A Guide to Trails at Lake Benson & White Deer Park in Garner

If you’re looking for a beginners walking, running, or biking trail in the Garner, North Carolina, area, head over to Lake Benson or White Deer Park.

These two parks — and their trails — connect to each other, which means you can choose a shorter or longer loop for your walk or run. They’re family and pet friendly, and you can find other activities to do before or after your workout.

Where is Lake Benson & White Deer Park?

Lake Benson and White Deer Park are both located off Buffaloe Road in Garner.

The address for Lake Benson Park is 921 Buffaloe Road. White Deer Park is directly across the street.

Both parks are open sunrise to sunset.

Lake Benson Park

How long are the trails at Lake Benson & White Deer Park?

You get to pick your own adventure at these parks. The good news is all trails are accessible to your entire family. Most are fully paved, though there are some unpaved areas you can choose to explore. There are very few inclines.

Lake Benson Loop: This loop is… you guessed it… at Lake Benson Park. The loop is 1.2 miles long and is easily accessible from most anywhere in the park. You can park your car along the road near the front of the park, or drive further into the park to a parking lot. This path is completely flat. You’ll walk through a large open field, through the Garner Veteran’s Memorial, past several shelters, a playground, and a dog park. This path is fully paved.
White Deer Loop: This loop is 1 mile long and is accessible from the various parking lots inside White Deer Park. Much of this trail is shaded by trees, you’ll see a lot of nature, but the path is completely paved. The path will also take you past playgrounds and shelters, as well as open fields.
Combined Loop: If you want a longer route, the Lake Benson Loop and the White Deer Loop connect at the pedestrian crossing across Buffaloe Road. This combined loop totals 2.2 miles and is accessible anywhere you can access the Lake Benson or White Deer loops.
South Garner Greenway: The South Garner Greenway runs for 1 mile in White Deer Park. Fully paved, it begins at Buffaloe Road and continues along a large portion of the White Deer Loop before you will take a left at a fork towards Timber Drive. This is not a loop, so you’ll have to go out and back. The best place to park is probably at the entrance of Lake Benson Park, where you’ll need to cross the street to access the greenway.
Meadow Loop: This short path is a different route you can take while on the White Deer Loop. It’s 0.33 miles long and begins and ends at different parts of the White Deer Loop. It will pass the Maple Shelter and Sweetgum Shelter, where you’ll find public restrooms.
Lake Benson Woodland Trail: If you want some unpaved trails — or if you want a good view of the lake itself — check out the 1 mile Lake Benson Woodland Trail. This trail snakes through different areas along the lake shore, giving you a chance to see even more of nature. There are some benches along the lake shore where you can take a break and enjoy the view.
White Deer Woodland Trail: This is a short unpaved trail in White Deer Park measuring 0.23 miles. You can access it off the sidewalk near the Holly Shelter, across the street from the Sweetgum Shelter, or along the White Deer Loop after you pass the Nature Center.

If you need more information about these trails, check out the map from the Town of Garner.

Are the trails paved?

Most of the trails at both Lake Benson Park and White Deer Park are paved. This includes the main trails — Lake Benson Loop, White Deer Loop, and South Garner Greenway.

There are two unpaved trails — the Lake Benson Woodland Trail and the White Deer Woodland Trail.

Can you ride a bike at Lake Benson or White Deer Park?

Yes. Bikes are allowed on the paved trails at both Lake Benson and White Deer Park. It’s a popular biking trail for families with young kids because the trails do not have many inclines.

Be careful when riding a bike on these trails during busy periods though. There can be a lot of walkers on the trails. Also, be careful cross the street at Buffaloe Road if you’re going to move between the two parks.

Are there restrooms at Lake Benson & White Deer Park?

Yes. Both Lake Benson and White Deer Park have public restrooms available while the parks are open.

There is one restroom at Lake Benson, it is located at Shelter 1. To access this restroom, drive all the way to the back parking lots.

White Deer Park features two restrooms — one is at the Nature Center, another is located by Sweetgum Shelter and Homestead Shelter.

What other activities are there at Lake Benson & White Deer Park?

While the trails are great — and accessible — there are many other things you can do at both Lake Benson and White Deer Park.

The Storybook Trail is a cool feature for kids. It is on the west side of White Deer Park between the Nature Center and the natural playground. The trail is bordered by panels that show pages from children’s books. The panels change throughout the year too, so you can keep going back with your kids.

Multiple playgrounds are accessible in both parks. There are two playgrounds at Lake Benson Park and two playgrounds at White Deer Park, including one natural playground.

Garner Veterans Memorial calls Lake Benson Park home. You can see the memorial from Buffaloe Road. The memorial features several monuments and an American flag, complete with the names of Garner residents who served the United States in various wars.

Picnic shelters are available for rental through the Town of Garner website. There are grills available too. You can only grill in designated areas. Open fires are not allowed. Neither is alcohol.

Two dog parks are located at Lake Benson Park. There is one for small dogs and another for large dogs. If you bring your dog, they must stay on their leash outside of the dog park. And you’re responsible for cleaning up after your pet.

Fishing is permitted at Lake Benson. And you can rent boats from the Lake Benson Boathouse, which is located at 975 Buffaloe Road. Kayaks, canoes, and jon boats are available for hourly rentals on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning in March and running through October. However, there are no Friday rentals in July and August. The park does not allow the use of any personal watercraft though.

Need More Information?

The Town of Garner has all the official information about Lake Benson Park and White Deer Park, including rental information. You can see that at the links below:

If you’re looking for more information about other walking, running, and biking trails in the Raleigh area of North Carolina, click here to see more from Uno’s Fitness.

Uno’s Fitness can help you be trail-ready!

Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey and want to begin walking or if you’re trail running and biking competitively, working with a Certified Personal Trainer can help you prepare for your workouts on the trail.

Uno’s Fitness can work with you on stretching and flexibility, best practices for recovery after a cardio workout, and strengthening core and leg muscles to prevent aches and pains.

Contact Uno’s Fitness today to setup a free consultation!