Sacramento CA Pilot/49r

We had noticed that a connection was made to some of our favorite running trails in Sacramento. We usually run north of El Centro, but I checked out the south trails, and they are great! Two parks, one with a water fountain. They get you pretty close to where the trail to Discovery Park starts. Pilot/49r, Sacramento CA, I-80 exit 85.

Blackwell AR Truckstop Run Review

Blackwell AR

Parking: Blackwell Travel Center, I-40 exit 101. Large dirt lot.

Where to run:

The road to the north, and to the west have little or no shoulder, but light traffic. The grassy bar ditch is safe to walk or run into when cars come. There are a couple of dirt roads that break off the road to the north (Fishlake Road) one follows a small lake, the other is a Game and Fish road. Nice quiet rural run, about 1.5 miles to the end of Fishlake Road.

Run Rating

Restaurants: At truckstop.

Microbrewery: No.

Pets: Yes

Cycling: Pretty short.

Safe Neighborhood: Yes.

Stuff to See and Do

Ed Gordon wildlife management area.

Excruciating Detail:

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2214812,-92.8228245,15z?hl=en-US

Ceder City UT

Cedar City UT

Parking: off I-15

JR's Truck Stop or Loves exit 63

Where to run:

At the traffic light that goes into the Loves, turn right to find several nice quiet neighborhoods with wide streets and sidewalks. For shorter runs or laps, the dirt road just south of the Loves connects to the main road and makes a loop of about a half mile. For longer runs or cycling, you can make your way south to a couple of great trails with parks on them. The Coal Creek Trail connects to the East Bench Trail.

Run Rating

Restaurants: Yes.

Microbrewery: Not sure.

Pets: Yes

Cycling: Yes.

Safe Neighborhood: Yes.

Stuff to See and Do

Great scenery. Many hiking and mountain biking trails nearby.

Excruciating Detail:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.6897453,-113.1310869,13z/data=!5m1!1e3?hl=en

http://www.cedarcity.org/246/Trails

Denver CO

Denver CO Truckstop Trail Sampler

Parking:

Sapp Brothers, I-70 exit 278

TA, I-70 exit 278

Pilot, I-70 exit 276

Flying J, I-70 exit 285

Access:

From the Flying J, go south on Airport Blvd and look to the left. Sand Creek Regional Greenway is first, the High Line Canal Trail is second.

The Sand Creek Regional Greenway is right next to Sapp Bros.

Use caution from the Pilot, going up Vaquez Blvd will get you to Sand Creek Regional Greenway if you turn right on East 56^th Ave. Bike lanes are tight, when they exist at all.

Trail Name:

Going clockwise on the picture from the top:

Rocky Mountain Arsenal Perimeter Trail (cut off to)

Sand Creek Regional Greenway

High Line Canal Trail

South Platte River Trail

Connects to:

The Front Range Trail System

Length: Hundreds of miles

Width: Varies

Surface: Mostly asphalt and concrete. A portion of Sand Creek Regional Greenway is road base. Much of the Arsenal Perimeter Trail is packed dirt, the Buckley Road section is rough.

Elevation: 5280'

Grade: Follows rivers and canals, grade is mild

Facilities: Rest rooms, benches, historical markers

Run Rating

Restaurants: Yes.

Microbrewery: Many

Pets: Yes

Cycling: Yes

Safe Neighborhood: Mostly. Some urban areas, but there are many cyclists

Stuff to See and Do

LowDo is Denver's restaurant and shopping area. Professional sports. Hiking and wildlife viewing in Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge  

Excruciating Detail:

https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-parks-and-recreation/parks/trails.html

http://www.walkridecolorado.com/denver-metro/denver-metro-trails-2/denver-metro-trail-map

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=rocky%20mountain%20arsenal%20trail%20map

Fruita CO

Fruita CO

Parking:

Rest Area is right on trail, I-70 exit 19. The sidewalk to the east becomes the trail.

Also park at the Loco Coyote Travel Center, exit 19. Or the truckstops (Pilot, Loves, Acorn) exit 26

Access:

Easy access from the Rest Area, and Loco Coyote. The frontage road sidewalk turns into the bike path. From The Pilot and the Loves, you have to deal with the railroad corridor. We like to cut through the bushes behind the Pilot, cross the tracks, turn left on the road, and follow the road around to the right after it goes under the interstate. You can also access the trail by going down Business 70, and turning right at Railroad Blvd from the truckstops.

Trail Name:

River Front Trail

Connects to:

The Grand Junction trail system

James M Robb State Park

Many mountain biking trails in the area

Length: 20+ miles

Width: 96”

Surface: Concrete

Elevation: 4514

Grade: Gentle grade

Facilities: Rest rooms, benches, historical markers

Run Rating

Restaurants: Yes.

Microbrewery: Yes, micro-beers at the barbecue place in the mall

Pets: Yes

Cycling: Yes, well-maintained!

Safe Neighborhood: Yes. Sunscreen and mosquito spray are recommended along the river.

Stuff to See and Do

Veteran's Memorial, great views of the mountains and the Colorado River, fishing (with CO license)

Excruciating Detail:

http://www.gofruita.org/

Natomas Westside Path, Sacramento CA

Sacramento CA

Parking:

Sacramento 49r/Pilot I-80 x85

4 hours free. $15 for 24hrs, free with 75 gal fuel, or $50 purchase.

Access:

We like doing a loop, but be aware that there is no sidewalk going north on El Centro Blvd to San Juan. The road has a small shoulder, and a pot-hole infested grassy area on the other side of a canal. Going south out of the truckstop, over the bridge, there are good sidewalks all the way. Go past the river, and turn left right at the entrance to Barandas Park (with the baseball field).

Trail Name:

Natomas Westside Path

Connects to:

San Juan Reservoir Park

Peregrine Park

American River Bicycle Trail

Sacramento River Bike Trail

Length: 4 miles

Width: 96”

Surface: Asphalt

Elevation: 30'

Grade: Gentle grade, except on the bridges over the interstate

Facilities: Rest rooms, benches, parks

Run Rating

Restaurants: Yes, especially in Old Town, off the Sacramento River Trail

Microbrewery: Yes

Pets: Yes

Cycling: Yes, well-maintained!

Safe Neighborhood: Yes.

Stuff to See and Do

A driving range for golf is just north of the truckstop. “Old Town” is down Sacramento River Trail, past Discovery Park

Excruciating Detail:

http://www.traillink.com/trail/natomas-westside-path.aspx

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6042313,-121.5208893,14z/data=!5m1!1e3

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32999-d142861-Reviews-American_River_Bicycle_Trail-Sacramento_California.html

Gov't Center Park, Florence KY

Florence KY

Parking: off I-75

TA exit 181

Where to run:

Turn left out of the truck stop entrance. Good sidewalks in the area. Look for the skateboard park on the corner. The trail follows the edge of the park around the government center. Continue around the parking lot to the sidewalk for a bigger lap.

Run Rating

Restaurants: Yes.

Microbrewery: Not sure.

Pets: Yes

Cycling: Yes.

Safe Neighborhood: Yes.

Stuff to See and Do

Coin-op laundry across the street. You could avoid the full washers at the TA, and get in a run in-between cycles.

Excruciating Detail:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Florence+Government+Center/@38.9973755,-84.6415896,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xe766b45fcf9cb517