Published September 11, 2026 04:30AM
The best trail runs have the ability to transform us, to redefine us, even. There’s something special about navigating through golden aspens and grinding your way to a new summit where you’re greeted with 360-degree panorama views. It’s a feeling of being extremely alive paired with perspective and presence, and it never gets old.
As someone who’s been running trails for over 20 years, I can tell you that any and all time spent collecting trail miles—whether it’s a quick out-and-back on a beloved route or an all-day event running in a new place—is some of the best time I’ll spend in this life. It’s something I routinely come back to not only for how it helps with my anxiety and depression, but also because it’s so damn fun.
Some towns are built for trail running, where waking up and lacing up without having to step into a vehicle is possible, and where you’ll find rich trail life culture that unites runners, mountain bikers, and hikers. In these towns you’ll find local staples like breweries, coffee shops, and specialty stores that cater to people who spend their days on the trails.
If I could only choose a few, here they are—five towns where you can spend the day getting dirt under your feet, and be back in town for a run club happy hour.
Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon (population 107,300) is one of those places you think won’t live up to the hype, until you visit. This beautiful mountain town sits at about 3,600 feet above sea level, and its backyard includes the Deschutes National Forest and the Deschutes River, both of which afford tons of outdoor recreation opportunities. You can do nearly everything: cross–country skiing, snowshoeing, floating the Deschutes, whizzing through the treetops on a zipline at Mount Bachelor, hiking, fat biking, mountain biking, off-roading, backpacking, and even bungee jumping. Of course there’s also an abundance of trail running options, one of the best ways to get up close and personal with Bend’s high desert landscape.
The Trail Running
Get the lay of the land on your first day in Bend with a run along the Deschutes River Trail. The trail is 12 miles long with a mix of paved, gravel, and natural surface sections along both sides of the river. Footbridges link both sides of the river and allow you to make shorter loops. The Old Mill District is a great place to start your run along this trail. Few people know Bend’s running scene better than Max King, World Mountain Running Champion (2011), 100km World Champion (2014), and the founder of the Max King Trail Running Camp. King says you’ll usually end up on some section of the Deschutes River Trail, and that if you head north, you’ll hit dirt less than a mile from downtown. “If you’re creative,” he says, “you can be on dirt all the way to Tumalo.”
He also recommends a trail run around Tumalo Falls, up North Fork, Bridge Creek, South Fork, and down Swede Ridge to see what he calls “truly great Central Oregon scenery,” including the roaring waterfall that is Tumalo Falls, which plunges 97 feet over a basalt ledge into a canyon covered in fir and pine.
Another fun though challenging run is the route that takes you up Pilot Butte, an extinct cinder cone volcano within the city limits. Though this out-and-back dirt path is just 0.9 miles long one-way, you’ve got to tackle 450 feet of elevation gain in a short distance. It’s a great place to test your fitness. On a clear day, those running or hiking to the summit will be rewarded with views of town as well as the Oregon Cascades to the west and the Ochoco Mountains to the east. And if you time it right, you may get to see the mountains turn pink in sun-drenched alpenglow.
The Culture
King says the trail running culture and general running culture in Bend is great. “There are multiple races during the summer, but better than that, we have weekly runs with multiple running clubs like the Central Oregon Running Klub that hits trails right from town for a little three-to five-mile jaunt after work.”
King also leads the Tuesday Performance workout group and has been doing so for 18 years. In addition to this group, there are several group runs throughout the week that bring Bend runners of all abilities together.
Foot Zone is the epicenter of the running community in Bend. The specialty outfitter offers 5K, 10K, and two half marathon training programs. One of the half marathon training programs preps you for a road half, and the other for a trail half. They also offer fun group runs that often end at a local bakery or pizza shop, and races like the Bend Classic Mile.
Pre- and Post-Run Rituals
Bend is no stranger to good eats. You and your muddy shoes will be welcome in just about every single establishment in town. Thump Coffee is a local favorite, King says. There are four locations around town, and the coffee roaster, according to him, “makes great coffee and they cater to the Bend outdoor lifestyle by supporting multiple small outdoor businesses like the Bend Marathon.”
