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A bike sits by Mill Creek in Walla Walla. A system of trails around the creek and Bennington Lake are a good place to take a ride, regardless of a person’s skill level. Elaine Williams/ For Daytripping
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Choose your own adventure cycling in Walla Walla Trails surrounding Mill Creek and Bennington Lake offer easy rides or challenging outings, depending on the route you pick By ELAINE WILLIAMS FOR DAYTRIPPING
ABOVE: People recreate at Bennington Lake in Walla Walla. RIGHT: A man walks through charming downtown Walla Walla while eating ice cream. Elaine Williams/ For Daytripping
WALLA WALLA — The trail system surrounding Mill Creek and Bennington Lake is a place where one of the only boundaries is someone’s own strength. The area was formed to harness Mill Creek and prevent flooding in Walla Walla. The project was completed after the prompting of the town’s chamber of commerce president at the time, Virgil Bennington, who lobbied Congress. The public space features expansive views of grasslands, woods, farmland, the Blue Mountains, and, of course, Bennington Lake on more than 20 miles of trails that feel surprisingly remote even though they are less than a mile from the Walla Walla city limits. Some of the trails are wide and flat and asphalted. Others take steep, sometimes lengthy, climbs through trees or rolling hills. Multiple picnic shelters and benches are placed in scenic spots. Public restrooms are located at the parking areas and in a couple of places along the trail. The combination makes it an excellent destination for people with a variety of skill levels. A family with a child just learning to ride a bicycle could bring a picnic and take the smooth, asphalted trail on the north side of Mill
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