Davis: UC Davis Campus, Arboretrum Loop, East Davis Greenway Loop

Davis, located 15 miles west of Sacramento, is known as the home of the University of California, Davis — a major research university. There are some nice running options in around the UC Davis Campus, including a 3-mile loop around its Arboretum, a running track, and some multi-use trails in east Davis. Davis is well-known for its bikeability. BONUS: it’s a 15-minute train ride between Sacramento and Davis.

UC Davis Campus & Arboretum Loop. The UC Davis campus is pleasant for running, with an extensive network of pedestrian paths between Russell Blvd. & Putah Creek. A highlight is the tree-lined path toward Mrak Hall & the Egghead. There’s also the Woody Wilson Running Track off Russell Blvd. The nicer residential streets in Old North Davis, especially C St. through F St., are also worth exploring.

Our favorite run in Davis is the 3-mile loop around the Arboretum. It’s an interpretive trail, with a great variety of trees and native plants & flowers. The paved trail follows both sides of Putah Creek.

East Davis Greenways Loop. This a series of paths crisscrossing the Eastern part of Davis. Includes Mace Ranch Park in the area of the Science Center, and a nice section around the beautiful Wildhorse Golf Club. There are also some attractive residential streets in the area. For a longer run, use the Willow Creek Connector Path, headed south, crossing I-10 and connecting to trails along Putah Creek and the UC Davis Campus.