The Best Places to Walk in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

Adapted from article originally published in the October 2026 issue of Shawnee Outlook

There’s a particular kind of morning we get here in October. It’s cool enough for a jacket, though you’ll probably shed it by lunch. Gold light saturates everything, and we get that first real breath of fall air after a long (and in this year’s case, very long) Oklahoma summer. It’s, without question, the best walking weather Pottawatomie County gets all year.

Walking is about as close to a miracle habit as it gets. Regular walks are linked to lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, stronger bones and muscles, deeper sleep, better memory, and less stress and anxiety. A recent study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine even found that people who walk 7,500 steps or more a day were more likely to live longer.

So if you need a break from your neighborhood sidewalks or backroads, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to walk, straight from the people of Pottawatomie County.

Shawnee Airport Trail

This 3.21-mile paved loop circles Shawnee Regional Airport, passing Dean Weigant Park (aka Slide Park for the longtime locals out there), Lion’s Club Park, the Sister Cities Peace Garden, and Oklahoma Baptist University along the way. It’s lit from dusk to dawn, so it’s safe for an early or after-dark lap, and the north leg dips through a lit tunnel beneath the airport runway and along the stunning fields of St. Gregory’s Abbey. If you time it right, you might also catch a Bison touchdown at Crain Family Stadium.

Rotary Briscoe Boy Scout Park

A half-mile asphalt loop that’s almost entirely shaded by mature trees makes this spot one of the shadiest loops in town. The lightly hilly terrain gives you an extra boost to the glutes, and it even features a StoryWalk from Shawnee Public Library with rotating picture book pages for kids to read as they go.

Joe Taron Recreation Area

If rugged’s more your speed, this is your spot. Set on the shores of Wes Watkins Reservoir near McLoud, this spot trades pavement for wooded trails, with red clay soil, post-oak thickets, and a seasonal creek cutting through part of the property. Perfect for the walker up for a challenge.

Firelake Walking Trail

Tucked around the pond near the FireLake ball fields, this path is quiet and private, complete with a peaceful fountain out on the water. It’s an easy add-on in between double headers or before stocking up on groceries nearby.

KidSpace Park

One of Oklahoma’s largest playgrounds is ringed by a nearly half-mile, ADA-accessible paved trail, so moms and dads on pickup duty can rack up steps while keeping an eye on the kids on the playground, ninja course, or pickleball courts.

Slick Humphrey Park

Tecumseh’s 18-acre go-to. A mile-long paved trail winds through the park past tennis and volleyball courts, softball fields, and a skate park. The trail’s shady back half features a set of permanent outdoor musical instruments, letting walkers pause and play a few notes mid-route.

St. Gregory’s Walking Labyrinth

For something off-the-beaten-path, follow the offshoot of the Airport Trail west on MacArthur Street to the historic grounds of St. Gregory’s Abbey, where a stone walking labyrinth sits among the trees. Who knows? You might even run into our friendly neighborhood monks.

McLoud Veterans Memorial Park

The Lawrence Wahpepah Walking Trails wind through the park’s newer southern expansion, tracing the water and tree line around several ponds. A peaceful, low-traffic option if you want a walk that feels farther from town than it actually is.

Bethel Community Center

A small walking track loops around the town’s softball and baseball fields, offering an easy, low-key option between fall ball games or for a flat, quiet lap after work.

Shawnee Mall

When the weather doesn’t cooperate, the mall is a reliable backup. Lace up for a climate-controlled, flat, and fully indoor loop past shoppers and storefronts. You’ll just have to try to keep up with the speedwalking regulars!

Wherever you live in Pottawatomie County, there’s a good stretch of pavement or trail close by. None of these are meant to be a solo trip either. Call up your buddy, grab your husband, or challenge your coworker that always claims he’s in better shape than you, and take a lap. If all else fails, dogs make great walking partners too.

Whoever's by your side, get outside while the weather’s this good. Every step adds up.