Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Home
  2. Trip Ideas
  3. Walking Tours
  4. America's Best Urban Running Trails

America's Best Urban Running Trails

By Steve Jermanok
May 22, 2014
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Living in Manhattan, Daniel Rootenberg looks forward to that special time of day or night when he can leave the office and de-stress with a good sweat. He has no use for that stuffy square box they call the neighborhood gym and could care less about the latest state-of-the-art elliptical machine. All he needs are his two legs and a good route to jog—which, in his home city, means the pathways skirting the East and Hudson rivers, or through the urban oasis of Central Park.

Little surprise, then, that when this vice president of finance at Shutterstock travels, he packs his running shoes. Rootenberg typically asks his hotel concierge for a route and a map, noting his preference for varied terrain and safety (as much as he enjoys exploring the streets of a new city, he doesn’t want to jog through crime-ridden or congested areas). Often, he says, he’s able to take in some of a city’s noteworthy sights while on his run.

“On my last trip to Chapel Hill, the concierge mixed historic buildings with less populated sidewalks,” he says. “It was perfect.”

More and more business travelers, it seems, can be found taking to the streets in the cities where they take their meetings. Not only is it liberating for these travelers to run after hours stuck in airport terminals and conference rooms; sometimes, jogging is the only chance they have to see some of the city they’re visiting. Taking a run also gives them an opportunity to share a common activity with local residents—and experience a camaraderie they’d never find on a lonely treadmill inside a hotel fitness center.

While running is perhaps the most accessible of workouts—all that’s needed are shoes and a route—the gentrification of many cities in the past two decades has made urban jogging even easier. New developments have created running trails that offer a slice of tranquility in otherwise highly energized hubs. In San Antonio, for example, the popular waterfront River Walk has extended both north and south of the city in recent years, giving joggers an additional 15 miles to explore. Similarly, both the Eastbank Esplanade in Portland, Ore., and the Hudson River Park in New York City have unveiled paved trails that offer both riverside and city-skyline views.

So, whether your next business trip brings you to the Financial District in Boston or the massive San Diego Convention Center on the harbor, make sure to throw your running shoes into your suitcase. And check out our list of great urban running trails for more inspiration.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Lakefront Trail, Chicago

Credit: Courtesy of the City of Chicago

Chicago is a city with an awesome and towering skyline—and this 18.5-mile path along the shore of Lake Michigan gives you ample opportunities to appreciate it. Start at the Navy Pier, then turn south along the paved lakeside trail. You’ll pass Buckingham Fountain, the Shedd Aquarium and Soldier Field, home to the Chicago Bears. When you turn around for the return trip, you’ll be treated to a fabulous view of the city’s skyscrapers, including the Aon Center, the John Hancock Center and the Willis Tower (currently the tallest building in the United States). The trail north of the Navy Pier will lead you to Oak Street Beach, a good place to rest after your run. explorechicago.org.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Charles River Bike Path, Boston

Boston’s most cherished running route, this 17.1-mile path lines both sides of the Charles River in Boston’s Back Bay and Cambridge. A favorite four-mile stretch starts at the Esplanade (a historic park that’s home to the Boston Pops’ Fourth of July concert and fireworks extravaganza), then heads west to cross the Charles at the Mass Avenue Bridge. Turning east then brings you to the Museum of Science, and across the river once again to return to the Esplanade. In spring and fall, you’ll likely see the Harvard and MIT crew teams sculling in the river; but even in the middle of a winter snowstorm, you’ll be sure to see other joggers (since the city hosts the world-class Boston Marathon, it takes its running very seriously). bostonrunner.com

2 of 10

3 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Central Park Reservoir and Outer Loop, New York City

Credit: Courtesy of Central Park Conservancy

Manhattan’s urban oasis offers two great options for runners to choose from. Those looking for a short, scenic jaunt (or a warm-up) can start at either of the park’s 86th Street entrances and run the 1.5-mile dirt track around the reservoir (the scenery here is especially lovely in early spring, when the surrounding magnolia trees are in bloom). For a more strenuous workout, there’s also a six-mile Outer Loop that leads through the entirety of the park—a highlight of which is the sight of the city skyline rising above the wide lawn of Sheep Meadow. centralparknyc.org

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Mall and Monuments Route, Washington, DC

Credit: iStockPhoto

While in summertime joggers often stick to the shaded C&O canals through the brownstones of Georgetown, in any other season it’s hard to resist the patriotic appeal of the 2.5-mile-long National Mall route. Wake up early before the morning rush-hour crowds and start at the Capitol Building. Wake up early before the crowds of the morning rush hour and start at the Capitol Building. Then hightail it down either side of the Mall past the Washington Monument and the World War II and Vietnam Veterans memorials, finishing at the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial. For a cooldown, walk up the memorial’s steps to where the statue of Abraham Lincoln gazes over the Mall. nps.gov

