[Run Plan] Shoaff to Headwaters and Back

On Saturday morning, I'll be attempting to run from Shoaff Park to Headwaters Park and back via the St. Joseph Pathway, without having to cross over busy streets like Coliseum Blvd. or St. Joe Center Road. I've planned my route on the map at the end of the post.

I scouted the beginning of my run yesterday morning to see if I could actually get from Shoaff to Johnny Appleseed Park safely.  I began that run from Concordia Theological Seminary (review coming soon), but that won't really change my strategy for getting downtown from Shoaff.

After exiting Shoaff, I'll connect to Hefner Fields/IPFW/The Plex by crossing under St. Joe Center Road along the river via this new-ish looking footpath:

And I'll make sure to stop and soak in glance at this pretty view of the river as I run by.  Honestly, I'm happy that the city is finally starting to showcase its rivers and other natural beauty.

From there, I'll head west for just a bit and turn off onto the path leading to The Plex (which connects to IPFW further south).  Remember, I'm trying to get to the Greenway via Johnny Appleseed Park, so I'll be happy to see this:

However, on my run yesterday that was the last sign I saw for Johnny Appleseed Park and I never actually got across Coliseum.  Anyway, I'll run down the flat, gravel path through The Plex and Heffner Fields.  This was the nicest stretch of my scouting run - it's flat, not very windy, and has finely crushed gravel (after a small rough stretch at the North end).  I was surprised nobody had created a Strava segment for this, so I created one going in both directions (just barely shorter than 1 mile).

I'll cross over California and continue on the path before turning left toward the pedestrian bridge over St. Joe River onto IPFW's main campus:

This is where I failed the first time to do my homework. I was certain that I would cross Coliseum from California Road.  When California came to a dead end with no visible paths, I gave up and turned back around.  This time, I'll know that I need to head South after crossing the pedestrian bridge.  

I'll cross Coliseum just West of Anthony Blvd. and then backtrack (over the river, again) and then head South along Baals Drive.  That will take me to the Greenway near Parnell Avenue.  If I follow it, I can get all the way to Headwaters park and see the Old Fort as well as the confluence of the three rivers.  It'll be just over 6 miles each way - which is perfect for my scheduled long run of 12 miles.

I'm hoping headwaters park has a drinking fountain somewhere, and maybe a public bathroom.

It should be a good long run.  I'll try to lug my phone around and get some good pictures along the way.  I should be able to post a review of the full St. Joseph Pathway sometime next week.

[Review] Metea County Park

Metea Park is located near Leo-Cedarville and is a surprisingly good option for a short and challenging  3-5 mile run.  The trails are wide, well-maintained, and offer a great break from running on the pavement.  The wooded sections give you some relief from the hot summer sun, and the mature environment basically made wind a non-factor.  You can bring your dog with you, and there's plenty for the family to do.  I couldn't recommend Metea for anything longer than 5-6 miles without getting repetitve, but I will definitely put Metea on my regular rotation of running spots for short recovery runs or for challenging tempo runs.

Cost (4/5)

$2 per vehicle for a visit.  Annual family passes are $30.  Can't get much cheaper than that.

Facilities (4/5)

There is a small parking lot near the entrance and a larger one near the Nature Center.  The nature center is open during normal business hours and has a restroom (and it has AC if you need to cool off in the summer).

Distance (5/10)

I used to run through Metea a lot in my High School days and was legitimately concerned that it would be difficult to finish a 3 mile run here, but I was surprised.  I covered most of the trails in the park and ran approximately 3.5 miles on this review, which was perfect for my scheduled short run.  I tend to hate running laps on a long run, but the scenery and terrain are nice enough that I could envision myself running 2-3 laps around the park without getting too bored.  I also wasn't very familiar with the trail system and may have missed some, as the park's website boasts 5 miles of trails. I might revisit this portion of the review after I run at Metea a few more times.

Surface (9/10)

The surface was fantastic and none of it was paved!  Most of the trails, except for a few stretches deeper in the woods, are more than wide enough for a solo run and would be good for a small group run as well.  The wooded parts are mostly dirt, with a few bridges and boardwalks peppered throughout.  Outside of the woods, the trail takes you through long grass meadows that are regularly mowed.  The park road running from the entrance back to the Nature Center is gravel, which provides a little extra (unpaved) running distance if you need it.

