Since L.A. is so large and features such a great variety for running, we’ve grouped routes by type (beach, park & canyon/boulevard, drives, and homes) and geographic area. Click in the links for routes in those area. See also our guides for north of L.A. (Malibu to Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, Central Coast) and south of L.A. (Anaheim, Orange County, Long Beach)
Routes By Theme (some overlapping)
Beach
The Strand. 22-mile bike path from Will Rogers State Beach in north to Torrance Beach in South.
Santa Monica-Venice Beach. 3.3 mile path one-way.
Manhattan Beach to Redondo Beach. Includes famous “Strand”.
Zuma Beach (Malibu). Best beach for running in Malibu.
Parks and Canyons
Runyon Canyon Park. Two blocks from Hollywood Blvd., great views.
Griffith Park. Largest urban park in the U.S.
Elysian Park. Great park in East L.A. and near Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles State Historic Park. An oasis of green downtown, near Chinatown/Elysian Park
Pallisades Park. Fabulous park in Santa Monica with great views.
Ballona Creek/Dockweiler Beach. Wetlands and running along the beach.
Palos Verdes. In southern area, great roads w/ocean views and trails.
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area/Baldwin Hills. In Culver City area. 7 miles of scenic trails, overlooks, famous Culver Trails. Can combine w/Ballona Creek path.
Boulevards, Drives, and Homes
We don’t often recommend running along busy city streets. But Wilshire Blvd., Sunset Blvd., and Hollywood Blvd. are wide, famous, interesting…and ‘runnable’ (except perhaps Hollywood Blvd).
Hollywood Tour. An iconic run in L.A. incorporating famous sites.
Wilshire Blvd. 5 miles from MacArthur Park to L.A. County Museum of Art
Hancock Park Neighborhood. Gorgeous residential area in central L.A. just east of La Brea.
Sunset Blvd. Famous road through the heart of Hollywood.
San Vincente Blvd. Shady, greenery-lined median is a popular running spot near Santa Monica, Westwood, and Brentwood.
Melrose-Beverly. Numerous shops and restaurants, L.A. Farmers Market, upscale Grove shopping center, the trails of Pan Pacific Park, etc.
Routes by Area
Downtown: Wilshire Blvd; L.A. River Trail; Los Angeles State Historic Park; Elysian Park/Dodger Stadium
North: Griffith Park; Runyon Canyon Park; Hollywood Hills; Sepulveda Basin/Lake Balboa;
Near LAX/Inglewood/Culver City: Santa Monica, Pallisades Park, Playa Del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Ballona Creek, Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area/Baldwin Hills.
East L.A.: Elysian Park, Los Angeles River Trail
Central L.A.: Hancock Park neighborhood
Hollywood/Beverly Hills: Runyon Canyon Park Sunset Blvd; San Vincente Blvd; Melrose/Beverly
West L.A./Santa Monica: San Vincente Blvd; Sunset Blvd; Pallisades Park; Santa Monica-Venice Beach; Zuma Beach
South Bay: Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes
North of Los Angeles: See our guides for L.A. north of Malibu, Santa Barbara, and the Central Coast up to Big Sur.
South of Los Angeles: See our guides for Long Beach, Anaheim and Orange County.
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The path around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena is a nice 3.1mile loop.