In the northern Birmingham suburb of Trussville, a pleasant greenway runs along the Cahaba River for a little over 1.5 miles. Starting at Trussville Veterans’ Memorial Park just off Main St./Rt. 11, follow the paved bike path north along the river and past a series of parks and athletic fields. The path ends just south of the tennis courts. Retrace your steps, or loop back through some of the fields and parks just east of the river.
Matt Browning
More Detailed Directions: It’s a concrete sidewalk from Civitan Park to well inside the municipal ballpark. The paved sidewalk stops in the woods then picks up inside the ballpark complex in the form of a bike lane on the road. You can turn right and continue on pavement before the sidewalk ends and take the upper parking lot behind the baseball field and then pick up the bike lane to stay entirely on pavement but this shortens the route by about .25 mile. There is also a 4 mile loop of single track hiking/ MTB/ running trail around the ball fields as well.
Our thanks to Matt Browning for suggesting this route!
In the northern Birmingham suburb of Trussville, a pleasant greenway runs along the Cahaba River for a little over 1.5 miles. Starting at Trussville Veterans’ Memorial Park just off Main St./Rt. 11, follow the paved bike path north along the river and past a series of parks and athletic fields. The path ends just south of the tennis courts. Retrace your steps, or loop back through some of the fields and parks just east of the river.
Matt Browning
More Detailed Directions: It’s a concrete sidewalk from Civitan Park to well inside the municipal ballpark. The paved sidewalk stops in the woods then picks up inside the ballpark complex in the form of a bike lane on the road. You can turn right and continue on pavement before the sidewalk ends and take the upper parking lot behind the baseball field and then pick up the bike lane to stay entirely on pavement but this shortens the route by about .25 mile. There is also a 4 mile loop of single track hiking/ MTB/ running trail around the ball fields as well.
Our thanks to Matt Browning for suggesting this route!
This concrete path through Mountain Brook is one of the prettiest runs around Birmingham, right alongside scenic Shades Creek. It is incorporated into the 54-acre Jemison linear park.
Located along Homewood’s Lakeshore Parkway, the Shades Creek Greenway — better known as the Lakeshore Trail — is a 2.5 mile (one way) paved multi-use path, following the lush floodplain of Shades Creek.
The 2 mile long (one way) flat paved and crushed stone Kiwanis Vulcan Trail is a popular path that arrives at the Vulcan statue on Red Mountain, which also has good views of downtown Birmingham.
Explore the University of Alabama Birmingham and Railroad Park with this route that includes the campus green, train spotting opportunities, and an LED tunnel.
The upscale Ross Bridge neighborhood, home to the Ross Bridge 8k, is a beautifully sidewalked collection of grand houses. Run the 2.7 mile (4.3 km) Ross Bridge Greenway or the intimate streets and culs de sac of the estates.
Not only are the Birmingham Botanical Gardens are great place to spot blossoms in bloom, running is encouraged on the 2 miles of paths throughout the grounds.
Red Mountain Park, just 15 minutes from downtown Birmingham, is a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts. There are 15 miles of trails. Two recs are the flat 2.4 mile BMRR South Trail or the more challenging 2.9 mile Ike Maston Trail.
Oak Mountain State Park is considered some of the best trail running in North America. Popular trails include the 2.3 mile multi-use Lake Trail and the 2 mile route to Peavine Falls.
Another top running destination in the Hoover area, Moss Rock Preserve boasts 12 miles of trails — including both challenging singletrack and easygoing dirt roads.
A developing rail trail in Helena, a bit southwest of the city center, the Hillsboro Trail offers about 2 miles (one way) of running on a smooth asphalt surface.
This 82 acre park in Hoover has a couple of different running options, including a 5 km cross country running trail and a 2 km designated walking/running trail around the perimeter of the park.
Nice run along Black Creek in northern Birmingham. Mainly wooded crushed stone path follows an old rail bed for 8 miles between Black Creek Park and Newfound Creek in Brookside. Shade make it a good option on a hot day,.
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