This our list of the 100 Best Runs in America. We’ve two ‘iconic’ routes for each of the top 50 cities. For a more complete list, see ALL of our iconic routes (the 1-3 must-do routes in each city), organized by location. Background & methodology
Download List View All of Our 'Iconic' Routes, Sorted By City
| City | # | Route | Why Iconic? |
| Atlanta | 1 | Piedmont Park | Crown jewel of Atlanta running scene with fields, woods, and skyline views |
| 2 | Freedom Park | A green, shaded run from the Carter Library to the MLK Memorial | |
| Austin | 3 | Lady Bird Lake Trail | The signature trail in Austin with 10 miles of trail on the Colorado River |
| 4 | Barton Creek Greenbelt | Lots of variety from parkland to rugged trail run | |
| Baltimore | 5 | Waterfront Promenade | Wonderful promenade along Inner Harbor, great views |
| 6 | Fort McHenry | 3-mile loop around this historic fort, at mouth of the Inner Harbor | |
| Boston | 7 | The Charles River Paths | Famous river run with Boston on one side and Cambridge on the other |
| 8 | The Emerald Necklace | Olmsted-designed greenway, from State House to Franklin Park | |
| Burlington, VT | 9 | Island Line Rail Trail | Views of Lake Champlain & Adirondacks, with causeway and ferry |
| 10 | Shelburne Farms | Stunning waterfront views on 1400 acre farm, 10 miles of trails | |
| Boulder | 11 | Boulder Creek Trail | Great views while passing through Boulder’s major areas |
| 12 | Reservoir/Valley Ranch | Lovely open route with variety of water views and ranch lands | |
| Buffalo | 13 | Delaware Park | Part of Buffalo’s famous Olmsted Park System |
| 14 | Bird Island Pier | Part of extensive waterfront running in Buffalo | |
| Charlotte | 15 | Uptown Park/Stadium Loop | Downtown route featuring green spaces and Charlotte landmarks |
| 16 | Booty Loop | Idyllic Myers Park neighborhood with its tall oaks, lovely homes, hilly roads | |
| Charleston, SC | 17 | Downtown Tour | Historic sights & architecture, including jaunt along The Battery |
| 18 | Cannon Park to Patriots Point | Highlight is the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, with 2-mile incline | |
| Chicago | 19 | Lakefront Path | 18-mile trail is one of the most spectacular urban runs in the country |
| 20 | Grant & Millennium Park | A monument to urban planning, with many loop & trail options | |
| Cincinnati | 21 | Eden Park | Cincinnati’s most popular park including important landmarks & lovely trails |
| 22 | Bridge Loops | Several bridges connect Cincinnati and Newport | |
| Cleveland | 23 | Lakefront Bikeway | A path spanning Cleveland’s 17-mile Lake Erie shoreline |
| 24 | Rockefeller Park | A 7-mile linear park, passing by several landmarks | |
| Columbus | 25 | Olentangy Trail | Popular path, binding downtown, parks, Scioto Mile |
| 26 | Capitol & Scioto Greenway | Great downtown run on Capitol grounds & path along Scioto River | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27 | Katy Trail | 3.5 mile dedicated trail is the best bet downtown |
| 28 | White Rock Lake | 9.6 mile loop around the reservoir is the ‘destination’ run in Dallas | |
| Denver | 29 | Cherry Creek | Path through several parks & landmarks is Denver running centerpiece |
| 30 | Three Park Run | Enjoy City Park, Cheesman Park, and Washington Park | |
| Detroit | 31 | Riverwalk | Signature running route in Detroit featuring ~5 miles along the water |
| 32 | Bell Isle | Olmsted designed park on an island in the Detroit River, with views of the Detroit skyline & the Windsor shore | |
| Fort Lauderdale | 33 | Ft. Lauderdale Beach | Run on the sand or wide sidewalk on one of Florida’s best beaches |
| 34 | Hollywood Boardwalk | One of the most pleasant boardwalks in S. Florida, with great beach/ocean views and lots of crowds and sights | |
| Honolulu | 35 | Waikiki Beach | Beachfront neighborhood, with views of water, surf, Diamond Head |
| 36 | Diamond Head | A hilly loop around iconic landmark with sweeping views | |
| Houston | 37 | Memorial Park | The heart of Houston’s running community with paths and skyline views |
| 38 | Buffalo Bayou Park | The centerpiece of a $30 million urban revitalization plan | |
| Indianapolis | 39 | White River Trail | Trail winding through Indy’s cultural and educational attractions |
| 40 | Eagle Creek Park | One of the largest metropolitan green spaces in the nation | |
| Jacksonville | 41 | The Beaches | 11 mile strip along some of Florida’s most beautiful beaches |
| 42 | Guana River State Park | 9 miles of trails that wind through undisturbed maritime forest | |
| Kansas City | 43 | The Plaza | Great route highlighting artistic and architecturally interesting area |
| 44 | Riverfront Heritage Trail | Winds through oldest & most historic parts of KC | |
| Las Vegas | 45 | The Strip | Might not be pretty, but one of the most unique runs anywhere |
| 46 | Red Rock Canyon | Experience running in the Mojave Desert, 17 miles from The Strip | |
| Los Angeles | 47 | The Strand Beach Path | Few cities in the world rival L.A. for fantastic beach running options |
| 48 | Palisades Park | Palm-lined greenway with star-gazing & views of Santa Monica Pier | |
| Miami | 49 | Miami Beach | One of the great urban beaches – run on the beach or boardwalk |
