I am looking into colleges and was hoping to get some inside info on what colleges have the best trails to run on and college teams that actually use them frequently. At the moment I do just about all my running on trails and have oppurtunities to do 10-15 mile runs without hardly touching roads. I would like to have something similar to run on in college. Thanks for your input.
NAU - Flagstaff has great trails. See NATRA website (local trail club). They also have a very good distance program.
Sewanee is Div 3. They have over 10,000 acres and more trails than you'd want. Of course, you'd have to run D3.
kf589 wrote:
Sewanee is Div 3. They have over 10,000 acres and more trails than you'd want. Of course, you'd have to run D3.
CU they have far and away the best trails...no one can compare
I've been to Sewanee before and I'd have to agree. It sits atop of a mountain with endless trails. It is in the middle of no where but if you like that sort of thing I guess you'd be all right. Oh and its like 35k+ a year in tuition so not practical for all people.
Other colleges with 20+ miles in trail systems within a short to no commute at all.
Southern Illinois (D1)
Indiana University (D1)
Appalachian State (D1)
UNC-Ashville (D1)
Duke University (D1)
UT-Chattanooga (D1)
UA-Huntsville (D2)
(Birmingham Area School; Samford, UAB) (D1)
I live in the Southeast so that is why I am only knowlegable about SE area colleges with great trails nearby. Good luck!
CU is overrated - if you like steep rocky trails then CU is great, even Wetmore has commented on how crappy the trails really are and has mentioned that he would prefer flatter, dirt trails.
James Carbone wrote:
kf589 wrote:Sewanee is Div 3. They have over 10,000 acres and more trails than you'd want. Of course, you'd have to run D3.
CU they have far and away the best trails...no one can compare
trailman56 wrote:
Duke University (D1)
I'm currently thinking about Duke for grad school. Which trails do you mean? I saw the Eno Park but that's 5 or 6 miles from campus. Are there any trails closer by? Thanks a lot.
Weber State
Utah State
thats a thought wrote:
trailman56 wrote:Duke University (D1)
I'm currently thinking about Duke for grad school. Which trails do you mean? I saw the Eno Park but that's 5 or 6 miles from campus. Are there any trails closer by? Thanks a lot.
Duke Forest
Yeah, as a grad student you can live in the Forest Apartments, where you can literally run out your door and onto the Duke Forest trails. Those trails lead to the Buehler trail/fit loop as well. The forest trails are a bit rough/rocky, while the Buehler trail is smoother, finer gravel (as is the loop around East campus and in the gardens). You will still have a mile or two of every run on the road if your run accesses multiple trails.
In the midwest it's hard to top Luther College in Decorah, IA. Yes, it's D3 but the ski trails and singletrack on campus and surrounding the town are top notch and there are endless hilly gravel roads to run.
Definitely Sewanee. Fantastic trails.
James Carbone wrote:
CU they have far and away the best trails...no one can compare
None of you have a clue. USC has the best trails by far.
Clemson has some nice trails, and lots of them.
Both Kansas in Lawrence and Kansas State in Manhattan are close to some trails. I can't speak as to how much (if any) the college teams run on the trails, but I've lived in both cities and would make the short drive out to the parks whenever I could. Your best bet might be KU.
Kansas State / Manhattan
Konza Prairie (hilly trail on the Kansas prairie) about 10 minutes south of town
Fancy Creek and Randolph State Parks (semi hilly trails in woods) about 15 minutes north of town
Linear Trail (crushed gravel trail through the city)
Kansas / Lawrence
Riverfront Trail (just north of downtown, 9 mile crushed gravel levee trail, also 8 mile flat wooded mountain bike trail)
Clinton Lake State Park (semi hilly trails in the woods) about 10 minutes west of town
If you are willing to drive further out (30 minutes or so), there's Perry State Park and Kill Creek Park with some more trails.
Penn State !! The Mountain Runs were a great part of the whole experience. The Switchbacks, Bear Meadows (with real bears) Harry's Valley Road (not named after Coach Groves though), Colyer Lake, the Pine Barrens (where I took my first run with Nike CEO Mark Parker and standout Alan Scharsu)...
Anybody heard of forest park. University of Portland is within 10-15 min running of it. Best trails out there.
Brevard anyone?
NAU definitely has the best trails. They are far better than Boulder and I think the variety and location make them better than Portland. The big drawback to Flagstaff and Boulder is the snow. For December through April I give it to Portland but Flagstaff tops the list the other part of the year or if they dont have snow covering the trails.
skwilli wrote:
Penn State !! The Mountain Runs were a great part of the whole experience. The Switchbacks, Bear Meadows (with real bears) Harry's Valley Road (not named after Coach Groves though), Colyer Lake, the Pine Barrens (where I took my first run with Nike CEO Mark Parker and standout Alan Scharsu)...
Yeah, but then you have to go to Penn State.