Kansas Real
After riding and checking out a fairly new nature rail-to-trail having one end of it in Topeka, I found three other city trails nearby. They are described below.
- Landon Nature Trail
- Shunga Trail
- Deer Creek Trail
- Lake Shawnee Trail
1. Landon Nature Trail (10-miles open). This rail-to-trail (still being developed southward) begins at 15th and Monroe Streets, next to the Brown v. Board of Education Historical Building and a public park. Basically this trail runs north and south, and will be 38-miles long when completed at the site of Lomax Junction just west of Pomona, KS. Although this trail is being built mostly with private donations, it is done under the Kansa Rail Trail Conservancy. Topeka is taking care of the portion within its city limits.
Its first mile from 15th to 25th street is double-wide concrete-paved. From there, it gets fairly rough for about 3-miles, with a mixed surface of dirt, grass, sand, rock, and crushed granite rock. Apparently, this section is that way because three short walk-your-bike-across bridges there are not finished yet. A fourth one has just been completed. Still, this section is passable. Current plans are to pave another mile of this section.
This section ends at the Terra and Sanneman Drives dead-end intersection (about 50th St.). From there the surface becomes fairly smooth (packed dirt-limestone-gravel) all the way to Croco Rd near 77th Street. This 6-mile section is easy and fun to ride. Any large crushed rock there has been graded to the edges of the trail. Then, at Croco Road, a prominent NO TRESPASSING sign blocks further passage southward (temporarily closed under development). This section heads toward Clinton Lake, where plenty of deer, turkey, and other wildlife exist.
The Landon is truly a nature trail outside the urban area. Several bridges cross over creeks, ditches, and wetlands. Various plants and shrubbery fill the corridor, which at times, make the pathway fairly narrow. Numerous squirrels, rabbits, and birds can be seen as well.
Yet, real trailheads are scarce, except for the Brown v. Board Ed. Bldg. (restrooms), the Herrman's at 53rd Street, a kiosk at Berryton, and parking near Croco Road. Restrooms are available at public parks and places along South Kansas Avenue and Topeka Blvd, which border the west side of the trail for the first 5-miles, until the trail veers southeastward toward Clinton Lake. Two convenience shops are also located adjacent to the trail at 37th and 45th Streets. To be safe, riders need to carry their own food and water beyond these points.
2. Shunga Trail (7-miles). This seven-mile east-west trail intersects the Landon two blocks south of the 15th Street via a paved roundabout. It is easy to take from Landon or conversely. Its double-wide-paved pathway follows the north side of the highly treed Shunganunga Creek, which meanders through several well-equipped parks, tall-grass pastures, and flower gardens. Most of this trail exists on west side of Landon, where it has at least three trail-side water fountains. It also passes under any busy main streets, thoroughfares, and railroad crossings. The west end sops on the far side of Crestview Park on Fairlawn Road (about 28th Street). Nearby eating places,like, fast food, barbeque, burgers, deli, and bagels are also there.
3. Deer Creek Trail (1-to-2-miles). This short double-wide pathway runs east from Golden Avenue, and then curves southward to 6th Street. This trail is only 1 1/2-miles from the northeast end of the Shunga at 10th Street, and three-miles north of the Lake Shawnee dam and its surrounding trail. Thus, riders can do all of these trails at once with minimal street riding. Riders can also load their bikes into their vehicles, and drive to each one separately, if preferred.
4. Lake Shawnee Trail (7-miles). This seven-mile triple-wide trail borders the edge of Lake Shawnee and its golf course. Thus, it has numerous curves and slight rolling hills. One hill on the south side is fairly steep, but is also short in length. The restrooms at the main trailhead located 1 1/4-miles SW of the dam are open year-around with running water and heat. Thus, it is an ideal trail to use together with the Shunga and Deer Creek when deep snow is on the ground. The city clears them.
This trail has many water fowl and red squirrels, often viewed and possibly fed by the park visitors. Cafes (fast, pizza, barbeque, Mexican, coffee) also exist on the NE side of the trail, in the shopping strips near 29th & Croco Road, not far from the east end of the dam.
In summary, bicyclists can ride each of these trails individually or all of them at once. Many ride them both ways. If each one is done separately both ways, the total distance is 50-miles. If they are done collectively via a few streets, the total distance is 60-miles. All of these trails are open to the public, free. That alone is worth something.
See the following sites for more information about Topeka or Kansas trails.
1. Wikipedia http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Topeka,_Kansas
2. Kansas Cyclist http://www.kansascyclist.com/trails
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