And for all its laid-back vibes, the food scene more than holds its own. Chef Joe Kim of Yoli has earned three James Beard nominations for Best Chef Northwest. The brewery scene has long been on the map with heavy hitters such as 10 Barrel Brewing Co. and Deschutes Brewery, both of which are great spots for sprawling out with some fresh hops in hand post-run. UPP Liquids and Terranaut Beer are two other local favorites worth seeking out.
Boulder, Colorado
Thirty miles northwest of Denver, on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountain foothills, lies Boulder (population 106,000). The Flatirons, the city’s signature landmark slanted sandstone peaks, rise dramatically on the west side of the city and are part of the Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP), which manages 46,000 acres of permanently protected land and roughly 155 miles of developed and maintained trails. There’s always something fun going on in Boulder, with its Saturday farmers’ markets, shopping and people-watching on Pearl Street, and packed year-round calendar of concerts, festivals, and cultural events. Case in point: in January 2027, Boulder will host the Sundance Film Festival. Nature and outdoor recreation are woven into everyday life in Boulder, where you can go trail running, climbing, mountain biking, or hiking in the morning, float Boulder Creek in the afternoon, then recap your day over a meal at Michelin-starred restaurant, Frasca Food and Wine, in the evening.
The Trail Running
Downtown sits at about 5,300 feet of elevation and has ample access to trails that can get you even higher. The Flatirons are a huge draw for both locals and tourists and a must-see for any first-time visitor. The city offers a free Park to Park shuttle from downtown to Chautauqua Park on weekends and holidays in the summer. Or, you can run to them right from the middle of town. From the Alpine Modern Cafe off College Avenue, it’s just under a mile to reach several trailheads, including Chautauqua Trail where you can link up with the dog-friendly Mesa Trail for 6.6 miles of gorgeous scenery and rolling hills.
According to Bryan Dayton, a longtime Boulder resident and trail runner, the best trail running loops start at the South Boulder Creek trailhead in South Boulder. “You get a good little warm-up at the beginning, nice and mellow, then you start cruising up and literally hit the best trail runs in all of Boulder. You can go any direction. You can run a single track, and the whole time, never touch asphalt.” Dayton won back-to-back USATF 50K championships in 2006 and 2007 and credits his success to his training in Boulder. “You can hit the vertical right out your backdoor, then transition to the flatland where you can really find a cadence.”
For an epic trail run, the Boulder Skyline Traverse is a challenging run that links up five of the most iconic peaks on Boulder’s skyline: Bear Peak, South Boulder Peak, Green Mountain, Flagstaff Mountain, and Mt. Sanitas. This roughly 17-mile point-to-point trek will push you through 5,900 feet of elevation gain with steep, technical sections on exposed ridgelines that make for an epic and memorable run with 360-degree panoramic views—some of the best in the area. It’s both a quad-buster and a lung-burning trail that will challenge even the fittest runners.
The Culture
The University of Colorado Boulder’s cross-country and track and field teams won several NCAA Division I championships, but Boulder’s running scene is bigger than the university. Its extensive trail network has made it a regional hub for runners. It’s not unusual to spot elites training on the same trails as you, just at different splits. Dayton says, “You’ve got Olympians and beginners all hanging out together, running at any kind of pace. He says it’s an accepting and welcoming community where the focus is “all about the joy of getting out there and getting some miles in.”
Local running shops like the Runners Roost host group trail runs for all paces every Wednesday evening in snow, rain, or shine.
Pre- and Post-Run Rituals
Like many runners, after about 90 minutes on the trail, I start daydreaming about what I’m going to eat and drink when I get back. Luckily for Boulder runners, there are plenty of options. You can slake a wide range of appetites and thirsts at The Rayback Collective, a food truck park with a bar and tap house on site. Dogs are welcome. There are fire pits, cornhole, and plenty of space to hang out. On the east side of town, Wild Provisions Beer Project creates crisp Czech-style lagers and funky, wild-fermented ales, all of which go great with Corner Pizza’s square slices.
