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Shunga Creek Paved Trail
3 reviews
2.67 of 5
The paved Shunga Trail meanders basically along side the Shunga Creek. It is a easy and pleasant ride. Watch for rollerbladers, oldsters strolling, bikers and everybody in between. It runs east west and with tunnels under all the major streets. The east end terminates in the Kansas ExpoCenter grounds at an antique Santa Fe steam locomotive. The west end termionates at Fairlawn Av. Just a nice no hassle ride through mostly park.
To get to the west end Exit I470 at Fairlawn and head north. Drive a couple blocks past 29th Street, over the Shunga Creek bridge and find a place to park. To start at the east end get off I 470 and go east to the Kansas Expo Center parking lot. It starts at the locomotive.
Summary: They should re-name this trail Shunga Sidewalk...that's pretty much it in a nutshell. It's a double-wide sidewalk that runs from Fairlawn to just past Topeka Blvd. (around 5 mi. I think) Lots of decent scenery for the city. Lots of people to ride up on and talk to. Very friendly riders and walkers with the occasional bird-brain who thinks he's all that. Not too many hills to speak of, and zero auto traffic to contend with. All of the street crossings occur under the street.
That said, I really do love this trail when it has been rainy and too muddy to ride the off road trails in Topeka. It is fairly winding and runs right past the BMX track (which has improved 100% this year), a short singletrack trail with some BMX trail jumps, and a concrete bike/skatepark. What could be better in an urban setting?
It is a good trail to warm up, get some variety, ie...BMX, beginner singletrack, and urban jump park...ummm...er...stuff, and then cool down with the wind in ya hair.
I love to ride it FAST! I tried to average 20-25mph on my MTB a couple years ago. Hey...there's nothing wrong with fast, do you hear me? If you come up on a slow rider or a pedestrian, you'd better be the first to hop off the trail though, common courteousy aight?! This trail was made for a leisurely jaunt 10 miles out and back'ish.
It blows me away to see other riders that want to ride fast on their mountain bikes...but they always come up on ped's or pokey riders and get upset that they have to slow down for the congestion to clear or wait until it's clear on the left to pass. That whole "on your left" rubbish gets my goat. YOU JUST BOUGHT A $2000 MOUNTAIN BIKE...pass in the grass!!!! That's what a MTB is for, right?
I'm not a stick in the mud. I take my wife and daughter out on this little sidewalk now and then and I have no problem watching someone with decent skills rocket up on my wife and daughter's hiney at 25mph as long as they hit the grass and be courteous when they get there. Heck I do it all the time.
I used to ride this trail daily when I lived across the street from it. It was my bread and buttah for getting from my house to work.
Zero technical
Zero challenge
Still fun
Recommended Route: Start at Fairlawn and go East...or start beyond Topeka Blvd and go West.
It really desn't matter...just try to go fast and handle your bike responsibly, YEEEHAWWWW! (no I'm not a teenager)
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Review Date September 24, 2002
Overall Rating 3 of 5
Ridden Trail: Please Select
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
1 votes
Reviewed by: Dave
, from Wamego, KS
Summary: This is a great trail from beginning to end, but it's not among the widest urban trails. It's technically easy, and it's pretty easy to get up speed on the gentle downhills. Watch out for pedestrians and slower riders. The scenery along the creek is beautiful, especially in the fall because of the water-loving, deciduous trees on both sides of the trail. This is a great trail for beginning MTB riders, but if you're on a road bike and you want to ride fast, please slow it down or take your speed-machine out on the road where it belongs. This is a great family biking trail for leisurely rides, but fast, hard-training riders need to let walkers, joggers, runners and slower riders have this trail.
Recommended Route: Pick a spot. Ride the entire route if you want a long ride, or do an out and back, starting and ending at any point along the trail.
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Review Date June 26, 1999
Overall Rating 2 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
1 votes
Reviewed by: Brandon Helm
, from KC
Summary: This trail is fir those just wanting to go on a leisurly ride without working up too much of a sweat. The trail is paved and is pretty wide for travelers in both difrections. It has some curves and turns and is a nice ride past some ballfields and wooded areas. There is nothing techical about this trail and for most would be prett boring. If you're a beginner and not comfortable with your bike this trail is for you. Ride it a few times and then move to some more difficult rides.
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2.67 of 5
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