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Running trails in Arkansas
272 trails across 53 cities in Arkansas, with the most in Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Bella Vista — including 44 paved, 34 loops, 33 shaded, and 15 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the Arkansas trails below.
Cities in Arkansas
Every city and town in Arkansas with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Fayetteville
- Bentonville
- Bella Vista
- Little Rock
- Rogers
- Springdale
- Conway
- Fort Smith
- Hot Springs
- Harrison
- Russellville
- Siloam Springs
- Hot Springs National Park
- North Little Rock
- Paragould
- Benton
- Mountain Home
- Searcy
- Van Buren
- Batesville
- Roland
- Sherwood
- Texarkana
- Bryant
- Cabot
- Camden
- Centerton
- Jacksonville
- Jonesboro
- Magnolia
- Maumelle
- Pine Bluff
- El Dorado
- Lowell
- Mountain View
- Pea Ridge
- Arkadelphia
- Ashdown
- Deer
- Farmington
- Garfield
- Gentry
- Greenbrier
- Harrisburg
- Heber Springs
- Hot Springs Village
- Malvern
- Marion
- Mountainburg
- Umpire
- West Helena
- West Memphis
- Yellville
Notable running trails in Arkansas
The Arkansas trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-Arkansas ranking →
Tanyard Creek Nature Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,981 reviews
Nature area with several waterfalls, a lake and creeks.
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,466 reviews
Expansive park provides hiking trails with mountain vistas, canoeing, a visitor center & arboretum.
Lake Fayetteville Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,454 reviews
Laid-back, sprawling natural space offering a boat dock, fishing & trails for walking & biking.
Craighead Forest Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,375 reviews
Sizable park with hiking trails, a playground, sport courts, disc golf & a lake for fishing.
Lake Dardanelle State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,942 reviews
Park offering a visitor center with aquatic exhibits, campgrounds & a fishing tournament pavillion.
Pea Ridge National Military Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,446 reviews
Large, intact former Civil War battlefield, with hiking & horseback riding trails & a small museum.
Lake Fort Smith State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,335 reviews
In a scenic Ozark valley, this lakeside setting offers camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking & cabins.
Woolly Hollow State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,295 reviews
Lakeside natural area with boat rental & launching, campsites, hiking trails, showers & a snack bar.
Orchards Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,254 reviews
Charming, spacious public park featuring a lake & fountain, open fields & a tranquil flower garden.
Beaverfork Park Lake
4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,335 reviews
Vast lakefront area with swimming, fishing, a boat launch, sports facilities & picnic areas.
Ben Geren Regional Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,280 reviews
Wide-ranging park with a disc golf course, a mountain biking trail, a playground & other features.
Gulley Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,205 reviews
Simple recreational park offering a children's playground, stream & a gazebo with live music.
Tyndall Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,225 reviews
Venue offering softball, tennis & basketball, plus a skate park, splash pad & community center.
Slaughter Pen Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 1,091 reviews
Tail network popular among bikers, offering a variety of challenging courses in lush surrounds.
Carol Ann Cross Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,078 reviews
Community park featuring a playground, a pavilion, walking trails, a pond, restrooms & more.
Entergy Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 995 reviews
Waterside recreational park offering walking trails, fishing spots, playgrounds & a scenic overlook.
Kessler Mountain Regional Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 948 reviews
Green space featuring trails for hiking & mountain biking along with soccer & baseball fields.
Mills Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 916 reviews
Park featuring a playground, pool, picnic facilities, and basketball and tennis courts.
J.B. Hunt Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 843 reviews
Massive, 200-acre mainstay for recreation, with sports fields, hiking & biking trails & swing sets.
Murphy Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 894 reviews
This 40-acre park features a fishing pond, a playground, a rec center, an aquatics center & more.
Lake Willastein Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 833 reviews
Lake and riverside park with walking trails and fishing, plus a playground, boat moorings and barbecues, plus picnic tables.
Cook's Landing Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 818 reviews
Park offering trails for walking, biking, and running, plus fishing and a boat ramp.
Boyle Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 852 reviews
This sizable park features multiple trails & play areas, sports facilities & a fishing stream.
Harry E. Kelley River Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 753 reviews
Recreational park on the river featuring an outdoor amphitheater, picnic tables, trails & fishing.
Two Rivers Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 690 reviews
Natural area with bike paths, picnic tables, a playground, and trails.
No trails match those filters.
Arkansas trails by surface
Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.
More ways to find a trail in Arkansas
- Best running trails in Arkansas — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 34 in Arkansas come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 15 in Arkansas are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 33 in Arkansas keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 30 in Arkansas have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 105 in Arkansas, and 56 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 87 in Arkansas have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 65 in Arkansas you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 50 in Arkansas are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 135 in Arkansas runners single out for the views
- Browse by surface — paved, crushed limestone, natural dirt or boardwalk
- All trail features — loops, shade, lighting, restrooms, mile markers and more
- Running trails by state — the rest of the country
- Trail-running guides — surfaces and your knees, loop vs out-and-back, trail etiquette, running before dawn
Trail features in Arkansas
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Restrooms
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Shaded Running Trails
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Trails with Mile Markers
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)