It’s finally running season after all the snow and random State College weather. With the incoming beautiful spring weather, it’s time to get back out and start running! If you are looking for some new routes to spruce up your new springtime addiction, try these out.

 The Tailgate Trail

If you are really in the mood for some steep hills, this route will put your sneakers to the test.

The once car and camper filled fields behind the BJC contain less-traveled-by gravel paths with some pretty scenic sights. If you

hang right on the gravel trails, you’ll pass a quaint little run down farm, complete with a metal wind turbine. Once you hit the next Y in the gravel path, take the path left till you hit this pretty little spot up the hill.

Throughout your time on this path, be sure to enjoy the beautiful sight of Mt. Nittany. The best time of the year for this loop is in the Fall because the foliage by the farm and on the mountain are bursting with crisp reds, burnt oranges, and sunshine yellow.

Next up on the trail, you’ll see a lone tree at the top of the hill. Run straight up to it. This is the highest point in the tailgate area. Enjoy the best view of Mt. Nittany, the small neighborhood at the bottom of the hill, Beaver Stadium, and Mt. Nittany Medical Center.

After all that uphill, run down the hill until you are parallel to Orchard Road. Turn back toward campus when you hit Park Ave and run till you hit the soccer stadium. At the soccer stadium, make a right onto University Drive so you pass the IM fields. At the next road, make a left and go for a run around the Arboretum (best when done in the fall or summer, but even now it’s still a peaceful place to run through).

After the arboretum, head down Bigler to Curtain, through the Life Sciences Arch, and finish by the White Building. This route is about five miles.

Behind the Golf Course

If you are looking for a route with a little less mud and about the same distance, this is the one for you.

This trail is scattered with runners, bikers, and walkers almost all day long.

This route is especially scenic if you go around sunrise or sunset. The pastel sky contrasting with the green golf course and dark mountain backdrop is very serene.

Start at the HUB and run down Pollock until you hit Bigler. Run up Bigler and turn left onto Park. Continue running past Atherton toward the golf course.

There should be a wide sidewalk next to the golf course with some well-kept houses to your right. Follow this path to its end where you will see a yellow pole sticking out of the ground where the path splits. Turn right at the pole and keep right at the next Y in the path. 

Follow the sidewalk as it runs parallel to Blue Course Drive. Turn left into the next neighborhood. Run straight on Teaberry Lane until you hit the cul-de-sac at the end of the lane. There is a rather big opening between two houses in the cul-de-sac with a path. Take the path and turn left at the Y.

Continue straight until you hit the yellow pole sticking out of the ground where you came in.

From there, run to Atherton, cross over the IST Building and finish in front of the HUB.

Eastview Terrace Torture

One of the easiest quick and dirty workouts on campus is the Eastview Terrace stairs. There are nine sets of stairs with eight steps and one set of stairs with seven steps. That’s almost 80 steps straight up! Oh, if it’s a breezy day, be prepared for a blast of wind just as you reach the top. My suggested workout is running up and down the stairs, two steps at a time, for 15 minutes straight. I can usually do about eight circuits up and down in 15 minutes. If that’s too easy, I’ll challenge you to run up every step for longer.

The Campus Tour

Want to be noticed while you are running, but still get a good workout in? The Campus Tour route is the perfect three mile route that takes you all around campus, starting in front of the HUB, running up Bigler to Park Ave (where the track and cross country runners run occasionally), down Atherton and to the IST Building. From there it’s a people-filled, sidewalk jog up College Ave, up Shortlidge, and you will finish at the White Building. I would recommend this route for short, quick days when you are really speeding down the cement and you are hitting the gym after your run.

Where’s your favorite places to run in State College? Let us know in the comments.