Lansing, MI

Michigan State University (MSU) Campus

Flickr

Michigan State University, in addition to being a large research university and having great sports teams, is also a great university campus for running. There are several miles of riverfront trail, a running track, arboretum, 100 miles of sidewalks, and access to quiet farm roads just south of campus.

MSU River Trail. Google Street View

This website offers several specific routes suggestions, and this campus jogging map has some loop recommendations. There are many options to create your own route.

  • A good place to start is the Spartan Statue, warming up with a couple of laps around the running track just south of there at Ralph Young Field.
  • There are 3 miles of running along the Red Cedar River: From S Harrison Rd. headed west, it’s 1.1 miles along the MSU River Trail (separate paths for bicycles & pedestrians), 0.7 miles on the Sanford Woodlot Trail, and 1.2 miles along the MSU to Lake Lansing Trail, ending at Grand River Ave. There’s also some trail on the river’s north bank.
  • The heart of campus and its academic buildings is ~1.7 miles between S Harrison Rd. & Hagadorn Rd. west to east, and ~1.0 mile north-south between the river and the train tracks
  • South of Mt Hope Rd., there’s a good network of flat, scenic farm roads. Note: no sidewalk & narrow shoulder, though not heavily trafficked. Power Line Dr. which runs east-west is a dirt road and quieter.

Add-Ons: The Lansing River Trail’s eastern end is at the MSU campus. You can continue west for 5 miles to Moores Park, and also connect to northern & southern spurs of the LRT.

Essentials
  • Create your own route. Many miles possible!
  • Depends on route/section chosen. Spartan Statue is a good starting point, as is the Visitor Center
  • Numerous parking lots.

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Essentials
  • Create your own route. Many miles possible!
  • Depends on route/section chosen. Spartan Statue is a good starting point, as is the Visitor Center
  • Numerous parking lots.