The Most Beautiful Places to Run in the World
These stunning trails and roads will inspire you to find your own Rave Run.
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Why Trust Us?
Need some extra motivation to head outside? These gorgeous photos, published in our print magazine and online throughout the years, prove that running is the best way to explore our stunning planet. For extra motivation, get the 2020 Runner’s World wall calendar, filled with new amazing photography, motivational quotes, and training tips.
Yosemite National Park, California
About 3,214 feet above the Yosemite Valley is Glacier Point Road, said to be one of the most scenic stretches to run. Cool off and recover in the Merced River—just a short drive down into the valley.
Cape Cove, Oregon
Nestled inside the Siuslaw National Forest on Oregon’s Pacific coastline, the Cape Cove Trail parallels the beach for .3 mile. Here, runners can tune out the world while surrounded by regional wildflowers in full bloom.
Garibaldi Lake, British Columbia
The 5.5-mile Garibaldi Lake Trail climbs 2,690 feet through gorgeous British Columbia scenery, passing alpine forest, wildflower meadows, and a lava dam before finishing with snowy mountain views.
Big Sky, Montana
Inside Custer Gallatin National Forest, the 10-mile Porcupine Creek Trail passes wildflowers and Aspen groves through southern Montana.
Get the 2020 Runner’s World Calendar!
Twelve months of breathtaking images paired with inspirational quotes and training tips to motivate you to get out the door and explore.
Boston, Massachusetts
On the outskirts of the city’s Back Bay neighborhood—home to the area’s most popular specialty running shops and clubs—the intersection of Stuart and Berkeley Streets is only a few blocks southeast of the Boston Marathon finish line.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Across the Nam Khan River near the center of this historic city, the bamboo bridge connects to wilderness trails, offering stunning views of the Luang Prabang Mountain Range and ancient temples.
Moscow, Idaho
Hello Walk is one of the best-known pathways on the University of Idaho campus. Lined with Camperdown elms, the paved half-mile stretch links to the steep arboretum trail.
Silverton, Colorado
At 10,910 feet, Molas Pass in the San Juan Mountains boasts some of the most pristine air in the nation. Go out for 12 miles on Segment 25 of the Colorado Trail for views of Little Molas Lake.
New York, New York
Hudson River Park, built on 550 acres of old, unused piers near West Street in downtown Manhattan, is the perfect place for a shakeout run before the NYC Marathon.
Weston, Connecticut
With a little more than 20 miles of trails shaded by oaks and pitch pines, Devil’s Den Preserve is the perfect location for a fall run. The Laurel Trail leads to Godfrey Pond, located at the site of an old sawmill that operated from the time of the American Revolution until about 1865.
Teton Village, Wyoming
At 1.29 miles, the Lucky Charm Trail in Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is just a tiny portion of the vast Teton Village trail system. The network includes 56 miles of paved paths and 115 miles of trails that offer varied terrain, from grueling hills with vistas of Grand Teton National Park to flat routes through greenery that explodes with color in the fall.
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
The 23-mile stretch from Tahoe Meadows to Spooner Summit is just a fraction of the epic 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail that spans both Nevada and California.
Portland, Oregon
The Willamette River Greenway Trail is an intermittent 40-mile multiuse loop along the riverfront in downtown Portland. It starts northwest of the Fremont Bridge and ends on the southeast side of the river near Peace Memorial Park. The trail is marked by bridge crossings like the Broadway (fore-ground) and Fremont Bridges.
Swabian Alps, Germany
Boasting nearly 10 miles of rocky, steep terrain, the Traufgang Zollernburg-Panorama trail takes visitors to a lookout tower and vertigo-inducing rock outcroppings for views of the Hohenzollern Castle, the foothills of the Swabian Alps, and the town of Albstadt.
North Conway, New Hampshire
After winding through pine forests, the 3.5-mile Whitehorse Ledge trail opens onto a granite summit with stellar views of the White Mountains and the Mount Washington Valley. Although the place is also used by hikers and mountain bikers, you often feel like you have it to yourself, says Mayer. “You can roam on trails for miles without seeing anyone.”
Sundance, Utah
The Stewart Falls Trail starts at the Sundance Mountain Resort, winds through groves of aspen and pine trees, and ends 1.5 miles later at the 200-foot-high waterfall. Along the way, you’ll catch stellar views of Mount Timpanogos—at 11,752 feet, the second-highest peak in the Wasatch Range. “It’s majestic,” says Dawson. “You feel small running here.”
Butte County, California
The North Table Mountain Ecological Preserve is a 3,300-acre plateau in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, seven miles north of the town of Oroville. The mesa is known for its caves, seasonal waterfalls, and diverse display of spring wildflowers that bloom from March to early May. With no established trails, you can run and explore at will, says Stuart. “It’s such a peaceful place, especially at sunset.”
Keystone, Colorado
Loveland Pass connects the Keystone and Arapahoe Basin ski areas in the Rocky Mountains. Starting in Keystone, the five-mile stretch climbs 1,500 feet to Arapahoe Basin—a tough effort made easier by stunning alpine scenery. “It’s a gnarly run because you’re already at about 11,000 feet,” Knight says. Overlooks along the way provide places to catch your breath—and “epic” views that will take it away again.
Read article from January/February 2016 issue
Get the 2020 Runner’s World Calendar!
Twelve months of breathtaking images paired with inspirational quotes and training tips to motivate you to get out the door and explore.
Peres Jepchirchir Wins 2024 London Marathon
2024 London Marathon Results
How to Watch the 2024 London Marathon
Celebrities In the 2024 London Marathon
