Top 15 Unique Trails for Runners
Given that there are more than 41,000 miles of multiuse trails in the United States, choosing favorites can be a challenge! It can depend on one’s mood, season, or preferred type of terrain. Here’s a fun list of unique trails around the country chosen by our friends at Great Runs that are particularly wonderful for running, combining scenery with interesting features or sites, and providing routes suitable for all fitness levels.
The Strand/Marvin Braude Bike Trail (California)
Coastal California’s Marvin Braude Bike Trail offers the quintessential Los Angeles run, featuring sun, sand, surf and great people watching! This paved trail runs for 22-miles from Santa Monica to Torrance Beach, passing by several iconic L.A. beaches. A favorite section is the 3.3 miles from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, which features the famous Santa Monica Pier, Muscle Beach and a bustling outdoor scene.
Pro tip: In Santa Monica, be sure to include a jaunt around palm-tree-lined Palisades Park, where you just might see a movie star or two!
Historic Railroad Trail (Nevada)
It’s worth the half-hour drive from Las Vegas to run Nevada’s Historic Railroad Trail connecting Lake Mead with Hoover Dam. The original railroad was used to transport materials in the building of Hoover Dam, and the 3.7-mile trail, surfaced with crushed stone and dirt, features five tunnels and interpretive signage. Along the way, there are outstanding views, including an overlook of Lake Meade at the 2.2-mile mark as you’re heading east.
Note: There is a gentle downhill grade as you travel east from the Lake Mead Visitor Center area to the Hoover Dam, so be prepared for the uphill grade on the way back.
Pro tip: It’s recommended to run this trail in the mornings and evenings when it’s cooler. Also be sure to take the right precautions in hot weather, including bringing plenty of water as there are no drinking fountains along the trail.
Sun-Lava Trail (Oregon)
Central Oregon’s Newberry National Volcanic Monument—only a 15-minute drive from Bend—is a popular destination for its lakes, lava flows and spectacular geologic features. From the Lava Lands Visitor Center, walk though lava fields on the 1-mile Trail of the Molten Land. Runners will love the Sun-Lava Trail, which provides a wide, paved, 5.6-mile route through forested sections with views of the Deschutes River and a look at Benham Falls. Ambitious runners can also tackle the 1.6 miles to the top of Lava Butte on a paved road, climbing 558 feet—but keep an eye out for the park shuttle buses!
Pro tip: Take a break from your run at the Lava Lands Visitor Center for additional information on the area’s fascinating geology.
Moab Canyon Pathway (Utah)
In this mecca for hiking, mountain biking and trail running, the Moab Canyon Pathway allows the everyday runner to experience some of Utah’s spectacular scenery! There are fantastic views of the Colorado River and the red rock canyon from this paved trail that stretches for about 9 miles from just north of Moab to the Moab Giants dinosaur museum. For runners, we recommend the flatter 3-mile section that begins at the trailhead near the southern end of the trail—not far from the pedestrian/bike bridge that crosses the Colorado River—and heads northwest to the entrance of Arches National Park. There, runners can continue on Arches Scenic Drive, which has a wide shoulder, for more views of rock formations.
Note: North of Arches Scenic Drive, people on the Moab Canyon Pathway will encounter challenging inclines up to 7%.
Pro tip: Do this route near sunrise or sunset to enjoy the particularly special light—and also beat the heat!
Rio Grande Trail (Colorado)
Aspen might be famous for its skiing and jet-set scene, but it’s also popular in the non-winter months for hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities. Colorado’s Rio Grande Trail runs for 42 miles between Aspen and Glenwood Springs with mountain views, riverfront sections, farms and parks along the way. For a run featuring a nice variety of backdrops, start at the eastern trailhead in Aspen’s Herron Park; enjoy the sights of posh shops and Victorian homes on this 2.5-mile stretch to Stein Park. You can also continue another 0.7 mile to a nice view of the mountains and the Roaring Fork River.
Pro tip: Catch the trail in spring for the wildflower fields and in early autumn for the changing aspen leaves.
Route of the Hiawatha (Idaho)
Nestled in Idaho’s Panhandle, the Route of the Hiawatha makes many ‘best rail-trail’ lists for its scenery and history. Located near the Lookout Pass Ski Area, about a 2-hour drive from Coeur d’Alene, this gravel trail features 10 tunnels, seven sky-high trestles and amazing views of the Bitterroot Mountains. A bonus for runners is that the trail is generally downhill from the East Portal trailhead, just outside of Taft, Montana, to Pearson.
Note: The trail is only open seasonally, typically late May to mid-September.
Pro tip: Ambitious runners can do the full 15 miles and take a shuttle back (open seasonally)!
St. Louis Riverfront Trail (Missouri)
Also known as the Mississippi Greenway, this classic river path has it all: views of the Gateway Arch and the mighty Mississippi River, historical industrial sections, and a connection to the Chain of Rocks Bridge, where you can cross over to Illinois! Another unique feature of Missouri’s St. Louis Riverfront Trail is the Mural Mile, a mural on the Mississippi River floodwall that more than 250 graffiti artists from around the country painted between 1997 and 2000.
