Running trails in Pocatello, ID
Pocatello has 19 trails in the directory — 2 paved and 2 on crushed gravel or dirt, 1 loop that returns to the trailhead, 1 with a stated distance, 7 shaded, and 3 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 2,058 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.
Sacajawea Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 415 reviews
Wooded park along the Portneuf River featuring picnic tables & trails for walking, jogging & biking.
Cherry Springs Nature Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 333 reviews
Nature trail with opportunities to see wildlife, plus a creek and picnic tables.
Edson Fichter Nature Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 218 reviews
Area with trails, a pond, and a designated dog swimming area.
Centennial Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 222 reviews
Park with a playground, picnic areas, and a large pavilion, plus sports facilities.
Gibson Jack Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 180 reviews
Trail-laced nature area offering hikes, mountain biking and horseback riding.
Lower City Creek Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 110 reviews
Relaxed, shady trail featuring a creek, for runners, hikers and bikers alike.
West Fork Mink Creek Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 65 reviews
Popular hiking and mountain biking destination with a trail that's narrow in some spots.
Scout Mountain Nature Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 46 reviews
Benches, picnic tables, barbecue grills and nature trails amidst scenic views.
Abraszewski Trailhead
4.5 ★★★★★ 42 reviews
Paved out-and-back rail passing deer, owls, and other wildlife, plus snakes signs.
Satterfield Bike Trails
4.5 ★★★★★ 26 reviews
Pioneer Ridge Trail System
4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews
Bill and Ross Parrish Trail
5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Pocatello
- Match the surface to your legs. Pocatello gives you a choice: 2 paved, 2 natural surface, and 2 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 paved trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 1 trail here is a loop, 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 Pocatello is Abraszewski Trailhead at 3 mi.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 3 trails in Pocatello 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 19 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 11 have trailhead parking, 5 have restrooms, and 2 have a water fountain in Pocatello. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 7 shaded, 2 that runners describe as quiet, 10 dog-friendly, and 3 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 Pocatello trails by type
Running trails near Pocatello
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.