Dayton is also the owner and managing partner of Half Eaten Cookie Hospitality, and he operates local restaurants Corrida, CBurger, and CBar. “You’ll often find runners at Beleza Coffee Bar and CBurger,” he says. Beleza is an intentionally wifi-free space where the focus is on great coffee, community, and conversation. CBurger’s smashburgers are made with 100 percent Colorado-raised, sustainable, regenerative beef. A tray of them is a popular crave-worthy option after a day on the trails. Dayton says the restaurant scene in Boulder keeps growing, as does the running community. With world-class trails literally in your backyard, you can run for hours in the mountains and then sit down to an incredible meal, all in the same day.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga (population 194,000), located in Southeast Tennessee, is a place where colorful murals abound, and there are a growing number of restaurants, breweries, and local shops. Long gone are the days when it was known for its polluted waterways and air. In 2025, the fourth largest city in Tennessee became the first National Park City in North America. The name Chattanooga comes from a Creek word that means “rock coming to a point,” alluding to Lookout Mountain, an historic mountain ridge that rises 2,000 feet above the city. The ridge makes for a picturesque backdrop, especially during fall when the leaves turn deep reds and oranges, but it’s also a playground for hikers and trail runners. You can get expansive views at Snooper’s Rock in Prentice Cooper State Forest or watch the sun dip below the horizon at the aptly named Sunset Rock. Standup paddleboarders and kayakers flock to the Tennessee River, which curves through the city, and during the summer months, you can lie a blanket down on the lawn at Ross’ Landing to enjoy a free summer concert as the setting sun turns the river golden. Mountain bikers frequent Scenic City, which has an abundance of miles of singletrack in hotspots like Raccoon Mountain.
The Trail Running
There are numerous trail running options in Chattanooga, too, many of which don’t require hopping in a vehicle to access. The 16-mile Tennessee Riverwalk is a good place to start, and like the name suggests, runs alongside the river on a mix of paved sections, boardwalks, bridges, and miles of scenic waterfront views. It’s a busy multi-use trail with several put-ins and take-outs. The Riverwalk extends south to the historic St. Elmo neighborhood at the foot of Lookout Mountain, where runners can connect to the mountain’s trail system.
Stringers Ridge, according to local trail runner Peter Hagemeyer, is the best option. “The outer loop is about 4.5 miles of singletrack, but it’s accessible enough that it works great for mixed surface runs,” he says. “The Cherokee Overlook is a Chattanooga classic vista. It was recently connected to Red Bank, giving runners there a few more trail options.”
You’ll also get some good views of downtown as well as the Tennessee River. Chattanooga’s trail variety, Hagemeyer says, means that new runners can access less technical trails, but experienced runners can access a mix of technical trails, big loops, and decent vert. If he had to pick just one route to run in Chattanooga forever, it’d be what he and other locals call the 11-mile “Big Daddy Loop” on Lookout Mountain, made up of the Skyuka and Bluff Trails Loop.
Ginny Smith, owner and director of Bad Beard Events, says, “What’s unique about Chattanooga is that you can be standing downtown and within 10 or 15 minutes be at the base of Lookout Mountain via the Riverwalk, on Raccoon Mountain, at Stringer’s Ridge, or up on Signal.”
Smith’s Bad Beard Events provides some of the most unique trail racing experiences in the Southeast; everything from 5K to 100K, and an event called Oli Kai, which offers three, six, and nine-hour options for runners to complete as many 2.1-mile loops as they can. Bad Beard’s races are a solid way to see what Chattanooga trail running is about. And according to Smith, you might find yourself surprised at how hard the terrain can be. “These aren’t huge Western mountains, so people can look at the elevation numbers and underestimate them.” Chattanooga trails are steep, rocky, and surprisingly technical, she says.
The Culture
A big dilemma in Chattanooga is deciding how to spend your time. The heat and humidity in the summer can be absolutely brutal, but it doesn’t stop the locals. Go for a long run solo or log miles with one of many group runs in Chattanooga. There are meetups every single night of the week.
“We take great pride in our trails, and there’s a lot of overlap between the people who run the trails and those who maintain them. There’s an enormous amount of work behind our trails—nonprofits, land trusts, volunteers, trail organizations, public agencies, and individual people who have spent decades protecting land and building and maintaining access.” Smith says that those efforts are a big part of the Chattanooga culture.
If you’re in town and need a few gels, some new trail shoes, or want to chat with a local runner about routes, you’ll find all of that and more at Fast Break, Fleet Feet, and Gearhead Outfitters. And you may just run into Hagemeyer, who works at Fast Break.
