# Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park > Place to go for families in the Raleigh–Cary area (NC). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Opens Tuesday–Saturday at 10 am and Sunday at 1 pm; closed Mondays. Closing times… - Where: Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park, 5229 Awls Haven Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614 - Ages: All ages - Price: Free nature crafts and loaner equipment; no admission fee listed - Schedule: Opens Tuesday–Saturday at 10 am and Sunday at 1 pm; closed Mondays. Closing times: October 7/6:30 pm, November 6:30/5:30 pm, December 5 pm, January 5:30 pm. 2026 closures: Nov 11, Nov 26 and Dec 24–26. - Organizer: City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources - Official page: https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/places/annie-louise-wilkerson-md-nature-preserve-park - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/annie-louise-wilkerson-md-nature-preserve-park--listing-a9a33c37692ae465fb5aadd9 ## About Raleigh's first designated nature preserve: 157 acres south of Falls Lake with mature forest (some trees over 200 years old), rock outcrops, wetlands and open pastures. The Welcome Center has hands-on displays designed especially for children, free nature crafts that change monthly and free loaner gear — Explorer backpacks, a Woodland Village backpack, an Art Backpack, a sandbox kit, binoculars and kites — plus nature play areas and pollinator gardens outside. Five natural-surface loop trails opened for 2026, from the 0.31-mile Prairie Loop to the 0.81-mile Hidden Rocks Loop past boulder outcrops and the Pond Loop around a beaver pond; most include some stairs and bikes are not allowed. A connector joins the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along Falls Lake. Public programs include bird watching, astronomy nights, nature play and art classes. ## Similar picks in Raleigh - [Durant Nature Preserve](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/durant-nature-preserve--listing-c09571ea6bed44370bef6c00) — Park open dawn to dusk, 7 days a week (closing times vary through the year — call the… · Durant Nature Preserve · All ages · checked Oct 24. A city nature preserve in north Raleigh with lakes, trails, picnic areas and gardens for exploring. The Sensory and Nature Play Garden by the entrance road has colorful plants… - [Nature Play Day at NCMA](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/nature-play-day-at-ncma--listing-99821f78be99db9160fd27ef) — Mon, Oct 26 (+1 more date) · 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · North Carolina Museum of Art · Up to 7 · Free · checked Oct 24. A free, drop-in outdoor play morning run by the Natural Sciences museum's Prairie Ridge play facilitators on the grounds of the North Carolina Museum of Art. 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