take a stroll down the Trail to the Beaver Creek bridge and back, listening for the sounds of creatures that come out at dusk. We will linger on the wetland bridge and play some fun games as we hike under an almost full moon! Total walking distance is about 1.5 miles on a crushed gravel surface. Wear closed-toe shoes. Flashlights are optional, but suggested (we will not use them the whole time so our eyes can adjust). All participants (children and adults) must be registered.

Meet at the New Hill parking area (1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd.) near the restrooms.

UPCOMING HOLIDAY CLOSURES

Park hours are currently 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Harris Lake County Park will be closed on the following days:

Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 24 & 25
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026

PIEDMONT WINTER TROUT STOCKING

Unfortunately, due to renovations at the Setzer State Fish Hatchery and repairs due to Hurricane Helene at the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery, there will not be any Piedmont trout stockings this year and for the next few years.

Winter impoundment stockings will be paused until the Setzer hatchery is fully operational. You can read more here.

Catfish stocking at our Fishing Pond occurs three times each summer and will resume next year.

WAKE COUNTY PARKS FOOD DRIVE

Harris Lake County Park is partnering with the Holly Springs Food Cupboard in order to collect donations to assist local families in need. If you are visiting the park and wish to donate food items, look for our collection bins located at the Park Office and at our Book Nook in the restroom building. Here are some of the most requested items:

Cereal
Canned meat
Canned fruit
Pasta & pasta sauce
Dried beans
Canned soup & vegetables
Crackers
Peanut butter
Juice boxes

The food drive runs through December 31. Thank you so much for working with us to support our community!

StoryWalk® at the American Tobacco Trail:

Winter Dance; Dec. 6-31

Come experience the magic of winter with the book Winter Dance, written by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Richard Jones. Follow the journey of a curious fox as they speak with their forest friends to find out what they should do to prepare for the colder weather. From the tiny woolly bear caterpillar to the swift snowshoe hare, each animal has different advice for the fox, but none seem quite right, until one critter has a unique idea...

This self-guided StoryWalk® will begin at the White Oak trailhead (1305 White Oak Church Rd., Apex) and head south along the trail.

Give your Christmas tree a second life after the holiday season!

From December 26, 2025 through January 31, 2026, you can drop off your live, undecorated Christmas tree at designated locations, including Harris Lake County Park. Your tree will be turned into mulch that will revitalize trails at Wake County parks all year long.

For a list of drop-off locations, please visit wake.gov/happy trails.

Park hours are 8 a.m. until sunset and our parks are closed on

New Year's Day, January 1, 2026.

Nature Nook: The Importance of Snags

A tree's work is never done, even when it's no longer alive!

If you've walked the trail starting from the New Hill Trailhead, you are probably very familiar with this sight: Beaver Creek wetlands and the abundance of dead trees. These standing dead trees (called snags) are a vital part of the wetland, offering shelter for the plants and animals that live here.

When a tree dies and its wood begins to rot, it becomes a perfect place for animals to set up a home. Birds such as Bald Eagles and Ospreys will use the branches as a platform for their nests, while mammals such as squirrels, raccoons, and opossums will take shelter in holes in the trunk. These holes are called cavities and are created by woodpeckers. While they may not produce fruits or nuts anymore, snags can still provide food for our wildlife in the form of the insects and fungi they host.

Even the roots of these dead trees are still working hard; they help to keep the wet, muddy soil of the wetland together, providing a place for smaller plants to grow and flourish. The next time you cross over Beaver Creek Bridge and survey all the snags, think about how different this scenic wetland would look without all their hard work!

(Photo by park staff)

Harris Lake County Park

2112 County Park Drive, New Hill, NC 27562

(919) 387-4342

Email: harris.lake@wake.gov

Connect with us