(Scott Zarider | Staff Photographer)

WashU’s location — nestled between Forest Park, Clayton, University City, and St. Louis — offers a wide variety of running spots for newcomers and experienced runners. Many WashU students talk about wanting to get out of the “WashU bubble,” and running (or walking) is a great way to do so and explore the world surrounding WashU. Here are some of the best running routes for the WashU community.

Park Loop (Forest Park, ~7 miles)

Park Loop takes you around the perimeter foot and bike paths of Forest Park. Around seven miles in total with rolling hills, it is a great way to see the park and everything in it, from the Missouri History Museum, to Forest Park’s three golf courses, to the many rivers and streams that meander through the park. It is a great way to start a Saturday morning or spend an afternoon on a nice spring day.

Shaw Park (Clayton, Missouri, ~4.5 miles)

This 4.5-mile loop takes you from the Athletic Complex (AC) down Forsyth, through downtown Clayton, to and around Shaw Park (one of Clayton’s many hidden gems), and through the neighborhoods until you return back to Big Bend Boulevard and WashU’s campus. A perfect mix of urban and suburban, the run offers a nice change of scenery and is perfect for an early-morning or lunchtime run.

Cannon (Forest Park, ~4 miles)

This might be the easiest route to remember in Forest Park. Leave the AC and run through campus (or down Forsyth) to Forest Park; take the gravel path along the golf course, past the history museum and handball courts until you run into a massive cannon; then turn around and run the route in reverse. It is a perfect run when you are low on time, and is almost entirely on soft surfaces (like grass and gravel) once you enter Forest Park, which can be a nice relief from the pavement at WashU and in the surrounding neighborhoods that you will find on many of other routes.

Tower Grove Park (St. Louis, Missouri, ~2 miles)

A 10-minute drive from campus, Tower Grove Park is located next to the Missouri Botanical Garden. The park offers many different paths, with the perimeter path being two miles. If you have some time, it is a great place to explore, especially during fall days when the weather is getting colder and the leaves are changing colors.