4 of 10

5 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Park Loop, Piedmont Park, Atlanta

Credit: Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

Once a farm and Civil War encampment, centrally located Piedmont Park has been Atlanta’s finest chunk of green space for more than a century. The varied terrain includes sweeping meadows, rolling hillside and dense forests, all centered around Lake Clara Meer. Piedmont’s longest running route, the 1.7-mile Park Loop, will lead you through the multifaceted scenery, but remember that Atlanta is not flat. From the Meadow, the lowest point of the loop, to the top of Active Oval, the highest point, it’s a good quarter mile up. piedmontpark.org

5 of 10

6 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chain of Lakes, Grand Rounds, Minneapolis

Credit: Photo by Sandy Richard

No other city in America can boast that its urban trail system is a National Scenic Byway. Minneapolis’s Grand Rounds features more than 50 miles of paved trails around a dozen lakes and the mighty Mississippi River. One of the best sections of the byway is the 13.3-mile loop around the Chain of Lakes, which takes in the glorious vistas of the large bodies of water and the forested shores of tall pines and firs. A good place to start is near the band shell at Lake Harriet; the route around the lake is close to three miles, and rewards you with placid water views the entire run. For a lengthier run, you can add the loop around neighboring Lake Calhoun (another 3.25 miles). minneapolisparks.org

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Scenic Loop, Cherokee Park, Louisville, Kentucky

Credit: Courtesy of Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Acclaimed landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted had enormous influence on the city of Louisville, where he helped create 18 parks and six parkways—a wealth of green space that’s greater than Baltimore’s, Boston’s and Pittsburgh’s combined. A favorite run is the 2.4-mile Scenic Loop in Cherokee Park, which winds through beech-studded woods and rolling meadows, up to hilltop vistas over forests and along the banks of meandering Beargrass Creek. louisvilleky.gov

7 of 10

8 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Mission Reach, San Antonio, Texas

Credit: Courtesy of Mission Reach

With the 2009 opening of the Museum Reach, San Antonio’s beloved River Walk doubled in length as it expanded north to the San Antonio Museum of Art and the emerging Pearl neighborhood. (Even more exciting is the 10.2-mile-long Mission Reach alongside the San Antonio River, expected to be finished in 2013.) Start your jog at Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, a huge warehouse now housing galleries and artists’ workspaces. Crossing over one of the six pedestrian bridges, you’ll soon be eyeing the numerous green herons, egrets, families of ducks and turtles sunbathing on upturned logs. Venture here in the spring, and you’ll have the added bonus of seeing sunflowers and purple wildflowers in bloom. sanantonioriver.org

8 of 10

9 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Wildwood Trail, Portland, Oregon

A smaller version of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Wildwood Trail winds 28 miles from Washington Park to Forest Park, west of downtown Portland. Runners savor the first three miles from the Washington Park Zoo to the Burnside bus stop, with some easy ups and downs through Hoyt Arboretum. If you prefer pavement to dirt, Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Eastbank Esplanade are close to many of the lodging options downtown. The run begins in the city along the Willamette River; a good three-mile loop leads from the Steel Bridge to the Hawthorne Bridge, offering views of the Portland skyline. 40mileloop.org

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Silver Strand, San Diego

San Diego’s longest continuous trail, the 15-mile (round-trip) Silver Strand is also one of the most beautiful coastal running routes in Southern California. The entire track runs parallel to the beach along San Diego Bay, from Coronado, the vibrant beach community that sits just across the bay from downtown San Diego, south to Imperial Beach. Start at the classic Hotel del Coronado, which looks like a multitiered wedding cake, and head south along Glorietta Boulevard to skirt the bay (and gaze over the stately naval ships docked there). If you need a breather along the way, Glorietta Bay Park and Silver Strand State Beach are two great places to pause and gaze over the city skyline. Looking down at the sand is equally enjoyable; you’ll spot zillions of tiny, sparkly, iridescent seashells that gave this trail its name. coronadovisitorcenter.com

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Steve Jermanok

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 10 Lakefront Trail, Chicago
2 of 10 Charles River Bike Path, Boston
3 of 10 Central Park Reservoir and Outer Loop, New York City
4 of 10 The Mall and Monuments Route, Washington, DC
5 of 10 Park Loop, Piedmont Park, Atlanta
6 of 10 Chain of Lakes, Grand Rounds, Minneapolis
7 of 10 Scenic Loop, Cherokee Park, Louisville, Kentucky
8 of 10 Mission Reach, San Antonio, Texas
9 of 10 Wildwood Trail, Portland, Oregon
10 of 10 Silver Strand, San Diego

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

America's Best Urban Running Trails
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.