Fairgrounds Community Park has a paved loop path of about a half mile, but there is also a dirt trail that exits the park on the north side to connect with the Clark County Event Center.  The trail runs alongside the fields used for parking at the Event Center, then turns back toward the south to meander south and west through the woods emerging at a field which can be crossed to reach 11th Ave to connect with the trail to Whipple Creek Regional Park.  The trail through the forest (just shy of a half mile) is a nice walk on it’s own.  The path across the field (just over a quarter mile) is not cleared, which might not be a problem if you are on horseback, but when walking it can take some searching, or some walking through tall grass to find your way.  Late summer or early fall, the field was cut, so paths across the field are easier to find.

There is an inconspicuous dirt trail connecting through the woods at the south end of the field.  From the park side, go to the western-most curve of the paved path.   To the west you will find a trail entering the trees.  This path meanders through the wooded area to the field, and then a trail can be followed along the edge of the field up to the northern trail that wanders back through the forest.  A complete circuit of these trails is about 1 mile.

This is a great area to hike or ride a horse or a bike.  Numerous trails allow for new experiences when revisiting multiple times.  Be ready though for muddy conditions unless visiting in the summer after a period of no rain and no dew in the mornings.

These trails are frequently used by horse riders, and the land was donated for it to be an equestrian park, so if you are biking or hiking, be ready and courteous.  I will add that I have hiked on some trails frequented by horse riders that were so destroyed that I never wanted to hike them again, but the trails in this park are in very good shape, and the manure is easy to avoid as long as you watch your step.  At the entrance on 21st from 179th there is a nice explanatory statement about how to be considerate of horse riders to minimize any chance of spooking the horses by accident.

There is a large growth of English Ivy in areas of the park, and miles of trails to maintain, so the volunteers who maintain the park would be glad to have more helping hands.  Visit: https://www.facebook.com/WhippleCreekPark/

There are four entrances that can be used to access the park.  The main entrance, with the most parking, is reached from 179th Street by turning south onto 21st.  The other three locations have very limited parking available.  Click the objects in the map below for details.

Note that the trail that exits the park to the east to 11th Ave, crosses the field on the east side of 11th Ave and connects with a trail to the Clark County Fairgrounds and Fairgrounds Community Park.  Crossing the field though, does not have a clear trail.  You often just need to find your way through the tall grass to the forest where there is a clear trail.

This is also one area where I have seen and heard coyotes.

Whipple Creek Regional Park