Pro tip: The paved trail starts in downtown St. Louis and continues for 12 miles up to the Chain of Rocks bridge, so best to do it in sections.
Chicago Lakefront Trail (Illinois)
The Chicago Lakefront Trail is one of the best urban runs in the country, providing access to some of the Windy City’s most famous historical and cultural institutions, including Navy Pier and Soldier Field. Spanning 18 miles along Lake Michigan, some of its most scenic sections are pedestrian only! There are picturesque views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, urban beaches, marinas and numerous parks. The best section is the Museum Campus area, located just south of downtown at about the mid-point of the trail, where the path runs along the water’s edge around Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. The paved pathway is a festive scene in good weather, teeming with outdoor activity!
Pro Tip: A nice option for runners is to run one way along the trail and return through one of the adjacent parks, such as Lincoln Park or Grant Park.
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (Michigan)
Tucked against the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, the beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is home to the 21-mile Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. The route—a combination of boardwalks, crushed limestone and pavement—runs by beaches, giant dunes and turn-of-the-century farms. A favorite section for runners is the 5-mile stretch from the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire to Dune Climb. This part of the trail is paved, winding through hardwood forest and leading to some fantastic views of the dunes and the lake below.
Pro tip: While you’re there, explore the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, where additional trails pass by farm fields and dozens of preserved buildings, including the historical Kelderhouse Farm.
Schuylkill River Trail (Pennsylvania)
For an iconic run in the City of Brotherly Love, combine Philadelphia’s Museum Mile, the famous Rocky Steps, a section of the Schuylkill River Trail, and gorgeous Fairmount Park. Start at Logan Square and run the Museum Mile on sidewalks along Benjamin Franklin Parkway. At The Oval, cross Kelly Drive to reach the Philadelphia Museum of Art and visit the Rocky Statue, then run up the Rocky Steps! Continue on trails behind the museum to the Fountain of the Sea Horses, where you can join a section of the Schuylkill River Trail (which spans a whopping 80+ miles!). This leads to the east section of Fairmount Park—one of the largest green urban spaces in the country—with trails along the river, through woods and around large meadows. Return along the Schuylkill River Trail, enjoying the water views and glimpses of UPenn rowers training for their next regatta! Use Race Street to connect back to Logan Square.
Pro tip: If you would like to access the west section of Fairmount Park from this route, your best bet is to use the Girard Avenue Bridge at Lemon Hill Park.
Island Line Trail (Vermont)
Run atop Lake Champlain along the Island Line Trail’s 2.7-mile causeway, with views of the Adirondack and the Green mountains. The causeway is the northern end of the 13-mile rail-trail that offers a mostly paved route that begins in downtown Burlington and heads north, stringing together several shoreline parks.
Pro tip: Take the seasonally operating bike ferry from the end of the causeway to South Hero Island for even more running opportunities.
Ocean City Boardwalk/Route 52 Bridge Trail (New Jersey)
This is one of our favorite Jersey Shore routes, combining a beach boardwalk with a pathway alongside a scenic causeway. Start at the 2.5-mile Ocean City Boardwalk, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and beach-y shops and restaurants on the other. It’s a lively scene, especially in summer! At Ninth Street, you can exit the boardwalk and follow the street west for a half-mile to the Stainton Memorial Causeway and the paralleling Route 52 Bridge Trail, which offers expansive views of Great Egg Harbor Bay as it crosses the waterway on a 2.4-mile journey to Somers Point.
Pro tip: The beach is also runnable, and the boardwalk is lit at night!
Elizabeth River Trail (Virginia)
The Elizabeth River Trail, in the southeastern corner of Virginia, offers a wonderful way to experience Norfolk’s history and scenery. The 10.5-mile paved trail follows the Elizabeth River, which spills into Chesapeake Bay, and offers views of a naval base, the Norfolk waterfront, the West Freemason Street Historic District and some beautiful residential areas. We particularly love the southern 4 miles between Plum Point Park and the Norfolk Amtrak Station, which is largely along the water and passes Fort Norfolk, the Nauticus Maritime Museum and several riverside parks.
Pro tip: As you run, keep a lookout for the nearly two dozen public art pieces that pop up along the trail.
Shelby Farms Greenline (Tennessee)
Tennessee’s Shelby Farms Greenline is a popular option for running in Memphis, offering a delightful variety of landscapes, including sections under a live oak canopy that is pleasantly shaded on a hot day! Plus, you’ll see wetland areas and attractive residential neighborhoods. Three miles of the paved, 10.5-mile rail-trail skirt the northern end of Shelby Farms Park, where you can enjoy additional trails in one of the largest urban parks in the country.
Pro Tip: There are several designated evenings where running is allowed during the annual Starry Nights event, which features 3.5 million holiday lights in the park.
Arkansas River Trail (Arkansas)
In the heart of Arkansas, the Arkansas River Trail totals more than 22 paved miles along both sides of the Arkansas River in Little Rock and North Little Rock. A central downtown section includes the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge and a meandering trail around the grounds of the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. A more pastoral northern section features river views, the Big Dam Bridge (one of the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridges in North America) and the Two Rivers Park Bridge.
Pro tip: For longer runs, you can add additional trails in several of the parks lining the river.
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