Harder Paved Paths

How you can extend your zone and routines on harder paved paths near Kennett

What is a harder paved path?

Harder paths have an uphill slope. You may find that it takes more effort to complete a path with long sections that are sloped or to make it up some specific, steeper sections, especially if you use a wheelchair, walker, or stroller.

Average uphill slopes are usually gentle (between 5 and 8.5%). There may also be steeper sections, with moderate (8.5 to 12.5%), difficult (12.5 to 20%), more difficult (20 to 33%), and very difficult (greater than 33%) slopes.

Walking the progression of paths listed below can help you to identify the path that provides just the right amount of challenge to extend your zone. And it might help you to adjust expectations on other similar paths to ensure that the experience is still comfortable.


Favorite harder paved paths

Rock Manor (Northern Delaware Greenway)

Rock Manor (Northern Delaware Greenway). Click to expand.

A wide, paved multiuse path made harder by several steeper sections. It is generally quiet and shaded, with benches along the way. It connects both east and west to other sections of the Northern Delaware Greenway. Read more here.

Auburn Heights Trail (Auburn Valley State Park)

Auburn Heights Trail (Auburn Valley State Park). Click to expand.

A paved, 1.3 mile loop made harder by the long, uphill stretch up to the top of the meadow that includes gentle, moderate, and difficult slopes. Trail is quiet and open. It connects to the Trolley and the Yorklyn Bridge Trails to the south and the natural trails in Marshall Bridge Preserve to north. Read more here.

Uwchlan Trail

Uwchlan Trail. Click to expand.

A paved multiuse trail made harder by some gentrly sloped sections, and beautifully shaded trail 3.1 miles one way, running beside the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek. Lots of benches and views along the way. It connects to the Uwchlan Trail to the north. Read more here.

East Brandywine Trail (south)

East Brandywine Trail (south). Click to expand.

An easy, flat, shaded, and paved trail 2.6 miles one way, running beside the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek. A harder 1.5 mile section (3 miles round trip) starts from the southern end. The longest and most difficult slopes are at the very beginning and end of your hike. Read more here.

Rock Manor (Northern Delaware Greenway)

A wide, paved multiuse path made harder by several steeper sections. It is generally quiet and shaded, with benches along the way. It connects both east and west to other sections of the Northern Delaware Greenway. Read more  here .

Auburn Heights Trail (Auburn Valley State Park)

A paved, 1.3 mile loop made harder by the long, uphill stretch up to the top of the meadow that includes gentle, moderate, and difficult slopes. Trail is quiet and open. It connects to the Trolley and the Yorklyn Bridge Trails to the south and the natural trails in Marshall Bridge Preserve to north. Read more  here .

Uwchlan Trail

A paved multiuse trail made harder by some gentrly sloped sections, and beautifully shaded trail 3.1 miles one way, running beside the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek. Lots of benches and views along the way. It connects to the  Uwchlan Trail  to the north. Read more  here .

East Brandywine Trail (south)

An easy, flat, shaded, and paved trail 2.6 miles one way, running beside the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek. A harder 1.5 mile section (3 miles round trip) starts from the southern end. The longest and most difficult slopes are at the very beginning and end of your hike. Read more  here .


Walking harder paved paths

You first established your zone on easy paved paths, just in case there are other characteristics of paths that make walking uncomfortable for you. This is especially important if you are unsure about your strength, balance, or coordination.

Whenever you are exploring your comfort with a new and potentially more difficult kind of path, you place new demands on your strength and endurance. So you compensate by decreasing the length you expect to walk by a 1/2 mile. This helps you to reserve energy in case you find this new kind of path to be especially taxing.

Each step in Progressive Access gently introduces you to a new type of path or trail you may initially find less comfortable. This helps you to learn what kind of path is right for you, without becoming too tired or stressed.