Terrain (7/10)

For such a small area, you get a lot of variability in terrain.  I docked some points here because there are no extended climbs that will work for hill repeats, but the park is full of small rolling hills that can really add up to a challenging tempo run.  You're always going up or down and following the twists and turns of Cedar Creek - you won't get bored.

Scenery (4/5)

You get a lot here as well.  Wooded trails, views of Cedar Creek, swampy marshland, old oak trees, wild meadows, a small lake, and foot bridges.  I came upon a couple of wild turkeys, but they ducked into the woods before I could get my phone out for a photo.  I'm certain you'd see plenty of deer if you come here a lot (though I didn't this time).  If you need to take a break along the wooded trail, there are a few scenic turnoffs and overlooks with cool views of Cedar Creek.  I found this hiking video review on YouTube that shows off a little more of the park's natural beauty.

Cover (4/5)

Aside from the open meadow area of the park, Metea has great cover from the wind and the sun.  The wooded trails felt nice and cool on a really hot day.

Traffic (10/10)

There are wide trails, no street traffic to deal with, and only a handful of other people were at the park when I ran through.

Markers (1/3)

There are trail markers for some of the park's older wooded trails.  Some of the park's newer wooded trails and the meadow/grassy trails aren't well marked at all.  The park map at the main entrance, along with the map posted on the website are woefully outdated - they don't even show or mention any of the meadow trails.  I searched the park website and couldn't find a map, but found an incomplete map after a google search and added it below (it was inside a boy scouts PDF and I can't figure out how to link it properly).  I'll try to pick one up at the Nature Center the next time I run at Metea.  All that said, there's no real danger of getting lost since the park isn't really that large.

Connections (0/3)

The park is entirely self contained and does not connect to any externa trails or sidewalks.  I can see that the park now has a northern section that is only accessible from Hursh Road which has some trails of its own, but it is cut off from the original park area by Cedar Creek. I might update the review after I get a chance to run this northern section.  If a bridge eventually connects the two areas of the park, it could be my go-to place for runs of 5-8 miles.

Safety (4/5)

Really nothing to worry about here.  The park is staffed and well-maintained.

Family (4/5)

Jogging strollers and bikes aren't really an option here, but there is plenty for the kids to do here.  Take turns running versus walking the trails with the kids or taking a dip in the swimming pond.  There's a playground that looks safe, but has probably seen better days.  There are some educational programs and maybe some day camps for kids in the summer.  Cedarville Park has a fantastic playground and is just down the road if your family needs something more.

Extras (4/5)

In addition to the nature center, swimming pond, and educational programming, visitors are welcome to bring their dogs (if kept on a leash).  So, Metea is a perfect place for you to have company on your run and also get some exercise for your dog.

There aren't any Strava segments (at least not until I make a few) for the park for me to highlight.

Metea County Park Run Review Score:

73% Great for a short and challenging run through wooded trails. 

[Review] Parkview North Campus

This route features a system of paved trails (just sidewalks, really) that run through and around the Parkview Regional Medical Center campus.  Aside from some very small hills, the trail system offers no challenging segments to speak of.  Due to its proximity to the interstate, relatively heavy street traffic and its location inside a corporate campus, it is difficult to get settled into a comfortable running groove.  Complete lack of cover from the elements make for heavy winds and oppressive heat (in the summer).  The outstanding family playground, pavilion, pond, and shorter walking trails make this a great option for exercise with your family (or while your family plays).  This trail is perfectly fine for runs of 3-4 miles or less, but I can't recommend it for anything longer or for serious workouts or tempo runs.

Cost (5/5)

Everything here is free.  The Family Park website says it's open from dawn until dusk.

Facilities (4/5)

The Family Park has a nice pavilion with bathrooms, picnic tables, and plenty of parking spaces.  There are some weird traffic patterns in and around the campus that can make it difficult to get in/out of the park.

