Lake Perry (WIBW) - If you're looking to mix up your usual walk or jog, you might think about a short drive to Lake Perry.

Miles of trails wind their way through the wooded banks.

Willie Lambert, who organizes the Rock Creek Trail Series. It's held on the so-called "Mountain Bike Trail," used by not only bikers, but also adventure racers and trail runners.

Lambert says the course is a 15 mile loop, but side trails can lengthen it up 20 miles if you'd like. The first couple miles follow novice terrain. About three and a half to four miles in, he says, the trails start dropping down to the lake and coming back up to the ridge line, and you begin a long series of downhill and uphill. The final portion of the trail is rugged with lots of rocks.

Lambert says the Kansas Trails Council does much of the volunteer work maintaining the trails, under the leadership of Lyle Reedy. He says Reedy has left a lot of the rocks and tree roots right where they were, which means you need to stay focused and look down as you run. He says it forces you to stay totally engaged in the experience.

You can access the Mountain Bike Trail by taking Highway 237 west from Highway 24, then turn on Kimberly Road, the first right over the bridge. The trail head is marked with a sign.

It's not the only trail Perry State Park has to offer. There's also another 35 mile equestrian trail, open to walkers. On the east side, the Corps of Engineers has the roughly 30 mile Perry Lake Hiking Trail.

If you want to check it out, the Rock Creek Trail series has a race at 8 am, Oct. 24. Choose a 5k, 15 mile or 50k course.

Remember, since it's a state park, you'll need the daily park permit, which is $3.70 cents. You can also get annual permits.