Chapter 33: List of Trails

Due to the increase in popularity of running and hiking trails, we’re seeing an increase in the number of trails each year. One of the most active organizations is Rails to Trails. This nonprofit buys railroad rights of way and sells it back to local or state governments for local trail development (www.railstotrails.org). Many of their projects are finalized with a paved trail but some are not.

A growing number of park departments have websites. When you do a web search for trails, you will often find a website with maps and access points.

Websites to help you find local trails:

• www.traillink.com

• trails.gorp.com

• www.seriousrunning.com

• www.trails.com

• www.alltrails.com

• www.trailrunners.org

• www.americantrails.org

• www.tripleblaze.com/Hiking-Trails

• www.trailsource.com

• en.wikiloc.com/trails/running/united-states—Individuals can post trails with description.

Visit the websites for the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. Both are over 1,000 miles long and have many access points. Some segments will bring you into remote areas.

Trails that have been recommended by other runners:

Alabama

• www.alapark.com/Trails

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/al-running-trails.aspx

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?area=10048

• Pelham—Oak Mountain State Park

• www.alapark.com/oakmountain/

Alaska

• www.alaska.org

• www.alaska.com/hiking

• www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=10049

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Alaska_12.html

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ak-running-trails.aspx

• www.anchorage.net/ak/trails

• www.ketchikanalaska.com/adventure/hikingtrails.html

Arizona

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=AZ

• www.traillink.com/trailsearch.aspx?state=AZ

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Arizona_13.html

• www.aztrail.org

• www.arizonahikingtrails.com

• Grand Canyon—South Rim Trail

• Phoenix—There are a number of desert preserves with trails in the metro area. Do a web search for the parks in your area.

• Sedona—Red Rocks: a variety but try Bell Rock trail: www.sedonahikingtrails.com/bell-rock_trail.htm

• Phoenix area (Fountain Hills)—Pemberton Trail in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park: Recommend clockwise for an uphill first half, then downhill. Mostly smooth with relatively small rocky segments.

Arkansas

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ar-hiking-trails.aspx

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Arkansas_14.html

• www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=10007

• www.arkansasstateparks.com/things-to-do/trails

• Allison—Sylamore Trail: A 23-mile point-to-point in the Ozarks. www.ouachitamaps.com/Sylamore%20Trail.html

• Bentonville—www.bentonvillear.com/parks_trails_pathways.html

California

• www.traillink.com/state/ca-trails.aspx

• www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=13049

• www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=14607

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/California_15.html

• trailrunners.org/

• Santa Monica—Fire trails in the Santa Monica mountains. Sycamore Cove fire road is recommended by Steve Alnwick.

• Tahoe City—Dollar Hill Nordic Trails, north of Tahoe City.

• Auburn—Auburn State Recreational Area

• Lake Tahoe—www.tahoerimtrail.org

• Lompoc Mission—Beautiful trails

• Marin County—North Bolinas Coastal Trail into Point Reyes National Park

• Marin County—Tennessee Valley Trail

• Marin County—Mount Tamalpais trail system

• Orange County—www.ocparks.com: Westin Galloway recommends the Aliso and Wood Canyons Park, Crystal Cove State Park (including Laguna Beach), and Peters Canyon.

• Point Reyes National Park—Trails throughout this beautiful seacoast area

• North of Bodega Bay (on the coast west of Santa Rosa)—Shell Beach to Goat Rock

• Oakland—Redwood Regional Park: Especially the Canyon Meadows Trail through the redwoods.www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood

• Sacramento—A great system of trails (paved, gravel, and dirt) along the two rivers

• Woodside (west side, San Francisco Bay area)—Huddart Park: Scenic and tree covered

• Walnut Creek (east side, San Francisco Bay area)—MT Diablo: Good views, with many miles of fire roads and trails.

• San Diego area—Los Penesquitos Canyon: Great variety, gorgeous and peaceful.

Colorado

• www.coloradotrail.org—Hope Pass trail is recommended

• www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=10017

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=CO

• www.traillink.com/trailsearch.aspx?state=CO

• Aspen—Triangle Pass trail

• Boulder—Mesa trail: 6 miles one way. Also check out Chautauqua Park Trailhead, and look at the other trails listed at www.protrails.com.

• Colorado Springs—Barr Trail up Pike’s Peak: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barr_Trail; farrunner.com/

• Near Colorado Springs—Red Rocks, Garden of the Gods;Williams Canyon and Waldo Canyon. See www.cospringstrails.com\hikes\williams.

