The Seahawk Trail System celebrates movement and well-being by encouraging individuals to get outdoors and reconnect with the natural environment. Initiated in 2024, the trail system website brings together existing and new paths in one online location that allows users the ability to access maps, parking information, history, and educational information all in one place.
The trailhead for the Tar Kiln Trail is on Reynolds Drive behind the Cultural Arts Building. The trail is out and back, logging in at just under a mile total. Marked with educational signs, the Tar Kiln Tail celebrates southeastern North Carolina history by highlighting several geological and historical points of interest.
Sustainability Trail
A two-mile, paved loop around the main hub of campus, The Sustainability Trail passes several points of interest that display the university's commitment to sustainability. From rain gardens to alternative energy, this trail highlights the seamless integration of sustainability in our everyday lives.
Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve
Gifted to the university in 1974, Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve is a ten-acre forest in the heart of campus. With four trails, a small pond, an outdoor classroom and a native plant garden, this preserve is a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of campus life and sit a spell.
Stretching 3.2 miles, the Longleaf Trail forms a loop that combines trail sections with the convenience of the paved Gary Shell Cross-City Trail. This design makes it perfect for runners training for a 5K or anyone seeking a versatile outdoor adventure.
The Longleaf Trail, one of two established routes within UNCW’s 200+ acres of forested lands, provides access to natural spaces and recreational opportunities. You can immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Xeric Sandhill Longleaf Pine Forest ecosystem!
This trail features forested areas marked by blue trail tags. However, certain sections along the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail and parts of UNCW's campus are unmarked. To stay on course, be sure to refer to the trail map found on the Seahawk Trail System site.
Cross City Trail
The 15-mile multi-use trail crosses the UNCW campus as it provides bicycle and pedestrian access to recreational, cultural and educational destinations across Wilmington.
