There are four locations in Hays to take advantage of walking trails, trek out on a biking path, hike along the creek or enjoy a leisurely walk. The Hays Medical Center Fitness Trail is located behind the Hays Medical Center (2220 Canterbury Drive) and just east of the employee/staff parking lot. This ¾ mile fitness trail is paved and winds up and down through a tree lined draw and through open grassy fields. Features include a gazebo, picnic shelter and several fitness stations to help increase agility and conditioning. Access to the southeast portion of this trail and the path along the Big Creek dike is located at the very south end of Allen Street. This trail can accommodate bicycles and continues approximately 2 miles on the southwest edge of Hays and through the Fort Hays State University campus as it follows along the banks of Big Creek. Venturing off the dike and down through the well worn routes of the Frontier Disc Golf sites provides access to pole bridges and stepping stone paths across the creek.
rnA walking path area is also maintained around the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site (O.W.L.S.) located behind O’loughlin Elementary School at 1401 Hall. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks initiated the O.W.L.S. program in 1991 to help increase student exposure to native wildlife and plant communities. This location has a walking path through a tall grass field and a passageway around the pond which is lined with tall cottonwood trees and remains in a natural setting for viewing wildlife. rn