Distance (4/10)

At the time of this review, there are five marked trails ranging in distance from 0.5 miles up to 3.4 miles.  As the campus is still under development, there have been some recent additions (perhaps a mile in length) to the trail system along the western side of the campus.  I went out for a 7 mile run, so I had to run over some stretches of the trails a few times and started to get a little bored.  In the future, I'll probably stick to runs of no more than 3-4 miles on this route.   This might change in the future as more trails are built or connections are made to the larger Fort Wayne trails system.

Surface (3.5/10)

The entire trail system is blacktop or cement, a little bit wider than your typical suburban neighborhood sidewalk.  There is one small stretch (maybe 1/4 mile) where you have to run on the shoulder of Diebold road.  The gold standard for me is finely crushed gravel trails or dirt trails, so a cement trail will never score very high on my reviews.  The trails are, however clean and free from debris.

Terrain (5/10)

There is very little variance in the terrain here.  I ran almost 7 miles and Strava says my elevation gain (vertical feet I climbed while running) was just 71 feet. Aside from a few very small hills and some very low-incline stretches the whole system is just sidewalks winding around the campus full of medical buildings and corporate offices.  There isn't a single place on the trail that would work well for a workout of hill repeats (though there is a decent man-made hill in the meadow next to the playground).  I also couldn't recommend this trail network for a tempo run or repeats of any distance beyond 200 or 300 meters because it crosses roads and parking lot entrances quite frequently (probably 20-25 times during my run today).

Scenery (2/5)

Not much to speak of here.  There are always a few medical buildings within eyesight and even more power lines.  Ugh.  One of the newly paved stretches along the west side of the campus places you within 15 yards of the interstate, which was both ugly and also so noisy that I couldn't hear my podcast.

Power lines. Everywhere.

Maybe too close to the interstate?

Despite the views that seem straight out of the movie "Office Space," the Family Park with its nearby pond, giant man-made hill, and bridge are nice.  There are some nice gazebos and sitting areas as well.

Cover (1/5)

As you can see from the pictures, the campus has very few mature trees to stop the wind from whipping through and to offer shade on hot summer days.  I made the mistake of running here during the early afternoon on a hot and windy day.  The heat, crazy wind, and complete lack of shade made this run less and less enjoyable as the run went along. 

Traffic (6/10)

Traffic on the trails was minimal.  There were a few lunchtime walkers and a couple other joggers.  It gets more crowded later in the afternoon and evening when families come to visit the Family Park.  I think the signage prohibits biking on the trails, but I see kids riding bikes around the park & pond area quite a bit (no big deal).

Street traffic is a little bit of a nuisance if you don't like your longer runs to get interrupted.  I counted probably 20-25 times crossing over streets or parking lot entrances on this run, and I had to completely stop for traffic at least 4 times.  This was a common thing on the trail:

The trail crosses over a bunch of roads and parking lot entrances.  I had to stop running a few times for traffic.

Markers (2/3)

There is a trail map with a legend for 5 trail distances at the entrance to the family park.  These trails are pretty clearly marked throughout the system.  However, there are some newer stretches of the trail that aren't part of this map and have no trail markers.  Perhaps these new paths aren't meant to be part of the trail system, or maybe they'll be added to the map when they're complete.

Additionally, there is one stretch running along Diebold where the sidewalk simply ends and it puts you out onto the shoulder of the street.  There's even one point where the shoulder abruptly disappears.  This, along with all of the street crossings might disqualify the longest path (orange) for those of you with jogging strollers.

Family (5/5)

Despite what this trail lacks in other areas, it is fantastic for those of you who need to get a workout with children in tow.  My wife and I sometimes bring our kids to the park and take turns running while the other stays back at the playground or takes the kids to the hill or pond.  The sidewalks are great if you have a jogging stroller or kids on bikes/scooters and want a quick 2-3 mile run.  This is one of the better playgrounds in the area, with equipment appropriate for children at all stages of development.  My kids love this place. 

Connections (2/3)

The trails here have already built a number of connections to external trails or sidewalk systems.  On the south end of the campus, this just means a connection to Dupont road - which I would probably never venture onto for a run.  The north end of the campus along Union Chapel Road ultimately connects to nearby neighborhoods like Autumn Ridge or Pine Valley to the West, and has a ready-made connection to whatever develops to the East.

