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Running trails in Whittier, CA
Whittier has 12 trails in the directory — 4 loops that return to the trailhead, 4 with a stated distance, 5 shaded, and 1 open 24 hours. Every one post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 7,412 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.
Turnbull Canyon
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,558 reviews
Former landfill site, closed in 2013 & now landscaped, offering hiking through the Puente Hills.
Sorensen Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,036 reviews
This rural park has a 14,000-sq.-ft. gymnasium, plus sports fields, grassy fields & playgrounds.
Amelia Mayberry Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 976 reviews
Large park with a playground, ballfield, basketball courts, gym, community center & splash pad.
Penn Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 846 reviews
Streams run through this picturesque park with a waterfall, picnic spots & a children's play area.
Hellman Park Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 815 reviews
Scenic park in the Puente Hills offering hiking trails around a reservoir with canyon & city views.
Arroyo Pescadero Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 705 reviews
This loop trail in a natural setting has a parking lot & access to the Arroyo San Miguel trail.
Murphy Ranch Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 598 reviews
Peaceful, family-friendly hiking park featuring wide trails and mountain views, plus picnic areas.
Sycamore Canyon Trailhead
4.4 ★★★★☆ 312 reviews
Nature preserve with trails for exploring a habitat for flora and fauna such as deer, coyotes, and butterflies.
Pio Pico State Historic Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 228 reviews
Historic state park is home to Pio Pico's renovated 19th century built from adobe blocks.
The Whittier Greenway Trail (North End)
4.5 ★★★★★ 185 reviews
Family-friendly pathway for hiking, cycling and running, featuring bridges and greenery.
Nike Hill
4.7 ★★★★★ 89 reviews
Hiking destination with a trail past a water tower to a lookout from the Cold War era.
Oak Station / Whittier Greenway Trail (South End)
4.6 ★★★★★ 64 reviews
Popular bicycle-friendly path for walking and running.
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Whittier
- Match the surface to your legs. 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.
- 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 Whittier is Hellman Park 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. 1 trail in Whittier is open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 12 of the 12 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 4 are lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 12 have trailhead parking, 7 have restrooms, and 4 have a water fountain in Whittier. 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, 1 with mile markers, 5 that runners describe as quiet, 8 dog-friendly, and 4 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. 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 Whittier trails by type
Running trails near Whittier
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.