Favorite Runs: Columbus Riverwalk #3 - Oxbow Meadows

Yesterday, I went for a run after work on one of my favorite routes. It is a 10-K out and back route along the Oxbow Meadows area of the Columbus Riverwalk. It follow the old, meandering route of the Chattahoochee River and criss-crosses multiple oxbow lakes. There is always an abundance of wildlife from land, sea, and air to distract you as your legs and lung burn.
The route begins at the Oxbow Meadow Environmental Learning Center located on South Lumpkin Road. Then, head north along the Oxbow Creek Golf Course, where you dart in and out of wooded areas alongside 4 fairways.
Next, make the descent down into the meadows area. Over your left shoulder, you'll see wide open fields of hay straw and on you right, you run by a series of oxbow lakes that are connected by streams with turn-offs and parking for the fisherman.
There are very few hills on this route, as you can see, but the ones that are present are short and manageable. This is an excellent route for cyclists, as well.
From the meadows, the course continues to drop until you find yourself interlaced with the necklace strand of lakes. This part of the course is very shaded and preferred on hot summer Georgia afternoons.
There are usually a good number of people taking advantage of the Riverwalk. They are walkers, runners, fishermen, and cyclists. I have seen a few police officers monitoring the course on ATV's to help keep the area safe.
The only thing that you might need to watch out for are alligators and snakes. I have seen a couple of both over the last six months of running this part of the Riverwalk. It is a little unsettling, but generally, if you leave them alone the don't pay you any mind.
The last part of the route before you make your returning trip back to the Environmental Learning Center is a final drop down to your first real glimpse of the Chattahoochee River. The worst part of this last section is that before you reach the river you pass by the waste water treatment plant for south Columbus, but it is only for about a quarter mile.

It never fails on this running route that I see something new, be it wildlife or plant life or other. It is an easy route that holds you attention as you maneuver in and out of varying landscapes.

Map from www.columbusga.org