Birch Lollipop
We have posted a lot of 18+ mile running routes in Forest Park but during the week I typically only have an hour a day to run, so I thought it would be fun to post some of my shorter running routes as well.
5.47 miles
544 feet of elevation gain
My go to ~5 mile loop in Forest Park is one I call the Birch Lollipop. Within 5.4 miles you get a nice loop between Wildwood and Leif with Birch being “lollipop stick”.
This route starts and ends at the Birch Trailhead, which is the first trailhead on NW 53rd Drive when coming from NW Cornell Road. To start head down Birch for ~.25 miles and turn left on Wildwood. You will continue on Wildwood for 2 miles, passing Wild Cherry where you will return from, Dogwood and the NW 53rd trailhead. About ~.25 miles after the NW 53rd trailhead you turn right on Alder.
Alder is one of my favorite trails between Wildwood and Leif Erikson, it’s a nice gradual descent (.84 miles) into a gully surrounded by the trail’s namesake trees. Before reaching Leif Erikson you will cross a small seasonal creek which is a good spot for a dog drink break🐾. At the trail junction with Leif Erikson there is a plaque that commemorates the completion of the Alder Trail in 1980.
At the trail junction turn right on Leif Erickson, from here continue another 1.16 miles passing Dogwood and then turning right Wild Cherry. You will climb up Wild Cherry for .58 miles until you reach the junction with Wildwood. From here you will turn left on Wildwood for .39 miles and the next trail junction will be Birch where you will turn right to finish the route.
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