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Print Friendly MapLake Shawnee opened in 1939 as a project of the Works Progress Administration and has been providing the residents and visitors of Topeka with a host of recreational opportunities since that time. A recent addition to the lake area, the encircling Lake Shawnee Trail offers great views of the scenic lake and non-motorized access to all the surrounding amenities.
These amenities include a campground, golf course, swimming beach, playgrounds, fishing areas, tennis and volleyball courts and softball diamonds.
Several parking lots line Lake Shawnee’s shore. In the west, access the lots from SE West Edge Road. In the east, use SE Croco Road, SE East Edge Road or SE Tinman Circle.
This trail is fantastic year round! Be sure to take the time to enjoy the Ted Ensley Garden along the way. So well maintained and easy to access.
Rode my bike around the trail 8/20/22 on a Saturday morning starting at 10:30. Beautiful day so I expected the trail to be crowded but it wasn't at all. Just a few walkers and even less on bikes. Beautiful scenery. Saw a sailboat sailing. So many flowers. Do stop and visit the Ted Ensley Garden (all free). Just amazing. So peaceful. Plenty of toilets along the way. Water to drink along the way too.
I have ridden thus more times than I can count. It is fantastic. Word to the wise, counter-clockwise around lake is much easier than clockwise. Some extremely sharp climbs and they are much steeper in clockwise direction. Beautiful scenery well maintained by county parks and rec dept.
A lovely and varied trail. A few relatively flat and straight sections and lots of gentle curves and hills with a couple steep sections. Lovely for an early morning run.
My GPS watch said it was 7miles. Beautiful and peaceful. This site doesn't say there are bathrooms but there are several. I know for me it was important to know :)
Great! Gentle rolling with a few short, challenging hills. Lots of activity and other walkers around. Concrete. 1/4 mile markers throughout. Beautiful views of lake, golf course, baseball diamond, gardens. Mature trees, generous shading. Limited access to water fountains and restrooms so plan ahead.
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