Best running trails in Wisconsin
Ranked by the runners who actually run there — Google rating weighted by review volume, across 240,421 reviews of Wisconsin trails. A trail needs at least 25 reviews to qualify (227 in Wisconsin do) and each name appears once. Nobody pays for a place. Updated 2026.
The 20 below run across 19 cities, 5 of them paved, 2 loops, 1 shaded, and 2 with a stated distance. This is a popularity ranking, not a difficulty score — for what a trail is actually like underfoot, open its page for surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms and parking.
Veterans Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,516 reviews
Park on Lake Michigan featuring a veterans memorial, fishing, a paved walking trail & restrooms.
Lakeside Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,428 reviews
Waterfront outdoor area with a quaint lighthouse, carousel & mini train ride, plus boat rentals.
Riverside Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,076 reviews
This enduring park has trails, open spaces & a band shell & also hosts an annual Riverfest.
Lake Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,701 reviews
Venerable lakefront park with a golf course, ball fields, nature paths, events & an 1855 lighthouse.
Carson Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,247 reviews
Serene lakeside park with a historic baseball stadium, kiddie train ride, local museum & playground.
Voyageur Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,785 reviews
Quaint city park on the banks of the Fox River with a playground, paved trails & boat docks.
Greenfield Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,616 reviews
Recreation area featuring a family water park with waterslides, an 18-hole golf course & more.
Palmer Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,245 reviews
164-acre park with a unique, ADA-compliant playground, a wading pool, ball courts & picnic areas.
Brown County WI Fonferek's Glen
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,171 reviews
This 74-acre nature park features a waterfall, dolomite cliffs, a creek, native trees & more.
Estabrook Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,153 reviews
Urban oasis on the Milwaukee River with a hiking trail, skate park, dog area & sport courts.
Doctor's Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,119 reviews
Remote beach area on the lakefront with wild & paved trails from the bluff parking lot to the shore.
Lakefront Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,066 reviews
City-run park hosting a calendar of outdoor concerts as well as having 7-day summer lifeguard cover.
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
4.8 ★★★★★ 985 reviews
160 acres comprising a variety of landscapes, with hiking & biking trails & downtown views.
Sheridan Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 994 reviews
Waterside access & vistas, plus tennis, basketball, playgrounds & a paved multi-use trail.
HarborPark
4.7 ★★★★★ 950 reviews
Scenic green space boasting a lakeside promenade, a splash pad, a sculpture garden & summer events.
Upper Lake Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 913 reviews
Large park on Lake Michigan with a playground, scenic views, hiking/biking trails & beach access.
Wildwood Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 899 reviews
Recreation area offering nature trails, disc golf, an outdoor pool & fishing ponds on 340 acres.
Iverson Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 867 reviews
Home to many birds, this treed public space features a ball field, play area, beach & picnic spots.
Jefferson Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 914 reviews
Park with ballfields and playgrounds for kids along the shoreline of the Winnebago River.
Where these trails are
The cities in this ranking, if you'd rather start from where you live.
- Running trails in Milwaukee, WI
- Running trails in Fond du Lac, WI
- Running trails in La Crosse, WI
- Running trails in Eau Claire, WI
- Running trails in De Pere, WI
- Running trails in West Allis, WI
- Running trails in Janesville, WI
- Running trails in Green Bay, WI
- Running trails in Shorewood, WI
- Running trails in Fox Point, WI
- Running trails in Hudson, WI
- Running trails in Middleton, WI
- Running trails in Sussex, WI
- Running trails in Cudahy, WI
- Running trails in Kenosha, WI
- Running trails in Port Washington, WI
- Running trails in Marshfield, WI
- Running trails in Stevens Point, WI
- Running trails in Menasha, WI