If you are beginning a long run from a nearby neighborhood, you'll have to cross over the interstate, which includes one of those crazy roundabout on ramps.  You have to cross over four on ramps altogether each time you cross the interstate - not ideal.  I decided to give it a try and almost caused an accident when a motorist stopped to let me pass.  I have heard rumors that there will be a pedestrian tunnel or bridge built somewhere to make crossing I-69 safer.

You can connect to this trail from nearby neighborhoods, but you have to deal with this a few times.

Safety (4/5)

I can't think of any areas on this system that present a personal safety concern.  Since the hospital is always open, there are always people around and you'll see hospital security guards driving or roaming around from time to time.  There are no areas of the trail that take you to secluded areas or out of sight.

The only safety concerns have to do with the number of street crossings the trail takes you over (as I have described in other areas of the review).

Extras (4/5)

In addition to the fantastic family playground, the park also has an adult fitness equipment area with some permanent outdoor weatherproof exercise equipment.  The campus is in a good, central location for anybody that lives on the northwest side of town.

Parkview North Campus Run Review Score:

59%  Not so great for the serious runner.

[Review] Devil's Hollow - Cedar Canyons Rd | Griffin Rd | Chapman Rd

This is one of my favorite places to run because of its challenging hills, long stretches of unpaved roads and trails, low street traffic, and its beautiful scenery. You can plan a great hilly workout or long run of almost any distance while soaking in some of Allen County's natural beauty in peace and quiet. [Note 6/14/2016: Pictures to come soon].

Great For:

Long Runs, Hill Runs, Hill Repeats

Not Great For:

Jogging strollers, tempo runs (I prefer a flat surface for those)

Cost (5/5)

Everything here is free. Parking at the ACRES Office (Dustin preserve) is closed after hours. There is a small parking turnoff a little bit West off of Chapman Road with access to the trails.

Distance (10/10)

Any. I have done runs of up to 15 miles in this area, but typically between 5-8 miles. You can stick to the roads, or cool off in the shade or take a bathroom break at the two Land Trust preserves accessible from Chapman/Schoaff Road.

Surface (7.5/10)

Gravel Road, Paved Road, Wooded Trails (optional). If you just stick to Griffin road, you can run almost entirely on gravel. The rest of the roads are paved, but the roadsides have small gravel sections that are wide enough to run on comfortably. The two wooded preserves have dirt trails, but if you don't like bugs you'll need to keep moving in the summer or wear some bug spray! This would get a higher score if more of the roads were full gravel instead of pushing you to the roadside to get away from the pavement.

Terrain (10/10)

This area offers everything you need for an interesting and challenging run. Flat stretches, winding wooded paths, steep hills, rolling hills, extended climbs, wooded trails, etc. You'll never get bored here and you can chart all kinds of different routes to keep it interesting.

Scenery (5/5)

This is one of the more beautiful and hilly areas I've seen in Allen County and it makes for a very peaceful and enjoyable run. You'll run down heavily wooded country roads that open into old farmlands and secluded properties.

Parking

I live nearby, so I don't have to worry about parking. However, there's parking at the Bicentennial Woods Preserve and the Dustin Preserve detailed at the end of this post. I have also seen cars parked off of Griffin Road, just north of Auburn Road.

Traffic (7.5/10)

I rarely see other runners, walkers, or bikers. Street traffic is extremely light (maybe 3-4 cars per run).

Cover (3.5/5)

If you run at the right time and along the right route, you can avoid the summer sun for most of your run. In the summer, I like to run early in the morning so that I can take advantage of the long shade cover from the roadside trees and bushes along most of the route. Cedar Canyons and the southern end of Griffin offer good shade cover, as well as most of Chapman/Schoaff Road between Bicentennial Woods and the Dustin Preserve. There are some stretches on Griffin road where the sun can't be avoided. Auburn Road, the eastern end of Chapman, and the northern end of Griffin are mostly farmland and don't have much shade and can get pretty windy. Obviously, the preserves offer a ton of great shade and wind cover.

Markers (0.5/3)

Obviously, road routes won't have any trail markers. The preserve trails aren't very well marked either, so your first couple of times running or hiking them might seem a little chaotic. However, the trails aren't that long or complex, so you shouldn't worry about getting lost.

