As today's Fit column notes, it's almost possible to take the greenway from Lake Johnson in west Raleigh to Worthdale park in the southeast section of the city. Almost.
With a little direction and a dalliance or two with streets, you can make the 13.2-mile trek with little problem. Here's how:
Start — Lake Johnson boathouse. From here you can go either across the lake on the pedestrian bridge or follow the greenway along the near shoreline. The near shoreline is flat, but more crowded. We'll go over the bridge and follow the greenway along the slightly longer and considerably hillier south side.
2.4 mi. — Just before spillway, go right on greenway spur.
3.3 —Cross Gorman Street.
3.6 — Greenway T's into Trailwood Road. Go left on road.
3.7 — R on Avent Ferry Road. Caution: Busy road, lots of iffy drivers. There is a sidewalk; if you take it, beware of driveways crossing your path and cars pulling out.
4.5 —R on Varsity Drive (into Centennial Campus).
4.7 — L on Main Campus Drive
5.0 — L on Oval Drive
5.01 — R on Centennial Parkway. Take either the road (there's a bike lane) or the greenway that runs alongside.
6.6 — If on the parallel greenway, go right on Centennial.
6.7 — Cross Lake Wheeler Road. Pick up greenway on far side of gas station. (Note: this is a new stretch of greenway, a classic escape in the midst of an urban area.)
6.8 — Trail Ts. Go left. (Go right and you'll shortly reach a deadend where the greenway eventually will pass under Lake Wheeler Road and connect with the Centennial Campus greenway.)
7.9 — Cross under South Saunders Street.
8.3 — Greenway ends, T'ing into a dirt path. Go right for a short stretch to Eliza Pool Park. Cross the park by heading up the small bank and going right on the paved path to Fayetteville Street. Go right on Fayetteville.
9.0 — Cross Wilmington Street. Despite being five lanes, it's rarely busy. Connect here with greenway opened earlier in the year. From here the greenway runs continuously to Worthdale Park. Pretty much (read on).
12.2 — Greenway runs into Little John. Follow Little John to ... .
13.0 — Worthdale Park.
Comments
What to do at Little John Rd?
Mon, 08/04/2008 - 07:39 — Crash Eddy (OMV) (not verified)Hey, Joe, since you as moderator can fix things, this link http://bit.ly/m2BJy works instead of the failed TinyURL in my first comment. You could fix this and delete my second comment. No need to post this comment. Thanks.
Fixes
Mon, 08/04/2008 - 00:29 — JoeMiller (author)Thanks, Crash. Fayetteville Road is now Fayetteville Street.
Fayetteville Street vs. Road
Sun, 08/03/2008 - 08:01 — Crash Eddy (OMV) (not verified)Oops, shoulda commented on this yesterday. At your segment "8.3 — ... going right on the paved path to Fayetteville Road." That should be Fayetteville Street, not Road. These two are distinct and don't connect to one another.
What to do at Little John Rd?
Sat, 08/02/2008 - 15:01 — Crash Eddy (OMV) (not verified)The TinyURL in my previous comment seems not to resolve. Here's the GM URL:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Cooper+Rd+%4035.763730,+-78.587540&daddr=35.763508,-78.591084+to:Donald+Ross+Dr+%4035.782114,+-78.592284+to:Milburnie+Rd+%4035.789174,+-78.589309&hl=en&geocode=613259668837731788,35.763730,-78.587540%3B11551237077898094531,35.782114,-78.592284%3B14496304379890279280,35.789174,-78.589309&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&via=1,2&sll=35.767582,-78.590827&sspn=0.022355,0.033774&ie=UTF8&ll=35.773501,-78.58911&spn=0.044707,0.067549&z=14
What to do at Little John Rd?
Sat, 08/02/2008 - 14:42 — Crash Eddy (OMV) (not verified)Here's the connector ridebud Rich G. and I took today, Aug 2: http://tinyurl.com/6nz79r
We rode the Crabtree Creek greenway a week ago so didn't want to repeat today but, to complete your circuit into a loop back to Lake Johnson:
continue greenways NW across Raleigh to Crabtree Mall
ascend either Blue Ridge Rd or Edwards Mill Rd
S on Blue Ridge Rd to NCMA
greenway across pedestrian bridge to Meridith College
S on Gorman
SW on Avent Ferry to Lake Johnson.
Don't have mileages. Rich and I will ride it to get you a fix when we can.
Mucky tunnels
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 17:51 — JoeMiller (author)That's a big problem. The day I rode under South Saunders it was in OK shape, but the one under the railroad trestle has been a mess since it opened. (Lighting is an issue as well, especially if you fly into the tunnels wearing sunglasses.) The city knows it's a problem, though it seems like the type of problem that should be a high priority; it's pretty easy to lose your footing/have your bike slip out from under you.
Tunnels
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 09:59 — Mike Cinoman (not verified)I would add a couple of comments to this route which I have run on a number of occasions. There are two tunnels along this route - one under South Saunders Street as noted and one very long one under the railroad after you cross Wilmington.
Both of these tunnels have NOT been fixed to drain properly. They are both typically (usually) filled with very thick mud. I can not run through either tunnel without getting my shoes totally caked in mud and I can not imagine that you could bike through without mountain bike tires (and then do so with caution cause you can't see the mud in the long tunnel - it is too dark).
I do not know if the city plans to repair these problems, but they are almost unusable for runners/walkers right now.
Mike Cinoman
Link to Greenways
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 08:35 — Anonymous (not verified)http://www.raleigh-nc.org/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_306_209_0_43/http;/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Leisure/Parks_and_Facilities/Greenway_Trails/Cat-Index.html
Greenway Conditions / Reports
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 08:35 — Anonymous (not verified)This link is for the City of Raleigh greenway info. As it says in the write-up: "If you see something needing repair or correction, please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 919-872-4115". Might be helpful to call and report the conditions you describe and maybe see a positive response. Happy running....