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Running trails in Glendale, CA
Glendale has 16 trails in the directory — 2 on crushed gravel or dirt, 4 loops that return to the trailhead, 3 with a stated distance, 5 shaded, and 5 open 24 hours. 8 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 3,885 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Brand Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,031 reviews
31-acre park featuring hiking & biking trails, a playground, a library & picnic facilities.
Deukmejian Wilderness Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 751 reviews
Rugged park in San Gabriel mountain foothills, offering hiking trails & a historic stone barn.
Beaudry Loop Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 319 reviews
Loop trail for hiking with scenic views that is appropriate for all skill levels.
Glendale Narrows Riverwalk
4.5 ★★★★★ 146 reviews
Urban oasis along the river featuring a scenic walking & biking path, plus an equestrian facility.
Mount Thom
4.7 ★★★★★ 127 reviews
Hike along this trail that leads to a ridge and offers vistas, as well as views of the city.
Whiting Woods Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 90 reviews
Area featuring kid-friendly hikes and mountain biking trails, some with views.
Tongva Peak
4.9 ★★★★★ 74 reviews
Steep, 2,656-ft peak with a viewpoint of the valley, plus challenging trails for hiking.
Verdugo Mountains Open Space Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 71 reviews
This 244-acre preserve with many trees is a popular spot for hiking, biking & horseback riding.
Scholl Canyon Fire Road Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 57 reviews
Area for hiking, including kid-friendly paths, with scenic views.
Verdugo Mountain - Beaudry Fire Road Loop
4.8 ★★★★★ 54 reviews
Kid-friendly hiking area where visitors also mention biking.
San Rafael Hill
4.8 ★★★★★ 46 reviews
Recreational area featuring kid-friendly hikes.
Sunshine Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 9 reviews
Las Flores Motorway Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Glendale
- Match the surface to your legs. Glendale gives you a choice: 2 natural surface and 1 mixed. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More natural surface trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 4 trails here are loops, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Glendale is Beaudry Loop Trailhead at 6 mi. 1 trail is long enough for a 5-mile-plus run without repeating yourself.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 5 trails in Glendale are open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 8 of the 16 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 1 is lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 8 have trailhead parking and 2 have restrooms in Glendale. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 5 shaded, 4 that runners describe as quiet, and 4 dog-friendly. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Glendale trails by type
Running trails near Glendale
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.