Crabtree Valley Trail
Ironwood Trail
Trail(s): Crabtree -Oak Park Trail 1.43 Mile
Crabtree Valley Trail 1.66 Mile
Ironwood Trail 1.72 Mile
Total Distance: 4.81 each way/ 9.62 round trip
Not my favorite trail group because of the too often messy nature and pedestrian challenges. As much as I enjoy street riding, if I ride a greenway I like to enjoy the scenery and ride my Trikke comfortably without this, even if the trail is a level 2 or 3. Still, this route remains a popular Trikke trail for many and is ultimately a greenway trail. This route connects 3 Raleigh greenway trails and empties out into the Shelley Lake park, so you can try each or chunk them together for a long ride. To do them all is a 9-10 mile roundtrip Trikke.
Start the Oak Park Trail by parking at the designated Greenway entrance at Oak Park Rd and Lindsay Dr. This is a fairly level trail with a few sharp inclines as you approach bridges. What used to be wood covered bridges are mostly now cement. This makes crossing them much easier. This trail can be quite messy in spots with lots of broken branches and other terrain troubles. You'll go past the corporate offices of Golden Corral and head towards Crabtree Mall. There has been a lot of construction in this particular area with the defunct Solis project, so be aware of concrete rocks and construction leftovers. The trail has some broken up areas here as well so be careful! Trikke Hike(walk) under Creedmore Rd and resume your ride behind the mall on the flat greenway. This ends Oak Park trail so if you need to turn around do so here and complete your 3 mile round trip back to the beginning.
The Crabtree Valley Trail is a bit enigmatic. It begins behind the mall and covers a nice flat ride to the McDonalds at Blue Ridge. At this point it dips down under Glenwood Ave. Be very careful and aware of your surroundings here! The underpass is a bit unsavory. While bikes and Trikkes transverse the area, due to it's proximity to the Mall and residential areas, there can be quite a bit of pedestrian traffic using the trail for transportation. Heads up because there have been incidences here. The trail has a great deal of wide concrete sidewalk as well in this portion which can be uncomfortable for greenway riders. Once through here, the trail is a bit uneven, broken and even clunky. Mostly flat with a few steep inclines. Continue this for 1.66 miles
Ironwood Trail is better, flatter and more classically Greenway as you leave the traffic behind you. Wooded and winding. It's a great trail experience and is a good point to "let it out" and push your Trikke speed. Mostly clean trail but be aware! The Ironwood Trail leads you up North Raleigh to Shelley Lake...but that's another story..... Turn around and do the distance back down for the full 9-10
Overall this trail is a good work-up to differing terrains like you will see on streets and sidewalks while having the general climate and comfort of a greenway trail. If you like smooth paths, no matter what the level, you'll probably want to pass on it.
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