In this next step, you are trying paved paths that include long, gently sloped uphill segments, and/or moderate, difficult, or sometimes more difficult segments. These slopes are indicated in accompanying maps (like this one, of the  Oversee Farm Loop ), so that you can anticipate specific sections you may find less comfortable. Each circle represents a 20 foot section.

Most walkers would not notice gentle slopes on a short hike. Even if your endurance is limited, you might not see the difference, but you might feel less comfortable. If so, learn from these signs. Did you still enjoy your walk? Would you do it again? Or do you need to adjust expectations about how far you might walk?

To get ready for the next step of hiking on easy natural trails, extend your comfort zone. To get ready to complete a 1 mile section of easy natural trail, for example, first make sure that you can comfortably complete 1 1/2 miles on a harder paved path in less than one hour.


Making your routines resilient

A resilient routine is one you can rely on all year round, under lots of different conditions. This includes planning for all weather. Check conditions before you head out. Depending on the weather, you may also decide to hike a different trail, or at a different time of the day. Or maybe, like Margot, you know that a wet, cold winter walk is just what the doctor ordered!

With the right shoes and clothing, you can walk comfortably in almost any weather. This becomes more important as you begin to walk further, and on the hottest and the coldest of days. If you were not completely comfortable on your walk, could other clothes or shoes have made a difference?

Always bring water, and decide if you need to eat beforehand. Or for a longer hike, plan a snack break!

It is a good idea to periodically review your routines to make sure these still work for you, especially if you find yourself walking fewer than three times a week. Are there other paths, or times of the day or week, that might work better for you?


Other harder paved paths

Oversee Farm Trail (Auburn Valley State Park)

Oversee Farm Trail (Auburn Valley State Park). Click to expand.

A wide paved but harder multiuse loop, 1.2 miles around, that includes gentle, moderate, and difficult slopes. It runs through fields, and turns around at the site of an old stone barn. There are benches and a picnic table along the way. Bikers can connect on harder roads to the Yorklyn Bridge Trail. Read more here.

Alapocas Run State Park (Northern Delaware Greenway)

Alapocas Run State Park (Northern Delaware Greenway). Click to expand.

A wide, paved multiuse path made harder by several steeper sections. It is generally quiet and shaded, with benches along the way. It connects both east and west to other sections of the Northern Delaware Greenway. Read more here.

Valley Garden Park

Valley Garden Park. Click to expand.

A paved 1.4 miles walking loop, made harder because of . Read more here.

Brandywine Trail - Southern Section (Brandywine Creek State Park)

Brandywine Trail - Southern Section (Brandywine Creek State Park). Click to expand.

A paved and hard surface multiuse path 3 miles long out and back. It is harder because of the uphill climb to the highest point in the middle of the trail. Quiet and shaded, with views of the Brandywine Creek. Continues as an easy natural trail both north and south, with many connections to harder natural trails in Brandywine Creek State Park and First State National Park. Read more here.

Oversee Farm Trail (Auburn Valley State Park)

A wide paved but harder multiuse loop, 1.2 miles around, that includes gentle, moderate, and difficult slopes. It runs through fields, and turns around at the site of an old stone barn. There are benches and a picnic table along the way. Bikers can connect on harder roads to the Yorklyn Bridge Trail. Read more  here .

Alapocas Run State Park (Northern Delaware Greenway)

A wide, paved multiuse path made harder by several steeper sections. It is generally quiet and shaded, with benches along the way. It connects both east and west to other sections of the Northern Delaware Greenway. Read more  here .

Valley Garden Park

A paved 1.4 miles walking loop, made harder because of . Read more  here .

Brandywine Trail - Southern Section (Brandywine Creek State Park)

A paved and hard surface multiuse path 3 miles long out and back. It is harder because of the uphill climb to the highest point in the middle of the trail. Quiet and shaded, with views of the Brandywine Creek. Continues as an easy natural trail both north and south, with many connections to harder natural trails in Brandywine Creek State Park and First State National Park. Read more  here .


Click  here  to read about how Margot learned to hike by following many of these same steps