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