• Ouray—Perimeter Trail

Connecticut

• www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=3535&q=259678—Trail list with maps

• www.cttrailrunning.com—CT trail database with other links

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=CT

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ct-hiking-trails.aspx

• www.tripleblaze.com/Hiking-Trails/Connecticut_10.html

• East Hampton—Airline Trail: Just off CT Route 2 on the south side of the road. This is a great running rail trail—solid surface, no pavement.

Delaware

• www.destateparks.com/activities/trails/hiking/index.asp

• www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=10051

• www.trailsource.com/scripts/three.asp?STATENAME=DELAWARE&TYPE=HIKE

• www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=11

District of Columbia

• www.trails.gorp.com/TrailSearch?state=DC

• www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=12845

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/dc-running-trails.aspx

• Georgetown—C & O Canal Towpath

• Potomac River trails on west side of the river from downtown to Mt Vernon

• www.bikewashington.org

Florida

• www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/default.htm—Various trails with maps

• floridatrailrunning.com/trails.html—Various trails with maps

• www.floridatrail.org

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/fl-running-trails.aspx

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=FL

• Blue Mountain Beach—Galloway retreats use this train system of hundreds of miles between Destin and Panama City.

• Fort Clinch Trail—www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch/activities.cfm#22

• Gainesville—San Felasco Hammock Nature Preserve State Park

• Oscar Scherer State Park

• Stuart—Halpatiokee trail

• Lakeland—Circle B Bar Reserve: A nature preserve of Polk County.

Georgia

• Kennesaw Mountain, Chickamauga

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ga-running-trails.aspx

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Georgia_21.html

• www.georgiatrails.com

• www.run100miles.com/georgia-trail-running

• www.atlantatrails.com

• Chickamauga National Battlefield Park—A battlefield during the Civil War; this has a number of recreational trails and roads with little traffic and is located south of the Tennessee state line in northwest Georgia.

• Marietta—Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park: Great running on about 16 miles of trails.

• Sandy Springs/East Marietta—Columns Drive/Cochran Shoals: North of Atlanta along Chattahoochee River (National Park). There’s an approximately 3-mile loop on the flat and several miles of forest trails with some hills.

• Savannah—Skidaway Island: Scenic and flat with variety.

• Douglasville—Sweetwater Creek State Park: Scenic with various degrees of difficulty.

Hawaii

• www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/recreation/hiking/index.htmHawaii

• hawaiistateparks.org/hiking/

• www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=10015

• thebackpacker.com/trails/hi/

• www.tripleblaze.com/Hiking-Trails/Hawaii_15.html

Idaho

• www.trails.idaho.gov

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=ID

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/id-hiking-trails.aspx

• Boise—stevestuebner.com/books/boise-trail-guide.htm: A good resource but must pay for maps.

• North Idaho Centennial Trail—Beautiful trail along Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River: www.northidahocentennialtrail.org

Indiana

• www.indianatrails.com

• www.southernindianatrails.freehostia.com

• www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/4240.htm

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=IN

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/in-hiking-trails.aspx

• Avon—Avon-Washington Township Park (west of Indianapolis): Limited number of trails.

• Plainfield—Sodalis Nature Park: 3.5 miles of nature trails near hotels.

• Indianapolis—Eagle Creek Park: 22 miles of meandering trails.

• Nashville—Yellowwood State Forest: Lots of options, from Visitor Center.

• Martinsville—Morgan-Monroe State Forest: Many options.

Iowa

• www.icgov.org/default/?id=1055

• www.iowatrails.net/resources

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?stat=IA

• www.tripleblaze.com/Hiking-Trails/Iowa_19.html

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Iowa_26.html

Illinois

• fpdcc.com/preserves-and-trails/maps/—Forest preserve areas of Cook County.

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/il-running-trails.aspx

• alltrails.com/us/illinois/trail-running

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=IL

• www.citra.ivs.org—Mostly trail races but offers contacts

• www.reconnectwithnature.org/recreation/Hiking-Running—Forest preserve of Will County

• dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks

• Warrenville—Blackwell Forest Preserve: 9 miles of scenic trails with connection to the Prairie Trail. Avoid the hilltop loop.

Kansas

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ks-running-trails.aspx

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=KS

• www.trailsofkansas.com/kansashikingtrails.html

• www.thebackpacker.com/trails/ks/

Kentucky

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=KY

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ky-running-trails.aspx

• www.thebackpacker.com/trails/ky/

• Land Between the Lakes, KY—Several trails including the Honker Trail.

