Eau Claire Parks & University 10k

This is a pleasant run showcasing several central Eau Claire parks, with a section through the campus of the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (UWEC). Overall, it’s 10k, with options for longer/shorter.

Start just north of Phoenix Park, and run south along the Chippewa River State Trail through the riverside park. Continue south, crossing the Eau Claire River, and take the pedestrian bridge to the west bank of the Chippewa River into Owen Park. At the 1.5 mile mark, use the UWEC Walkbridge to access the UWEC campus. Enjoy some of the pedestrian paths (there’s a running track around Simpson Field at the south end of campus), then use Putnam Dr. to access the Putnam Trail. This is a 1.5 mile, mainly wooded path to Putnam Park. Exit the park onto Putnam Dr. Turn RIGHT on S Farwell St., which has a good sidewalk and nice homes as you run through downtown. Here, the option is to end the run at ~5 miles, or add a 1.5 mile loop to Boyd Park, using scenic Main St. or E Grand Ave. out and Galloway St. back.

Add-Ons: For another park, it’s 1 mile west of Phoenix Park to Carson Park, where you can run along the path on the west side of Halfmoon Lake and then do a ~2.5 mile loop of the park’s paths.