RUNNING ON CREEK ROAD AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA
The
Basic Out-and-Back
The most popular area for running/jogging is the Newark area is on Creek
Road, which is the extension of North College Ave., leading north from
the center of Newark along scenic White Clay Creek. This road is paved
and lightly traveled by vehicles for a little more than two miles.
For Those Who Just Can't Get Enough
Just beyond the “S-curve” (concrete overpass abutments for the
old Pomeroy Railroad), Creek Road provides access to a trail to the Fairfield
Crest development. One can also take a left at Wedgewood Road (at about
2.3 miles) and head uphill toward Route 896 and the Carpenter Recreation
Area portion of the State Park. Creek Road extends beyond Wedgewood Road
as a gated dirt road.
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Bridge at Wedgewood |
There is access to a trail that parallels Creek Road on the east side of the creek between Wedgewood Road and Hopkins Road via a foot bridge near the terminus of Wedgewood Road. This makes a nice, albeit short, loop. It also intersects trails to the east that access the old Deerfield golf course, which is owned by the state and runable. Creek Road intersects Hopkins Road (use caution crossing!) at about 3.2 miles and proceeds to the Park visitors' center. A newer bridge provides even shorter loop runs out of Newark.
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Newly completed bridge |
At the visitors' center parking lot, Creek Road narrows to a trail, enters another gated area, crosses Chambers Rock Road at about 3.8 miles, and continues into the White Clay Creek Preserve in Pennsylvania, ending at South Bank Road about five miles out. Directly across Creek Road from the visitors' center is a small foot trail that continues to follow the contour of the creek north to the parking lot on Chambers Rock Road.
A short run east on Chambers Rock Road will bring one across the creek to Thompson Station Road. A left onto Thompson Station Road will afford runners access to trails at the Park Office or to a nice stretch of shaded, paved Preserve road that proceeds north for another couple miles to Corner Ketch.
Got Trails?
If you like trail running, the northwest corner of the state boasts an
extensive area of parks and trails contiguous with other areas of White
Clay Creek State Park (Carpenter, Possum Hill, and the Judge Morris Property)
and New Castle County’s Middle Run Natural Area. Many nice new trails
have recently been added to the State Park and Preserve areas, which have
given trail enthusiasts more choices.
Take
a Friend
Note that we encourage females to run with a companion in isolated areas.
Unfortunately, there have been instances of assaults on lone females along
Creek Road. Whether male or female, it's good to have a partner.
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