• Lexington, KY—www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=262

• www.shakervillageky.org/The_Nature_Preserve/Hiking_Biking

Louisiana

• www.crt.state.la.us/parks/TrailsChart.htm

• www.louisianatrails.org/traillocation.html

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=LA

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/la-hiking-trails.aspx

Maine

• www.mainetrailfinder.com

• www.maineoutdoors.com/hiking/hike_info_trails.shtml

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=ME

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/me-hiking-trails.aspx

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Maine_30.html

• Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor.

• New Gloucester—Henning Pineland Farms: 15 miles of trails.

Maryland

• www.dnr.state.md.us/land/MD_Trails/Trails_in_MD.asp

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=MD

• www.mdmountainside.com/attraction/great_allegheny_passage

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/md-running-trails .aspx

• Cumberland—Great Alleghany Trail

• Tow Path—From Washington, D.C., Georgetown.

Massachusetts

• www.mass.gov/portal/tourism/outdoor/hiking/

• www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/trails.htm

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ma-running-trails.aspx

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=MA

• Boston—Asphalt trail along the Charles River in downtown area.

• Mount Greylock

Michigan

• trailsmichigan.com/index.html

• www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_16839---,00.html

• www.michigantrails.org/map

• www.traillink.com/state/mi-trails.aspx

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=MI

• Grand Island in upper Michigan—Varied terrain.

• Marquette,—marquette.ifindtrail.com/

• Paradise—Taqua trail: Variety of terrain and footing.

• Shelby Township—Stoney Creek Trail: Several options including a 6-mile loop around a beautiful lake on a paved path.

• Rochester—Lake Orion; Paint Creek Trail: 10 miles point-to-point.

• Upper Peninsula—Escarpment trail in the Porcupine Mountain State Park. www. michigandnr.com/parksandtrails

Minnesota

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=MN

• www.traillink.com/state/mn-trails.aspx

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Minnesota_34.html

• www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/index.html

• www.exploreminnesota.com/things-to-do/outdoors-nature/hiking/index.aspx

• Duluth—www.duluthmn.gov/parks/trail_listing.cfm

• Minneapolis—Numerous paved trails around lakes and throughout the metro area. Lake of the Isles is a favorite and is near the downtown area. www.mineapolisparks.org

• www.bloomingtonmn.org/page/1/activity-detail.jsp?id=2228&name= Chain%20 of%20Lakes&type=Outdoor%20Activities#.UXKhGcrWkuM

• Lake Superior Trail—From Duluth to the Canadian border: www.shta.org

• Rochester—www.rochestermn.gov/departments/park/trails/index.asp

• Mankato—www.mankato-mn.gov/Trails/Page.aspx

Mississippi

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ms-running-trails.aspx

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=MS

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Mississippi_35.html

• www.thebackpacker.com/trails/ms/

Missouri

• mostateparks.com/trails/lake-ozarks-state-park

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=MO

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/mo-running-trails.aspx

• Cape Giradeau—www.visitcape.com/Hiking.aspx

• Kirksville—Thousand Hills Trail: 11 miles of woods, savannahs, streams, and wildlife.

• Blue Springs (east of Kansas City)—Landahl MTB trails: 20 miles of wonderful single track trails.

• Springfield—Several all-purpose paved trails.

Montana

• alltrails.com/us/montana/bozeman/trail-running

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=MT

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/mt-running-trails.aspx

• Billings—Heading uphill from the university to the airport, stay to the left. Within a few hundred yards is a path that becomes a trail on a ledge with a beautiful view.

• Bozeman

• Cooke City, to East Rosebud—This 27-mile trail starts at 7,000 feet above sea level and rises to 10,000 feet along 7 lakes and 3 waterfalls.

• Livingston—Gallatin National Park: Ask about bears, however.

• Missoula—Check in with the Runner’s Edge running store staff for trails. There’s a great asphalt trail that goes along the river with many access points from downtown. www.missoulian.com/app/hikebike/

• Whitefish—www.allwhitefish.com/summer_recreation/hiking_backpacking.php

Nebraska

• www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?state=NE

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=NE

• www.seriousrunning.com/Trail-Running/Nebraska_38.html

• www.traillink.com/stateactivity/ne-hiking-trails.aspx

• Lincoln—www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/parks/parksfacilities/trails; www.gptn.org/trails/info

• Omaha—www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_5920.asp

Nevada

• www.nvtrailmaps.com

• www.parks.nv.gov/trail

• www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=NV