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Running trails in California
3,600 trails across 495 cities in California, with the most in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose — including 423 paved, 530 loops, 895 shaded, and 152 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 California trails below.
Cities in California
Every city and town in California with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- San Jose
- Fremont
- Oakland
- Sacramento
- Irvine
- Palm Springs
- Redding
- San Francisco
- Santa Rosa
- Chula Vista
- Fresno
- Fullerton
- Huntington Beach
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Rancho Palos Verdes
- Richmond
- Riverside
- Santa Barbara
- Visalia
- Livermore
- Mill Valley
- Modesto
- Thousand Oaks
- Anaheim
- Bakersfield
- Berkeley
- Chico
- Chino Hills
- Cupertino
- Escondido
- Lake Elsinore
- Murrieta
- Novato
- Pleasanton
- Roseville
- San Rafael
- San Ramon
- Santa Cruz
- Vacaville
- Ventura
- Walnut Creek
- Calabasas
- Carlsbad
- Dublin
- Laguna Beach
- Menifee
- Palmdale
- Poway
- Santee
- Stockton
- Tracy
- Corona
- Glendora
- Hayward
- San Luis Obispo
- Truckee
- Twentynine Palms
- Vallejo
- Fontana
- Glendale
- Laguna Niguel
- Milpitas
- Oceanside
- Orange
- Ridgecrest
- San Marcos
- Atascadero
- Dana Point
- Davis
- Los Gatos
- Malibu
- Martinez
- Mission Viejo
- Napa
- Rancho Cordova
- Redwood City
- Santa Clarita
- Ukiah
- Antioch
- Brentwood
- Citrus Heights
- Costa Mesa
- Culver City
- Danville
- Elk Grove
- Encinitas
- Fairfield
- Folsom
- Goleta
- Newport Beach
- Oakley
- Rocklin
- San Clemente
- San Dimas
- Arcata
- Auburn
- Burbank
- Concord
- La Quinta
- Lancaster
- Moreno Valley
- Mountain View
- Oroville
- Palm Desert
- Redlands
- Santa Clara
- South Lake Tahoe
- Torrance
- Vista
- Watsonville
- Yorba Linda
- Yucca Valley
- Azusa
- Carpinteria
- Claremont
- Clovis
- Foster City
- Long Beach
- Morgan Hill
- Pasadena
- Perris
- Petaluma
- Salinas
- Saratoga
- Tehachapi
- Whittier
- Aliso Viejo
- El Cerrito
- Eureka
- La Cañada Flintridge
- Lodi
- Moorpark
- Orinda
- Oxnard
- Palo Alto
- Santa Ana
- Victorville
- Yucaipa
- Coronado
- Gilroy
- Lakewood
- Lathrop
- Lompoc
- Los Altos
- Morro Bay
- Pittsburg
- Red Bluff
- Sierra Madre
- Sunnyvale
- Susanville
- Tustin
- Agoura Hills
- Arcadia
- Benicia
- Fountain Valley
- Half Moon Bay
- Hollister
- La Verne
- Lake Forest
- Lincoln
- Pacific Grove
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- San Bernardino
- San Juan Capistrano
- San Mateo
- Woodland
- Alameda
- Belmont
- Campbell
- Cerritos
- Covina
- Diamond Bar
- Eastvale
- Hemet
- La Mesa
- Lafayette
- Millbrae
- Monterey
- Moraga
- Pismo Beach
- Placerville
- Redondo Beach
- Scotts Valley
- Union City
- Upland
- Apple Valley
- Arroyo Grande
- Brea
- Camarillo
- Ceres
- Daly City
- Garden Grove
- Los Banos
- Monrovia
- Monterey Park
- Palos Verdes Estates
- Porterville
- Ripon
- San Carlos
- San Leandro
- Signal Hill
- South El Monte
- Turlock
- West Sacramento
- Yuba City
- Beverly Hills
- Carson
- Clayton
- Coalinga
- Dixon
- Hercules
- Hermosa Beach
- La Habra
- Los Altos Hills
- Norco
- Pacifica
- Paso Robles
- Pico Rivera
- Pinole
- Rancho Mirage
- Rialto
- Santa Monica
- Solana Beach
- South Pasadena
- South San Francisco
- Banning
- Bellflower
- Burlingame
- Calimesa
- Colton
- Compton
- Downey
- Duarte
- El Cajon
- Fillmore
- Fortuna
- Grass Valley
- Hawthorne
- Hesperia
- Idyllwild-Pine Cove
- Imperial Beach
