One of my favorite things about Lawrence, Kansas is taking long walks in the Spring. Really, I take long walks all year round, but in the Springtime, you can take a walk just about any time of the day.
Over the years here, I have found several great walking paths and will describe two of my favorites in this post. Both of these walks are along the Kansas River and both are right next to downtown Lawrence. Both of these walks originate at the northeast corner of 6th and Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas - making them very accessible from beautiful downtown Lawrence.
Walk #1: A shaded walk along the river - 1.5 miles round trip.
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| View of the Lawrence River at dusk |
To get to the path pictured above, walk west along Sixth Street past the two entrances to the Second Street Bridge. You will see Constant Park on your right hand side after passing the bridge entrances. Before you get to Kentucky Street, you will see an old railroad track. Turn right and walk along the old railroad track towards the river. Just before you get to the river, you will have to cross the currently-used railroad track so be careful and make sure there are no trains coming.
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| Tatiana, Soraya, and Raymi marveling at a big hole in the tree |
When you get to the river, turn left onto the trail that goes into the woods. This trail goes on for about 3/4 of a mile before it ends. This trail is great for a sunny day, as it is completely shaded. As you walk along the trail, you will see several small entrances that go into the forest. You can follow them if you are feeling adventurous and want to check out the woods. My daughters and I were feeling adventurous today and went into the forest.
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| Raymi posing as forest sprite |
Walk #2: Hiking or Biking along the River - 2 to 10 miles
To get to this second trail, cross the Second Street bridge and turn right once you are over the bridge. As you walk along the path, you will soon find yourself on a path with tall trees on either side.
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| North of the River at Dusk in Late Spring |
The walk is particularly nice in early Spring when it is not too hot, as there is no shade along this path. However, it is also quite pleasant in late winter.
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| View from the River Walk in Late Winter |
The trail continues like this for about a mile. Then, you arrive at a park with a long bike trail. I have never made it to the end of this bike trail through the woods, but I think it is at least six miles round trip. This trail is narrow with several small hills. Taking a stroller on it is out of the question, but it is otherwise suitable for small children.
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| North River Walk in Early Winter |
What are your favorite walks in Lawrence, Kansas?
