Happy Trails in Lindsborg

As the temperatures begin to cool, it is time to to fall in love with the outdoors again and hit the trails running, biking or walking.

Lindsborg offers three distinct variations of trails to choose from so there are options for everyone! The Välkommen Trail is a concrete trail meandering through our beautiful city, and is free for public use year round. At the trails south end, you can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature as you walk across a newly refurbished railroad bridge. The Meadowlark Trail starts just across Old Mill Road at the south end of the Välkommen Trail and passes through gentle hills and creek valleys in the 12.6 miles between Lindsborg and McPherson on the old Union Pacific Railroad rail bed. It crosses eleven bridges and, at one point, follows the east bank of the Smoky Hill River. The Coronado Heights Trail, located three miles outside of Lindsborg, boasts of some great, challenging mountain bike riding!  It has a three mile, figure 8 loop, with a 60% single track totally vertical ride. Speed increases the difficulty, most can be ridden by beginners but experts will leave smiling as well.

The following are upcoming running/walking/biking events in Lindsborg:

  • The Central Kansas Conservancy is pleased to announce their 1st Tour de Trails event to promote the Rails- to-Trails Project! The Tour de Trails – “Bridge to Bridge” event will take place on Saturday, September 17th.  The event will feature a fun 5K run/walk/bike ride going from bridge to bridge, which will showcase the Meadowlark Trail. To register, go online at www.active.com and search for Tour de Trails.
  • The Coronado Heights Run celebrates its 40th Anniversary, October 8th with a 15K and 5K; 1 mile youth run; and 2 mile fun walk. The 15K is composed of a flat, scenic country-road course with Coronado Heights hill (1 mile running distance up a circular, rugged road) at the heart of the race, this is a demanding course; please train accordingly. The 5K, 1 mile youth run and 2 mile fun walk are conducted on a flat blacktop course around town. To register, go online at www.active.com and search for Coronado Heights Run.
  • The Falun Classic is an annual 32 mile bicycle ride on a loop through the town of Falun on paved roads. On October 9th, the ride begins and ends at Swensson Park, located in the 400 block of N. Main Street. Registration is at 1:00 p.m. and the ride begins at 1:30 p.m. Call (785) 227-8687 for more information.

In other “new trail news” Lindsborg is proud to announce that KDOT has awarded a grant for construction of the Välkommen Trail Phase 2. The trail extension is one of Council’s identified strategic goals, part of an effort to “maintain quality infrastructure, the foundation upon which an attractive city is built.” As importantly, the Välkommen Trail improves the quality of life by providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors, right here in our own back yard. The timing couldn’t be better, as this year we will mark the 10th anniversary of the trail’s grand opening.

The $1 million project will receive $721,000 in matching Transportation Alternatives funds. Engineering will begin in 2017, with construction scheduled for early 2018.