- Inglewood
- Jurupa Valley
- Lakeside
- Lemon Grove
- Manteca
- Menlo Park
- Merced
- Montebello
- Pleasant Hill
- Rohnert Park
- San Anselmo
- Suisun City
- West Covina
- Windsor
- Altadena
- American Canyon
- Calexico
- Carmel-By-The-Sea
- Cathedral City
- Corte Madera
- Cypress
- Del Mar
- Desert Hot Springs
- Fair Oaks
- Felton
- Hanford
- Indio
- La Puente
- Larkspur
- Manhattan Beach
- Marina
- National City
- Newhall
- Ontario
- Orcutt
- Pacific Palisades
- Paramount
- Pomona
- Santa Maria
- Seal Beach
- Seaside
- Stanton
- Topanga
- Trabuco Canyon
- Tulare
- Walnut
- Barstow
- Bell
- Buena Park
- Castro Valley
- Chino
- Clearlake Oaks
- Coachella
- Corcoran
- Cotati
- Crestline
- Crockett
- Dinuba
- El Monte
- El Sobrante
- Emeryville
- Galt
- Grover Beach
- Hacienda Heights
- Healdsburg
- La Habra Heights
- Laguna Hills
- Lawndale
- Lemoore
- Loma Linda
- Los Osos
- Lynwood
- Mt Shasta
- Newark
- Oakdale
- Patterson
- Placentia
- Playa Del Rey
- Riverbank
- Rolling Hills Estates
- Rosemead
- Sanger
- Santa Fe Springs
- Santa Paula
- Sonoma
- South Gate
- Wasco
- Albany
- Alhambra
- Anderson
- Baldwin Park
- Beaumont
- Bell Gardens
- Bonita
- California City
- Cardiff
- Cherry Valley
- Clearlake
- Delano
- East Palo Alto
- El Centro
- El Dorado Hills
- Fallbrook
- Foothill Ranch
- Friant
- Gardena
- Granada Hills
- Guadalupe
- Highland
- Huntington Park
- Imperial
- Kelseyville
- Kentfield
- Kerman
- King City
- La Honda
- La Mirada
- Lomita
- Los Alamitos
- Madera
- Nevada City
- Newbury Park
- Newport Coast
- North Tustin
- Norwalk
- Parlier
- Piedmont
- Ramona
- Reedley
- Rowland Heights
- Selma
- Shasta Lake
- Stanford
- Sun Valley
- Thousand Palms
- Tujunga
- View Park
- West Hollywood
- Angelus Oaks
- Antelope
- Aptos
- Artesia
- Arvin
- Bay Point
- Big Bear
- Blythe
- Brawley
- Brisbane
- Cantil
- Carmel Valley
- Commerce
- Corona Del Mar
- Corralitos
- Coto De Caza
- Coyote
- Cudahy
- Del Rey Oaks
- Dunsmuir
- East Garrison
- El Segundo
- Exeter
- Fairfax
- Glen Ellen
- Grand Terrace
- Hollywood
- Holtville
- Hughson
- Isla Vista
- Jenner
- Joshua Tree
- La Jolla
- La Palma
- Ladera Ranch
- Laguna Woods
- Lake Arrowhead
- Lakehead
- Lindsay
- Livingston
- Lower Lake
- Lytle Creek
- Marina Del Rey
- Mariposa
- Marysville
- Maywood
- McFarland
- Mendota
- Mentone
- Midpines
- Montclair
- Monte Rio
- MONTE VISTA
- Montecito
- Morongo Valley
- Mountain Center
- MT MADONNA
- Nipomo
- Oak Park
- Oceano
- Pajaro
- Palomar Park
- Pearblossom
- Pebble Beach
- Penn Valley
- Pilot Hill
- Pioneertown
- Port Hueneme
- PRESIDIO MTRY
- Prunedale
- Quail Valley
- Quartz Hill
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Rio Vista
- San Gabriel
- San Jacinto
- San Juan Bautista
- San Lorenzo
- San Marino
- San Martin
- San Pablo
- Sand City
- Santa Margarita
- Sebastopol
- Shafter
- Simi Valley
- Skyforest
- Spreckels
- Spring Valley
- Springville
- Springville-Johnsondale
- Stevinson
- Studio City
- Sunol
- Sylmar
- Tahoe City
- Tarzana
- Temecula
- Temple City
- Three Rivers
- Tiburon
- Travis AFB
- Valencia
- Van Nuys
- Venice
- Westminster
- Whiskeytown
- Whitewater
- Wildomar
- Winterhaven
- Winters
- Woodbridge
- Woodland Hills
- Woodside
Notable running trails in California
The California 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-California ranking →
Muir Woods National Monument
4.8 ★★★★★ 20,544 reviews
Scenic, forested park featuring giant redwood trees, long hiking trails, a visitor center & more.
