The singletrack trails at Southwoods Park were too muddy to walk today. Simply crossed the street and walked the paved trail around the pond between city hall and the library.
Join us for a walk at 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 begin the outer loop. If the creek is low enough to make the crossing, we will explore the new trail to the south. If the water is too high, we will continue around the established loop. Either way, we will walk outer and inner loops until we hit 1.5–2 miles. We will walk slowly, think “stroll,” and no one will be left behind. If the dirt is muddy, we will walk on the paved trails instead.
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.
A few times a month 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!
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Learn more about Southwoods Park from West Des Moines Parks & Recreation.
