6 Favorite Walks at Duke for an Energy Boost

Working��ţӰ�� readers share their go-to campus spots for steps and a dose of fresh air

Each weekday around noon, Lorean Thelwell puts on a pair of Nike sneakers with sturdy insoles.

These are her walking shoes.

And on most days, the shoes carry her along a roughly 45-minute walking route from her Erwin Road clinic, into Duke’s West Campus and back.

“I just love doing that,” said Thelwell, a Clinical Nurse with the Duke Child Developmental and Behavioral Health Clinic. “And it doesn’t matter if it’s raining or if it’s hot, I’m still doing it. It just really helps me find a mellow vibe.”

Walking is a simple and effective way to boost overall health and break up a sedentary routine, as adults spend 55% of their waking hours being inactive. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services adults engage in at least four hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. Studies have found that adding brisk walking to a workout regimen can lower the risk of developing heart disease or cancer by 25%.

With Duke’s picturesque campus offering scenic paths and tranquil spots, it’s been the perfect place for years to step outside and enjoy a walk. In fact, an undated Duke Human Resources brochure in the ��ţӰ�� Archives offers five maps for walkers. Titled the brochure – which does feature some maps with long-gone street layouts – notes that walking is “one of the best exercises available.”

Working��ţӰ�� asked staff and faculty to share their go-to walks on Duke’s academic and medical campuses for a dose of fresh air and an energy boost. To inspire your next stroll around campus, here are a few places colleagues recommended for getting outside – just in time for the first day of fall on Sept. 22.

Al Buehler Tail

While Lorean Thelwell has her daily walking route through West Campus, her favorite place to walk at Duke is the , a 3-mile loop that circles the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. The trail is named for longtime .

“It’s the ambiance and the greenery that speaks to me,” said Thelwell, who prefers the trail on weekends for long walks. “You hear the birds, you see the squirrels, there’s life in there. You can smell the forest and hear the water trickling through the streams. It’s like you’ve stepped into a whole different world.”

The peaceful setting of the Al Buehler Trail makes it a favorite for Lorean Thelwell. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

With plenty of beautiful spots, walking in Duke Gardens is always a pleasant pastime. Photo courtesy of David Flores.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

David Flores, an Analyst with Duke Health’s Maestro Care team, works remotely from his home in Zebulon. But on a recent visit to Durham with his wife and four children, he gained an appreciation for the wonder found within the .

Flores’ children ran around the lawn in the heart of the gardens and his whole family was enchanted by the blooming flowers and plants that represented both species native to the North Carolina Piedmont and others normally found in distant corners of North America and Asia.

“The scenery is truly breathtaking, especially when the timing is just right,” Flores said. “Coming down the entrance stairs and seeing the fountain lit up by the last light of the day is simply stunning. I highly recommend this walk to anyone looking for a peaceful and beautiful experience.”

Trails lace Duke Gardens’ 55-acres, making it a popular spot for those who visit campus often.

“To have that right there, next to campus, is such a luxury,” Flores said.

East Campus Loop

Holly Bobo, Assistant Manager of the ��ţӰ�� Box Office, is one of the many fans of the that circles East Campus.

The soft gravel trail, which was created in 1994 and runs along the stone wall that was built in 1916 to surround Duke’s original campus, has gentle elevation changes, plenty of shade and supplies pretty views of campus and the Durham skyline.

“The East Campus loop takes the cake for my favorite trail,” said Bobo, who works on West Campus. “It’s got plenty of space to walk with a friend, is never too crowded, and it’s a great way to see a part of campus I don’t frequent.”

Plus, she can dip into a spot on Ninth Street for a treat.

The trail that circles East Campus is popular with the Duke and Durham community. Photo courtesy of Duke Marketing & Communications.

Chapel Woods

Even though her workspace is in the most breathtaking building on campus, ��ţӰ�� Chapel Director of Business and Facilities Joni Harris still likes to take time to get outside to refresh in the beauty of nature whenever she can.

She doesn’t have to go far to enjoy her favorite setting for a walk as Chapel Woods, a quiet patch of woodland, sits just behind Duke Chapel, where she works in the heart of West Campus.

“There are a few trails that run through the woods, and you can make a nice little loop if you want to,” Harris said. “It’s one of my favorite spots on campus. When you’re in there, it’s like you’ve stepped into a different environment. You’re surrounded by nature. It’s very peaceful, very calming.”

Duke Forest's Shepherd Nature Trail

Jason Elliott, Assistant Director for Strategy and Administration for the Duke Office of Climate and Sustainability, is a regular visitor to , often hiking the trails in the Korstian Division that follow New Hope Creek.

But it’s the near West Campus on NC Highway 751 in the forest’s Durham Division, that Elliott often recommends for a quick walk.

In addition to the peaceful quiet of the forest, the gentle 0.8-mile loop features signage that explains the history of the forest and how it’s been shaped by human intervention.

“The history of the land is something most people don’t think about when they’re walking through the forest,” Elliott said. “As you’re walking around the trail and reading the signs you get to learn about what was there before and what kinds of impacts things like Hurricane Fran had on the forest. You have all of these neat grounding mechanisms to help people understand where they are.”

Visitors should take note that the Duke Forest will be closed on weekdays from September 23 to December 13 for . The forest will remain open on weekends and Thanksgiving Day.

Jason Elliott of the Duke Office of Climate and Sustainability tries to spend time amid the trees and trails of Duke Forest as often as he can. Photo courtesy of Jason Elliott.

Duke Pond

With fall approaching, Jiajun Yu, an Associate in Research with the Duke Quantum Center, expects to make more visits to Duke Pond, the 5.5-acre reclamation pond near Circuit Drive on West Campus.

The pond, built in 2015, has won awards for its design and is a key part of Duke’s sustainable approach to stormwater. And with native plants, towering trees and home to wildlife such as ducks and turtles, the pond is also one of the most colorful walking destinations at Duke.

Yu often rides her bike to the pond when the sun is low to watch the sky and feel the breeze. She also enjoys walking around the trail around the pond.

“Especially in the fall, when the weather is cool, I like to walk and think about things quietly,” Yu said. “The pond is special for me. It brings me a sense of peace, which is all I want.”

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