wellness
Downtown Core Parks Department Rates 5 Walking Trails by Distance, Difficulty
Downtown Core Parks Department released updated ratings this week for five trails based on measured distances and terrain challenges.
How we reported this
The Downtown Core Parks Department released updated ratings this week for five trails based on measured distances and terrain challenges. Officials assigned each path an easy, moderate or challenging label after field surveys completed in late June.
Residents have increased outdoor activity since the Core Wellness Program expanded its free trail maps in March 2026. The program partners with local employers to promote lunch-hour walks, and trail counters recorded 18,400 passes in May alone. City data shows walking now accounts for 34 percent of reported fitness sessions in the downtown area.
Two routes stand out for everyday use. The Riverwalk Trail runs 3.1 kilometers along the Core River from the Elm Street bridge to the old ferry dock. Its flat gravel surface earned an easy rating. The Oak Grove Loop in the Central Neighborhood covers 4.8 kilometers through shaded parkland maintained by the Downtown Wellness Collective. That path carries a moderate label because of two short inclines near the 2-kilometer mark.
Moderate and Challenging Options
Farther north, the Maple Ridge Path starts at the corner of Pine and Maple streets and stretches 6.7 kilometers with a moderate difficulty score. The route includes one steep switchback and several benches added last year by the Core Fitness Council. For a longer outing, the Summit Connector begins behind the old train station on Front Street and totals 9.4 kilometers. Surveyors gave it a challenging rating due to elevation gain of 210 meters and loose gravel sections that require sturdy shoes.
Trail use data released with the ratings shows the Summit Connector saw 2,150 walkers in the first half of 2026, up from 1,400 during the same period last year. Entry remains free, though the city charges $12 for printed maps at the visitor center on Market Street.
Planning a Walk
Walkers can download the updated maps from the Core Wellness Program website or pick up paper copies at the library branch on State Avenue. City staff recommend checking the daily temperature alert before starting any trail longer than 5 kilometers. Those new to the routes should begin on the Riverwalk Trail and add distance each week, according to the program guidelines posted on July 1.