The best run in central Jackson is to explore the area around the Capitol and the historic Bellhaven neighborhood, home to Bellhaven University. Use our mapped route as a guide to create your own. Good add-on option. Note: Hilly!

Bellhaven University. Michael Barera

We start with the 0.5 mile approach to the Mississippi State Capitol on N Congress St. Then, head east of State St. to explore the Bellhaven neighborhood. There are leafy residential streets and some pleasant small parks. LEFT on Madison, R on Fortification, L on Carlisle, R on Kenwood Pl., to Bellhaven Park. Pass the Eudora Welty House, and then take a jaunt through the small campus of Bellhaven University, which has a small but pleasant pedestrian trail. Use Peachtree-Pinehurst-Jefferson for the route back.

Add-Ons: Explore additional streets in the neighborhood, for example east of the university to I-55. It’s also 0.75 miles along Riverside Dr. to LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, where there are 2-3 miles of pleasant nature trails for running. The Eastover neighborhood north of the LeFleur’s Bluff is also pleasant for running.