Review
The Morning Loop is a clean, simple way to hit 1.8 miles. Its primary downside is that it is not a Lake Loop, and its major upside is that it is not a Lake Loop. The frequently used Morning Loop is simple in nature, has well-maintained wide gravel trails, and its consequently very frequent use.
There are some major differences between the Lake and the Morning Loop that make the Morning Loop special. The Morning Loop is like the laid back, easy-going second child in the family, that makes the uptight yet outstanding first child seem way more annoying than they may actually be. Did that metaphor make remotely any sense? I have absolutely no clue. Anyway, the Morning Loop, as you may infer, is not a difficult loop. In fact, it is pretty relaxed as far as trails that I specifically map out for you to pant and sweat on go.
One major difference that makes the Morning Loop so easy going is that there is no real “correct” orientation around the trail, clockwise or counterclockwise. Usually, I run the Morning Loop as a follow up to another longer loop, like a Lake or a Cashin. However, since I arrive at Gate B from two different directions into the Morning Loop, I end up just going in the same direction that I was previously headed, because stopping and turning around is for cowards and weaklings. In all seriousness, the lack of serious elevation means that no direction is necessarily more difficult or easier.
Please note that I said the lack of serious elevation, not merely elevation. There is still a hill on this loop, as you still have to summit a portion of the Lake Hill. Fortunately for those who are glad to run in Florida, the hill is very short, albeit steep. I don’t know what else to tell you about this. You are running in the wilderness; you are going to encounter some hills. Unless you try really, really hard to avoid them.
Rating: Out of 10