Pre- and Post-Run Rituals
Niedlov’s Bakery and Café earned themselves a James Beard Semifinalist nomination in 2026 for Outstanding Bakery and will be ready for you before or after your run with a hot coffee and danish. On Friday nights their bakery turns into one of the most sought-after pizzerias in the city.
Wayward Pastry Co. and Goodman Coffee Roasters are two locally owned businesses in the St. Elmo neighborhood that, according to Bartholomew, are great spots to begin and end a run up Lookout Mountain. He’s also a big fan of Oddstory Brewing Co., which has two dog-friendly locations that serve up delicious eats.
Marquette, Michigan
The outdoors are a way of life in Marquette, Michigan (population 22,000). Though their winters can be long, cold, and dark with lake-effect snow, summers in the Upper Peninsula are mild. Getting out on the clear, cold water is a favorite local pastime. Fall is brief but gorgeous. The leaves turn the landscape into a picture-perfect postcard, and from September to March you’ll likely see the northern lights turn the sky into a dazzling light show of purples and greens. The seasons and the weather can dictate outdoor activities, but locals get after it even in the coldest weather. When there’s too much snow for trail running, folks just trade their running shoes for skis, snowshoes, mountain bikes, and fat tire bikes.
The Trail Running
Trail runners visiting Marquette will love the diversity of miles accessible right from town. There are numerous options for miles, including lakeside paths, technical, rocky, and rooted sections under forest canopies; and along the city’s historic streets which, during fall, become ablaze in reds, oranges, and yellows. The Iron Ore Heritage Trail is a well-marked multi-use trail that starts east of Marquette in Chocolay Township, that passes through Marquette and ends 47 miles later in the small town of Republic. This path is a backbone to the trail system in Marquette. Runners enjoy the numerous trailheads that branch off of it, which give you plenty of options for piecing together other trail running adventures.
The Noquemanon Trail Network, locally known as the NTN North and NTN South Trails, is where you want to head if you’re looking for a network of singletrack trails loved by mountain bikers, hikers, snowshoers, and trail runners alike. The NTN’s North section of trails parallels the Dead River. You can link up with these trails by running from downtown or you can park at the trailhead just off Wright Street. The very photogenic Wright Street Falls are nearby. Grab a quick photo, then choose from the 30+ miles of trails in this section, including the BLP Loop, Silver Lead, and the Upper Blue Heron Trail. If you have a young MTB rider in your family, the 906 Bicycle Playground is also located in the NTN North area. Though designed with kids in mind, riders of any age can practice on the bridges, skinny logs, and rock garden to improve their skills.
The NTN South Trails are an even larger network boasting over 45 miles of trails that runners can string together. The East and West Greywalls trails are popular and will lead you through the forest past the Orianna and Western Brooks, over wooden bridges, and past both the Pioneer and Marquette Township Overlooks.
The Culture
Queen City Running Company is located downtown and is a great spot to get some local intel on trails as well as a new pair of shoes. They host weekly runs to help you stay motivated year-round and are the title sponsors of The Marquette Trail 50, a race that features a 50K, 50-mile, and free kids 1-mile run. Runners start in the dark and follow one another using headlamps as they pick their way along the trails until the sun comes up. The race affords gorgeous views from atop rocky ridges, lush forests with moss-covered boulders, and cheerful, well-stocked aid stations. It’s a celebration of community and the best of Marquette.
Pre- and Post-Run Rituals
Post-run or race, head to Dead River Coffee Roasters for a freshly brewed cup of coffee and then head a block east towards the waterfront. It’s a mile walk to the beautiful Marquette Harbor Lighthouse that offers tours Tuesday through Sunday. One street over from Dead River Coffee Roasters is Ore Dock Brewing Co., a fun spot for the craft beer-drinking, trail running crowd. They’ve got a rotating cast of musicians that play their taproom with a sunny outdoor patio and a cozy inside space for colder nights. You can also toast to a fun day on the trails at Blackrocks Brewery, which, in addition to their inventive beers on tap, has a sparkling hop non-alcholic option called Day Groover to help you rehydrate after a long run. They’ve got a popular outdoor space with food trucks on-site and there’s often live music. And when it rains, the fun isn’t canceled; the music just heads indoors.
