The Big Sioux River Recreation Trail and Greenway is built on 19 miles of dikes used for flood management. I made an abbreviated loop of the wide open airport section. The lane is asphalt becoming dirt in the rural countryside. Note that stiff breeze across prairie farm land can factor against your headway.
Category Archives: jogging
SDL
Lo-hanging fruit (lemon) on overgrown backyard fences dot the Indian Bend Wash greenbelt. I picked up the route on the Stone Creek Golf Course and went north. Turn back at Thunderbird so as to avoid the low rent neighborhood beyond. Wide concrete or soft shoulders and levees. No shade of any sort. Bring hat.
Umstead
On a weekend it’s possible to traverse the SAS campus on foot without mixing it up with commuters or private security guards. The eastern exit of the office park is rural country side and after crossing the old bridge into Umstead the path becomes hard packed sand in natural woods. Umstead has many hiking trails and diversions but I was intent on finishing the loop. 5.2 miles
HOU
One lap around the airport perimeter. Local advice sez stay clear of the rough residential area that surrounds so keep the route in the public open. Near the control tower is the original art deco municipal terminal, now a museum. Sidewalk, asphalt and grass and plenty of fresh aire. Sure beats the confines of the hotel fitness room. [ gmaps-pedometer ] 6 miles.
COS
The Pikes Peak Greenway section of the Colorado Front Range Trail is a mile high so keep in mind that each lung full will not count as much. The path parallels the brisk flowing Fountain Creek with a picturesque Rocky Mountain vista nearby to the west. The route beginning at the southern end runs 14 miles to the Air Force Academy. It is hard packed dirt and sand. Trail heads are scarce. I had to jump a low fence next to private property in order to access.
CMH
The Alum Creek Leisure Path is paved multipurpose greenway, sections of which are subject to closure when the creek has highwater. It is convenient to the ES Corporate Exchange. [ Gmaps Pedometer ] Columbus to Westerville if you turn North or Strawberry Farms Park and beyond when heading South.
Forsythe Park
Greenville, SC
I have run this loop many times. The Reedy River Park is very scenic and the residential areas quite nice as well. The route is paved. Some huffing and puffing on the steep parts.
TEB
After crossing the New Jersey Turnpike in the Secacus Medowlands find the Mill Creek Marsh. A back water bay habitat and a nice escape from urban blight. Soft trail.
SNA
The Upper Newport Bay is a tidal backwater preserve with bike and equestrian greenway. Starting from the OC airport in Irvine the cement and glass buildings give way to wildlife refuge past the UC Irvine North Campus. There is a fence to jump at the end of Campus Drive but it wasn’t much of a barrier. An access road joins the park. 6.2 miles