The most populous metro area in Alabama, Birmingham is a historically significant city in the north center region of the Jones Valley. It’s known as a center of the Civil Rights Movement, a railroad and steel hub, and an artistic hotspot of the southeast. Running in Birmingham, Alabama is diverse and interesting, with a good mix of centrally located multi-use trails, pretty neighborhoods, and some fantastic trail running not far from the city.
The best places to run in Birmingham are the variety of short multi-use paths highlighting local parks, including The Jemison Trail, Shades Creek Greenway, Vulcan Trail, and Railroad Park. In northern Birmingham, the Five Mile Creek Greenway is a good option. Some of the most popular neighborhood suburbs (such as Homewood and Ross Bridge), offer pleasant running though historic residential neighborhoods. There are also great trail running options nearby, offering something for every ability: Red Mountain Park, Oak Mountain State Park, and Moss Rock Preserve.
A car is generally needed to get around Birmingham, but visitors may want to try the MAX (Metro Area Express) bus service, which runs to most of our routes. If you need help finding the right bus, they have a handy trip planning tool which makes travel easy. One note: Birmingham is super hot and humid in the summer!