Mill Valley, California
Almost 14,000 people call Mill Valley, California, home, and with it being just 14 miles north of San Francisco, it’s close enough to the big city for you to partake in all of the food, arts, and culture that makes SanFran such a wonderful place, but far enough that the urban density starts to give way to nature. If there ever was a true runners’ paradise, this might be it. Mill Valley sits in the shadow of nearby Mount Tamalpais, or Mount Tam as the locals say, where runners have a vast network of trails through redwood forests that open up to sweeping views of the Bay Area and the Pacific Ocean. Mount Tamalpais State Park and the surrounding Golden Gate National Recreation Area give runners a unique and diverse set of trails and ecosystems where, within the span of a long run, you can see endless views of the ocean and run under towering redwoods and alongside ferns, ravines, and wildflowers.
The Trail Running
Mention trail running on the West Coast and inevitably the Dipsea comes up. This iconic 7.4-mile trail is the site of a race that started in 1905, making it the oldest trail race in the U.S. Runners lucky enough to score a race number toe the line in downtown Mill Valley in front of the Depot Cafe and Bookstore and finish at Stinson Beach, having run up about 680 steps, crossed a stream with a plank, run up numerous switchbacks, and climbed more than 1,300 feet over Mount Tamalpais. If you aren’t one of the lucky 1,500 runners to get a race entry, you can still run this route on your own and trace the steps of one of the most historic courses in the country. The race has a unique adaptive route that makes it competitive for seniors, kids, and everyone in between.
Chris Bartholomew, retail and marketing manager of the San Francisco Running Company, says there are two major launching points for trails in Mill Valley: The Depot, which is the old train station and town square in the heart of downtown, and the Tennessee Valley Trailhead just outside of town. According to Bartholomew, both are connected by bike paths and boardwalks through a tidal marsh area known as “The Flats.” He says, “A family-friendly trail is the 4ish-mile “Beach and Back” path that departs from the TV parking lot, follows an old paved road for a mile through a flat meadow with frequent deer and bobcat sightings, to Tennessee Valley Cove/Beach, named after an old shipwreck. “It’s hands-down one of the most incredibly scenic trail runs in the Marin Headlands,” he says. For those wanting to tack on extra distance, Bartholomew says, “trails on both sides of the Tennessee Valley connect to San Francisco. There is literally a trail at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge and to Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Stinson Beach, and beyond.”
The Culture
Bartholomew says trails are in the DNA of the place. “Most residents have some connection to the history of the Dipsea Race. It’s a small town, so trails are a visible part of everyday life,” he says.
The Dipsea is the centerpiece of Mill Valley’s running culture. Multiple generations come out to race and cheer on their friends and family. “It’s a big festival,” says Ulrike Koehne, Mill Valley local for over 25 years and owner of Uli K Hike and Yoga. “The Dipsea is deceptively challenging,” she says. It features the famous Cardiac Hill—which, as the name suggests, really gets your heart rate going. “When I ran it for the first time, I remember thinking, ‘It’s only 7.4 miles, that can’t be that hard.’ But the terrain packs an incredible amount of challenge into those miles,” says Koehne.
Perhaps because the race has such a long and storied history involving local families, Koehne says the community is tight-knit. San Francisco Running Company hosts Saturday morning trail runs with three different distance options, and all paces are welcome. The local Trail Sisters chapter is also a fun and extremely active group with weekly no-drop runs.
Pre- and Post-Run Rituals
In addition to the Depot Cafe and bookstore mentioned above, runners often fuel up with a latte and a breakfast frittata sandwich from Equator Coffees. Good Earth Natural Foods is just around the corner from San Francisco Running Company and is a popular spot for quick bites and post-run patio hangouts after the Saturday morning group runs.
Koehne says you’ll always run into people just back from a trail run or a ride at The Junction Beer Garden and Bottle Shop, a fun spot to grab a beer and slice of pizza from Pizza Hacker, see live music, and sprawl out with your friends. Hook Fish Co. at Proof Lab Beer Garden is another great spot for gathering with your friends. It’s a laid back place in between Proof Lab Surf Shop and Station with fish tacos, bowls, local beers on tap, as well as non-alcoholic options and an easy outdoor vibe.
