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Running Trails in Miami: A Local Guide
Miami, Florida has 45 trails in this directory — 3 paved, 1 natural-surface dirt and 2 boardwalk. Of those, 9 run under tree canopy. 9 are open 24 hours, which is what you want if you run before work.
The running here leans toward smooth corridors — greenways, rail-trails and multi-use paths rather than woodland singletrack — which makes Miami an easy place to hold a steady pace and rack up long-run miles.
What the running is like in Miami
- Paved (3). Asphalt and concrete greenways and multi-use paths — fast, predictable, runnable year-round, and the surface that stays usable through winter and after rain. Expect to share them with cyclists.
- Natural surface (1). Dirt paths, doubletrack and singletrack. Softest underfoot and the most fun to run, but expect roots, rocks and mud for days after rain.
- Boardwalk (2). Elevated decking over wetland or dunes. Flat and scenic, and slick when wet.
- Shaded (9). Tree canopy, which in July is the difference between a pleasant run and a heat trap.
- Lit for night runs (6). Floodlit paths for dark mornings and after-work runs.
- Flat and fast (2). Even grade, no surprises — the profile for steady miles and pace work.
- Hilly (1). Real climbing if you want vert. Power-hiking the steep sections is normal, not failure.
- Scenic (25). Waterfront, river and park routes where the miles go by faster.
6 trails to start with
Ranked by what local runners say — rating weighted by review count. Open any of them for surface, loop distance, hours and what the reviews mention.
Tropical Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 13,785 reviews
City park offering miles of paved biking & hiking paths plus boating & fishing in 4 separate lakes.
Maurice A. Ferré Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 6,365 reviews
Spacious waterside park featuring a sand beach, large amphitheater & a playground.
Hobie Island Beach Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,174 reviews
Shallow water beach offering a dog-friendly area with wide city vistas & watersports gear rentals.
David T. Kennedy Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,766 reviews
Waterfront park offering an off-leash dog area, outdoor gym, walking path & beach volleyball.
Alice Wainwright Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,576 reviews
Grassy waterfront park with sheltered picnic tables, view-oriented benches & basketball courts.
A.D. (Doug) Barnes Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,391 reviews
Large green space featuring a public pool, nature center, playgrounds & hiking trails.
How to pick one
Start with the run you're actually doing, not the prettiest photo. For a long run, look for a continuous corridor with a known distance — a rail-trail or greenway with mile markers beats a park with a tangle of short spurs, and remember that "miles of trails" is a system total, not a route you can run. For an easy day, natural surface is kinder to the legs. For a tempo, you want predictable footing, so paved or crushed stone.
Then check the practical stuff: trailhead parking (20 here) , restrooms (21) , water fountains (12) . Running with a dog? 17trails are flagged dog-friendly. 20arestroller and wheelchair accessible. 1hasmile markers.
And check the hours before you drive out. Plenty of parks close at dusk and gate the lot, so a trail that works at 6pm in June is locked at 6pm in November. Trail conditions move too — natural-surface paths stay muddy for days after rain, low-lying greenways flood, and sections close for construction — so the most recent reviews on a listing are worth thirty seconds of your time.
More running in Miami
Browse every trail on the Miami trails page, or widen the search to running trails across Florida. You can also browse by surface, by feature, or check the best-rated trails.
New to trails? Read how to start trail running and what to bring on a trail run. Sharing a busy greenway with cyclists? Trail running etiquette. Running before sunrise or after work? Running trails at night.