Eau Claire, one of the faster growing cities in Wisconsin, is a business and commercial center, with a population of 70,000. It’s an attractive location at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers. There are some nice options for running in Eau Claire, anchored by centrally located riverfront paths, parks, and numerous pedestrian bridges that allow for fun loops.
Our four main routes in Eau Claire can be mixed and matched in various ways. The 30-mile Chippewa River State Trail is the anchor of running in Eau Claire. There are 2.5 miles of that trail along the river, which is part of a lovely 10k Chippewa River & Halfmoon Lake route that we’ve put together. Another great place to run in Eau Claire is our Parks Tour, which includes several centrally located parks and the UWEC Campus. Carson Park is another great running spot, which can be run standalone or combined with our other Eau Claire routes. We’ve also included recommendations for trail running spots.
Runners should note Eau Claire has cold and snowy winters. Be prepared with the right clothing and gear! Several of the trail running locations are used for XC skiing in winter. As an ode to winter, there’s a 4-mile running route in Eau Claire that is prioritized for snow clearing.