Family (2.5/5)

This isn't the best area to run with your family or a jogging stroller, since it's mostly country roads. As I mention in other reviews, if there's a nearby attraction (playground or hiking trail) my wife and I sometimes bring our kids along and take turns running versus staying with the kids. Our kids love the Bicentennial Woods trail, which has an easy hike to a scenic bridge overlooking Cedar Creek. The creek is very shallow and the water runs slowly - so the kids can wear their water sandals and have fun throwing rocks and splashing!

Connections (1/3)

This route gets one point for connecting to the ACRES preserves. Other than that, there aren't any nearby trail systems right now and I'm not aware of any slated for future development.

Safety (3/5)

I usually run by myself and have never seen or experienced anything unsafe or threatening in this area. It is very low-traffic except for crossing over Coldwater Road or a small stretch on Auburn Road. I typically only have 3-4 cars pass by me on any given run. The trails can by very secluded, so use common sense if you feel uncomfortable going anywhere by yourself.

Extras and Intangibles (5/5)

If you can't already tell, I love the scenery and challenging, variable terrain of this area. You won't find a more interesting area to run in the immediate Fort Wayne area. If you know of one, please (PLEASE!) let me know in the comments. There are some fantastic hill segments to try out on Strava (described below) and the ACRES preserves are a real underutilized gem.

Devil's Hollow Run Review Score:

80% Really great area to run. Just needs more gravel roads and/or off-road trails.

Notable Segments

The Hill

This roughly half-mile stretch of gravel road on Griffin Rd. between Hollopeter and Chapman Rd is basically one big valley that offers one of the most challenging uphill stretches in the area. The hill is no joke - you'll climb about 60 feet and reach an incline of more than 15%. I found this segment on Strava and its name is fitting. This is a great place to do hill repeats and has very little car traffic.

Cedar Canyons Hill

This is really a beautiful and peaceful stretch of windy, wooded road. On early morning runs, I'll sometimes pass by a family of deer in the marshy woods on the north side of the road. The other side has some dramatic creek hillsides. The hilly part of this segment is also quite a challenge - you'll climb 50 feet and reach an incline of 10%. I wouldn't recommend this for hill repeats, as the hill has several twists and turns that make it difficult to see and hear car traffic. However, as part of a long, hilly run or workout I always hit this segment.

Griffin Road

This is my favorite place to do hill repeats. It has a long, challenging hill on gravel road with almost no car traffic. The main climb takes you up 55 feet and the incline is about 13% at its steepest point, and the entire segment gives you a climb of nearly 70 feet from its lowest point. It's another beautiful wooded stretch that opens up into some old farm properties. You can park at the end of Griffin Road, where it meets Auburn Road.

Other Highlights

ACRES Land Trust (Dustin Preserve) - Entrance is on Chapman Road between Coldwater and Griffin Rd. The preserve guide says 1.8 miles of wooded trails. The entry to the preserve itself is about 1/4 mile of nice gravel road with free parking. There's a visitor center, which I think has a bathroom.

Bicentennial Woods Nature Preserve - Entrance is on Shoaff Road just West of Coldwater Road and has a few free parking spots. The preserve guide says that this preserve offers 2.6 miles of hiking trails to run on.

Introduction

I've been running in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area off and on for nearly 25 years and have always been surprised at the lack of great (preferably unpaved) running routes.  I'm equally surprised at the lack of resources available to the public about the running routes and trails that we do have.

To fill that void, I'll be documenting my running experiences and reviewing area routes.  For each route, I'll do my best to provide pictures of the primary running surface along with other pertinent information (location, parking, distance, terrain, difficulty, crowdedness, points of interest, etc.).

I live in Northwest Allen County and grew up in the Northeast side, so I tend to run there more often.  I'm looking forward to trying some routes on the south side and in some of the county/state parks around the region.  If you have suggestions, just leave me a comment.

My runs are usually no shorter than 3 miles and may stretch out close to 20 miles as I train for the inaugural Fort4Fitness Fall Festival Marathon.  So, I probably won't be reviewing any routes less than 1.5-2 miles in length (I hate doing laps).