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Welcome!
Welcome to the ultimate guide for running at my favorite place, Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park/ Maclay Gardens. While technically these are two different parks, they are only separated by a pedestrian friendly crosswalk, so you can easily access one park from the other. I can go on all day about the many reasons why I love running at these parks, but I do not want to bore you to death. My goal in writing this guide is to encourage you to experience Phipps Park/ Maclay Gardens for yourself.
How to Use Navigation pages
From a Distance, Loops, or Connector Trails page, click the Navigation link page. You should see a google map depicting a trail route, highlighted in blue, through Phipps Park/ Maclay Gardens. Here, I will be using the route for a Morning + Half as an example.
Once you have arrived at the google map page, you can begin navigating. The left side of your screen will be your guide for following the routes. Click on the checkbox next to the route title ("Parking Lot to Gate B" in the example below) and step-by-step directions will appear underneath.
Each step of the directions has a corresponding location marker on the map, making it easy to stay on course. A photograph may also appear when you click on some of the steps. For routes that contain multiple trails, once you finish one trail, click on the checkbox beside the next trail name and repeat the process until you complete the entire route.
I don't know what the names of these Routes/Loops/Connector Trails mean.
Frankly, neither do I sometimes. The names of the routes/ loops/ connector trails are based on a variety of factors. Some, like the East Loop, are the official names given by the parks in which they reside. Others are named after an obvious landmark, like the Lake Overstreet Loop. Some routes , like the CNL, were given names by the runners that frequented them years ago and have just stuck since then. Other routes have names whose origins are unknown. My suggestion is just roll with the names even if they seem nonsensical at first.
By clicking through the Navigation pages (see above "How to" if you need further explanation) for a bit, you should get a pretty good idea of where to go. I know it may seem weird and intimidating at first, but by using this guide and with a little prace, you will be able fully enjoy the best that the trails have to offer.
The Distances page provides information on some of the best ways to achieve distances ranging from one mile to double-digit miles at Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park/ Maclay Gardens. Multiple route options are provided for each distance. For example, if you want to learn more about how to run 7 miles, you would click on the Distances page, then select 7 Miles, then choose from any of the five 7-mile route options (e.g., Cashin + Half, Lake + Morning, Lake + Top, 2 Add-ons and 2 Halves, or 2 Halves + 2 Tops) that appear on the page.
How to use the # Mile pages
Each # Mile page includes a route map (which can be accessed by clicking on the Navigation Link or by clicking directly on the map displayed), in-depth route navigation guide with detailed directions and pictures, and succinct review of the route's elevation, scenery, trail quality, and difficulty level for the distance of your choosing.
The Routes page provides links to some of the most used, most enjoyable, and/or most recommended-by-me routes that Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park/ Maclay Gardens offer. Each route included on the page has its own unique characteristics, is located in a different area of the parks, and is categorized as either a loop or connector trail.
The Loops and Connector Trails pages serve essentially the same purpose as the # Mile pages. That is, they all include a route map (which can be accessed by clicking on the Navigation Link or by clicking directly on the map displayed), an in-depth route navigation guide with detailed directions and pictures, and a succinct review of the route's elevation, scenery, trail quality, and difficulty level.
What are the Succinct Reviews?
In succinct reviews, I hope to provide readers with a simple visual comparison of each trail's/route's qualities. Using a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest), I rate the following factors:
Overall Rating: My general assessment of the trail based on simply my personal opinion. The higher the number, the better the trail.
Elevation: The amount you will rise in elevation on a trail (ie, hills). Higher numbers mean more elevation.
Scenery: How aesthetically pleasing are the trails. Bonus points are given based on landmarks or scenic outlooks.
Trail Quality: The physical quality of the trails and their ability to make running on their paths feel easier. Consideration given to how likely the trails are to make you trip up or just be annoying to run on. Lower numbers reflect higher tripping potential.
Difficulty: How hard is this route to run. Elevation, trail quality, the amount of shade on the route, and the trails general appearance determining the difficulty. Harder routes receive higher difficulties.
Here is a sampling of the succinct reviews:
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