San Bernardino National Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 18,077 reviews
Mountain destination for outdoor recreation, with scenic roads, multi-use trails & camping.
Dockweiler Beach
4.5 ★★★★★ 17,090 reviews
Bustling public beach offering a hang gliding training park, bonfires & views of departing aircraft.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 15,579 reviews
Acres of oceanside trails for exploring or exercising while spotting occasional dolphins or bobcats.
Beverly Hills Garden Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 14,308 reviews
Expansive, tree-filled park with fountains & jogging paths plus cacti & rose gardens.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
4.9 ★★★★★ 10,862 reviews
Scenic coastal area featuring diverse sea animals & wildlife, hiking, diving & a whaling museum.
Lake Perris State Recreation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 9,508 reviews
Reserve on a lake, popular for boating & hikes in rocky terrain home to bobcats & birdlife.
Whittier Narrows Recreation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 9,400 reviews
Diverse sports, 3 lakes, a military museum, shooting ranges, horse center, disc golf & urban farm.
Huntington State Beach
4.7 ★★★★★ 9,154 reviews
A popular surfing destination, this sandy 121-acre beach also offers a 8.5-mi. paved trail.
Irvine Regional Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 8,859 reviews
Park offers train & pony rides, plus paddle boat rentals, the Orange County Zoo & picnic areas.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 8,856 reviews
Natural cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean offer views of the coast & the occasional cliff diver.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 8,229 reviews
Featuring a variety of forested areas, this park offers camping, fishing, hiking & picnic spots.
Point Dume
4.8 ★★★★★ 8,204 reviews
Tranquil coastal area featuring trails & rocky coves, plus blufftop views of Santa Catalina Island.
Palisades Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 8,100 reviews
This sizable strip of grass, palm trees & walking trails features expansive ocean views.
Mission Trails Regional Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 7,818 reviews
8,000-acre recreational park featuring 60 miles of trails, along with a lake for boating & camping.
Heisler Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 7,716 reviews
This beach area offers artsy park benches, sculptures, ocean views, rocky shores & tide pools.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 7,267 reviews
500+ miles of flat & mountainous hiking trails through coastal chaparral, with views & picnic stops.
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 7,237 reviews
This 308-acre park features a Japanese garden, a workout course, athletic fields & scenic trails.
Central Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 7,192 reviews
Lakeside park with a golf course, 4 playgrounds, boat rentals, a fishing area, picnic sites & paths.
Mile Square Regional Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 6,896 reviews
City park offering 3 golf courses, soccer fields & baseball diamonds as well as picknicking & lakes.
William Land Regional Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 6,789 reviews
Sizable park offering many amenities, including a zoo, amphitheater, golf course & ball fields.
Runyon Canyon Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,669 reviews
Landmark hiking trails known for sweeping city views & people watching, plus an off-leash dog park.
El Dorado East Regional Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,724 reviews
Expansive outdoor area with fishing lakes, bike trails, camping, an archery range & a nature center.
Hilltop Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,221 reviews
Compact green space offering panoramic vistas, BBQ & picnic areas & walking paths.
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,298 reviews
Vast park with 2 million acres of forest & mountain trails, campgrounds & recreational lakes.
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,040 reviews
Hilltop park with views of Downtown Los Angeles plus hiking trails & history exhibits.
Dinosaur Caves Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,055 reviews
A grassy lawn, playground & walking trails mark this 11-acre park situated atop oceanfront bluffs.
South Gate Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 5,004 reviews
City park with a sports center & swim stadium, plus playgrounds, playing fields & other recreations.
Monarch Butterfly Grove
4.6 ★★★★★ 4,865 reviews
Eucalyptus tree–filled grove with thousands of monarch butterflies in late October through February.
No trails match those filters.
California 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 California
- Best running trails in California — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 530 in California come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 152 in California are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 895 in California keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 310 in California have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 1,812 in California, and 874 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 1,918 in California have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 1,637 in California you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 694 in California are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 2,114 in California 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 California
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Trails with Restrooms
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Shaded Running Trails
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)
- Trails with Mile Markers