Normally when these Walk Hartford outings take place, they involve a handful of people, in person, and we take a break for lunch or have drinks after. The walks that I designed back in January will still happen, but differently than planned. You can “join” by watching the videos and viewing pictures of the excursions, and if you’d like, use the map of the route to go walk it on your own (or with your people). 

There are over fifteen miles of trails in Keney Park. This does not even take into account the huge fields or wooded areas where no trails exist. It doesn’t include the natural preserve area adjacent to the Ten Mile Woods.

On the one hand, it’s irritating that there are still people who think Keney Park is an inherently dangerous place. On the other hand, I guess that belief system is what keeps much of the park an ideal place for exercising while maintaining physical distance from others.

Where you are most likely to encounter other people in the park right now: around the pond and on the golf course. That still leaves hundreds of acres open for solitary exercise and enjoyment.

Here is the virtual outing. In the upper left corner of the blue-gray bar is a slider with an arrow. Click on that, then click on the numbers in order for the videos to make the most sense.

Here is a route that you can follow. It is at least 5.25 miles. If that seems too long, break it up over a few different visits. These routes are meant to be inspirational, not prescriptive:

Remember to pack your own snacks and water, wear sunscreen, and check for ticks later. Many of the surfaces on this route are uneven, mushy, or unpaved. Make your own adjustments to better suit your abilities — there are plenty of paved park roads that will serve most visitors’ needs, especially as they are closed to motor vehicles during the pandemic.