El Paso is located in far western Texas, on the border with New Mexoico and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The terrain is mostly open scrub and desert, with the Franklin Mountains rising north of downtown. The elements are major factors for running in El Paso: it’s sunny more than 300 days a year, and relentlessly hot from May through September. The terrain is hilly, rugged and exposed — there are few trees and little shade.
A favorite place to run in El Paso is along Scenic Drive, which features great views and some good hills. The best options for easier off-road running longer, the Pat O’Rourke Memorial Trail, Rio Grande River Trail, and the lake loop at Ascarate Park. For a taste of desert running, we recommend the road into McKelligon Canyon and the trails around Westside Open Preserve. Good neighborhoods for running are Sunset Heights near downtown, and the Manhattan Heights neighborhood, which can be combined with Scenic Drive.
El Paso is a fairly car-oriented city, although the Sun Metro Mass Transit System offers decent bus service around the city
