This longest of the Knightdale routes, this one is best done on a Sunday morning – or whenever traffic is light. About 28 miles of the ride are on the greenway, but a stretch of the Auburn-Knightdale Rd. has a 55 mph speed limit, and the road isn’t really wide enough for passing dump trucks… Continue reading Knightdale Loop Stretched South 45.1 miles
Author: Craig Brown
Expanded Knightdale loop 39.6 miles
This double loop route crosses the Neuse River twice, using the Milburnie Dam bridge, and the Mingo Creek Trail bridges. The Milburnie Dam bridge, leads to Old Milburnie Rd and Forestville Rd to make the trip into downtown Knightdale via roads. Mingo Creek Trail and its bridge follow a flatter, and more secluded route back… Continue reading Expanded Knightdale loop 39.6 miles
Over the water and through the woods 36.8 miles
There are a few ways to link the Raleigh and Cary greenway systems and this loop route uses two of those. Umstead Park is the largest and most peaceful ‘connector,’ but has packed gravel roads that some may not like. The Dynasty/Electra link is a route that uses mostly neighborhood roads and greenways. There are… Continue reading Over the water and through the woods 36.8 miles
Garner Road to Neuse River Trail 35.3 miles
This is a good ride for a Sunday morning, when traffic on Garner Rd. is light, though it is a popular ride for cyclists and drivers are generally courteous. Once the route reaches Auburn Knightdale Rd., there are many options to extend, and even curtail this route. A three + mile tail at the bottom… Continue reading Garner Road to Neuse River Trail 35.3 miles
Downtown Loop 8.6 miles
This route follows the Walnut Creek and Little Rock trails to travel between Dix Park and the John Winters Park. The route turns on Hargett to get up into Boylan Heights, and back to Dix. Between the busses, the lights, and the traffic, Hargett has an urban feel, but traffic can’t build much speed, so… Continue reading Downtown Loop 8.6 miles
Into the Woods 26 miles
Greenways, the serenity of Umstead Park, and some road riding, this route has variety. Most riders use wide handlebars and knobby tires in Umstead, but a cross bike provides plenty of stability for the packed gravel roads. Dix Park, the Art Museum Park, and Umstead Park are all linked in this whacky looking figure eight… Continue reading Into the Woods 26 miles
Dix Park – Centennial Campus Loop 7 miles
This route is remarkably secluded for being so close to the center of town. Going east from Dix Park the route passes through the Washington Elementary tunnel and by Mt. Hope Cemetery. The Walnut Creek and the Rocky Branch trails are linked by Fayetteville St. to the east, and Varsity Greenway to the west. Much… Continue reading Dix Park – Centennial Campus Loop 7 miles
Up and Over 48.1 miles
Up and Over is one of the longest routes in this collection, and mostly follows greenway trails. The route shows one way to cross over from the Honeycutt Trail to the Neuse River Trail. Two other options for the cross are also broken out and shown separately. From Dix Park, the ‘up’ part of this… Continue reading Up and Over 48.1 miles
Donald Ross Dr. crossover 17.4 miles
If you don’t have time to go all the way out to the Neuse River Trail, you can crop your loop by using side streets, such as Donald Ross Drive, to link the Walnut Creek Trail to the Crabtree Creek Trail. Before this route leaves the greenway in the Worthdale neighborhood, it covers some of… Continue reading Donald Ross Dr. crossover 17.4 miles
Five Parks Loop 17.3 miles
The majority of the route is via greenways. The route crosses through the Art Museum Park, but all the rest are edged. This route uses two on my favorite beltline crossings, the Reedy Creek Pedestrian bridge, and the Ligon tunnel. From Dix Park, the route follows the Walnut Creek Trail by the north edge of… Continue reading Five Parks Loop 17.3 miles