| 50 | Key Biscayne | Run over the spectacular Rickenbacker Causeway to this island | |
| Milwaukee | 51 | Olmsted Parks Tour | Tour of Olmsted-designed Lake Park and Riverside Park |
| 52 | Oak Leaf Trail | 5 mile trail connecting several beautiful parks in central area | |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 53 | Chain of Lakes | Three beautiful adjoining lakes, includes an almost 3 mile loop around each lake |
| 54 | St. Paul- Lake Como | Perimeter loop is the best choice for a lake run in St. Paul | |
| Nashville | 55 | Greenways/Nashville Tour | Paths & greenways by major landmarks of downtown |
| 56 | Shelby Bottoms Greenway | Beautiful, paved trail with impressive views of the Cumberland River | |
| New Orleans | 57 | Audubon Park | Run under a leafy canopy, alongside a lagoon, around a famous zoo |
| 58 | City Park | Large with beautiful canopy, Botanical Garden, Sculpture Garden | |
| New York City: Manhattan | 59 | Central Park | Run “The Res” , the entire 7 mile perimeter, or random paths |
| 60 | Westside Highway | Fantastic running along the Hudson from tip to tip | |
| New York City: Boroughs | 61 | Brooklyn – Prospect Park | Olmsted designed park with Brownstone-lined streets of Park Slope |
| 62 | The Two Bridges | Iconic Brooklyn & Manhattan bridges with great water & skyline views | |
| Orlando | 63 | Orlando Urban Trail | 6 lakes, Science Center, Orlando Museum of Art, Botanical Garden |
| 64 | West Orange Trail | World-class rail trail through urban & suburban areas | |
| Philadelphia | 65 | Fairmount Park | One of the USA’s largest urban green spaces featuring sights and water views |
| 66 | Philadelphia History Tour | Historic Philadelphia sites & Benjamin Franklin Bridge to NJ | |
| Phoenix | 67 | Papago Park | A hilly desert park covering 1500 acres in Phoenix and Tempe |
| 68 | Indian Wash Greenbelt | Oasis of parks, lakes, & paths, traversing 11 miles through Scottsdale | |
| Pittsburgh | 69 | Three Rivers Heritage Trail | A trail along both sides of all three rivers, with fun bridge connectors |
| 70 | Schenley Park | Nearly 500 acre park with gorgeous gardens, in the university area | |
| Portland, OR | 71 | Waterfront/Esplanade | This is the signature run along the Williamette River |
| 72 | Forest Park | The largest urban forest in the United States. 80+ miles of trails | |
| Portland, ME | 73 | Eastern Promenade | Downtown to Back Cove, with spectacular harbor and ocean views |
| 74 | Cape Elizabeth | Affluent suburb with oceanside road and spectacular homes | |
| Providence | 75 | East Bay Bike Path | Path along the ocean, passing through several state & local parks |
| 76 | Newport – Ocean Ave. | One of the most popular “drives” in the country is also a great run | |
| Sacramento | 77 | Jedediah Smith Trail | Trail along the American River, & lovely Sacramento State campus |
| 78 | Capitol Run | The Capitol, Fremont Park, Sutter Historic Park, Indian Museum | |
| Salt Lake City | 79 | City Creek Canyon | Quick escape to nature from downtown in a canyon run alongside creek |
| 80 | Sugar House & Liberty Park | Run either or both of the city’s two signature parks | |
| San Antonio | 81 | Riverwalk | San Antonio’s signature run, with 15 miles of continuous trails |
| 82 | Mission Reach Trail | An extension of the River Walk, this trail runs by the 18th century missions | |
| San Diego | 83 | Mission Bay | 12-mile loop with water views, beaches, bridges, and an island |
| 84 | Balboa Park | 65 miles of trails featuring gardens, groves, & important San Diego sights | |
| San Francisco | 85 | Crissy Field to GG Bridge | One of the world’s great urban runs. Water, GG Bridge, Headlands |
| 86 | Golden Gate Park | Left coast version of NYC’s Central Park. Many features and variety | |
| San Jose | 87 | Baylands Trails | Remarkable trails and parks incorporating tidal marshland |
| 88 | Los Gatos Creek Trail | 10 mile path through several parks and into Los Gatos hills | |
| Seattle | 89 | Elliott Bay Trail | Waterfront trail along Puget Sound, accessible from downtown |
| 90 | Green Park | One of Seattle’s most beloved parks, with special loops for runners | |
| St. Louis | 91 | Eads Bridge-Arch | Arch is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Park |
| 92 | Forest Park | Beautiful park and important landmarks: lakes, museum, zoo | |
| Silicon Valley | 93 | The Bay Trail | Fantastic trail along San Francisco Bay, from SFO to San Mateo |
| 94 | The Stanford Dish | Open pastureland, lake, & great views of the Stanford Campus | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg | 95 | Bayshore Linear Park Trail | The world’s longest continuous sidewalk, with 4.5 waterfront miles |
| 96 | St. Pete Beach | Great beach run with great views of the Gulf of Mexico, sunsets | |
| Tucson | 97 | Saguaro NP East Loop | Great trail running option close to the city with beautiful views and variety |
| 98 | Sabino Canyon Rec. Area | Mountains, canyons, plants & animals of the Sonoran Desert | |
| Washington, D.C. | 99 | National Mall & Tidal Basin | Scenery, history, beauty in one of the USA’s most memorable runs |
| 100 | Rock Creek Park | Enjoy shade and Washington’s lush foliage with a myriad of trail options |
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Albuquerque: Bosque Bike trail and Bear Canyon!