Pieces of longer routes are cobbled together here with parts of others to outline an interesting loop turning at Umstead Park. There are lots of possible variants, such as taking Walnut Creek Greenway out to Lake Johnson, or entering Umstead and exploring the many trails for even more variety. This route follows side streets for… Continue reading Pieces Parts 18.9 miles
Category: Routes 0 -20 miles
Gemini 13.6
This is about pairs. Both routes use beltline crossings at Trailwood Rd. and State St. that are safer alternatives to big streets such as Hammond, Wilmington, Gorman, and Garner. The feel of the ride around South Saunders and Hammond isn’t exactly what we look for in peaceful greenway rides, but the light industrial section only… Continue reading Gemini 13.6
Howling Cow Ice Cream Run 12.4 miles
Just south of town, a parallel universe with huge agricultural fields traversed by dirt roads awaits the adventurous cyclist. This scenic ride has the feel of rural farmland even though it is only 4 miles from the center of Raleigh. The route turns at Lake Wheeler Rd., just a stone’s throw from the Howling Cow… Continue reading Howling Cow Ice Cream Run 12.4 miles
Magic Kingdom Loop 17.9
Realtors call the area inside the Raleigh beltline the ‘Magic Kingdom.’ Ride this route, which generally traces the beltline perimeter on the greenways, and judge for yourself. The longest road segment of this route is the link between the Crabtree Creek Trail, and the Rocky Branch Trail near Dix Park. Raleigh Blvd has a nice… Continue reading Magic Kingdom Loop 17.9
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
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
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