Every route, with what each one asks of you

The five

• 8 March 2026 · Inner southwest · 3.4 miles

  The creek trail at low water

  A limestone shelf beside a spring fed creek, two thirds shaded, with water reachable in six places and a surface that punishes a puller.

  Shade two thirds, best before noonWater continuous, reachable in six places Surface limestone shelf and rootSigned lead required, posted at both ends

• 12 April 2026 · Central, south bank · 4.1 miles

  The south bank of the river

  Four flat miles of decomposed granite along the river, half shaded, with two gentle water entries and more foot traffic than everywhere else here combined.

  Shade half, and only on the south bankWater two reachable points, both gentle Surface decomposed granite throughoutSigned lead required, signs every quarter mile

• 17 May 2026 · Northwest, upper creek · 2.2 miles

  The upper creek, and the off lead stretch

  Two miles of shallow creek under heavy canopy, three quarters shaded all day, with a marked off lead section that fills up faster than the water does.

  Shade three quarters, all dayWater shallow and continuous, reachable throughout Surface packed dirt, gravel bar and one root climbSigned off lead permitted in the marked lower section

• 21 June 2026 · North side · 5.6 miles

  The big north side park

  Five and a half miles of trail under close to continuous canopy, with the largest off lead ground in the city and a junction system that will lose you at least once.

  Shade four fifths, all dayWater creek in three places, two of them gentle Surface packed dirt, some loose gravel, one paved linkSigned off lead permitted across most of the park

• 19 July 2026 · Southeast · 2.8 miles

  The flat ground in the southeast

  Open flatwork along a creek on the southeast side, one fifth shaded, and in this index for the seven months when its emptiness beats everything else here.

  Shade one fifth, and only in two clumpsWater one reachable point, not dependable Surface mown grass, packed dirt, gravel roadSigned lead required throughout

How to read the tags

Shade is stated as a fraction of the route and an hour, because shade that exists at ten in the morning and not at two is not the same amenity.

Water means water an animal can reach and drink or stand in, not a view of water. A creek behind a fence counts for nothing.

Surface is what is underfoot: limestone shelf, decomposed granite, packed dirt, root, gravel, hot asphalt. In this climate the surface temperature matters as much as the texture.

Signed is what the sign at the trailhead says about leads, quoted rather than interpreted. This journal reports signs; it does not give legal advice about them.

What is not in the index

Nowhere that needs a ticket, a booking or a phone call to enter. Nowhere behind a gate that is locked more often than not. Nowhere that a record could not honestly recommend walking in the season it was walked in.

Suggest one

A route that works in August is worth more than three that work in March. If you know one, write to the desk.