Because it was so cold, we were able to hike on the frozen dirt trails. The sun softened things up rapidly however, and we finished with a paved loop at the top of the hill. The views were beautiful, and there was an enticing trail we did not get to explore because the creek crossing was a little too deep today. I hope you come next time!
Join us for a walk at a new location: Southwoods Park! This hidden gem of a park is just off 35th Street, south of Mills Civic Parkway, in West Des Moines. Meet by 10:00 a.m. in the disc golf course parking lot.
We will walk from the lot, up the paved trail to the singletrack and make one trip around the outer loop. I don’t have an exact distance, but expect this to total a little over one mile. We will walk slowly, think “stroll,” and no one will be left behind. Anyone who wants to stay and explore additional laps is welcome to join me.
Southwoods Park is hilly. The trails here are relatively clear, compared to other local dirt trails that are punctuated with with roots and rocks. Hiking poles are useful, but not a necessity. If the dirt is muddy, we will walk on the paved trails instead.
Every week or so I lead a group walk on a different trail.
My goals for this series are to help people looking for a simple way to become more active, and to increase appreciation of our local soft trails.
What is a soft trail? Simply, it is an unpaved trail. Its surface may be dirt, grass, or crushed rock/gravel. I am an avid mountain biker and know all these trails very well. I can guarantee that no one will get lost!
Our meetup spot is the Southwoods Park parking lot. The entrance to the park is on 35th Street just south of Mills Civic Parkway. GPS navigation apps are fairly reliable if you tell them to find “350 South 35th Street, West Des Moines, IA, 50265.”
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Learn more about Southwoods Park from West Des Moines Parks & Recreation.
