Running trails in Youngstown, OH
Youngstown has 11 trails in the directory — 2 paved and 1 boardwalk. 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 5,680 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.
Mill Creek Park - North End
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,658 reviews
A 2,657 acre riverside park, open since 1891, with waterfalls, a gorge & 15 miles of walking trails.
Lily Pond, Mill Creek Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 913 reviews
Natural area with well-marked trails, a pond with turtles, and benches for relaxing.
Newport Wetlands
4.8 ★★★★★ 285 reviews
Raised boardwalks grant foot access & kayaks can also explore this wetland habitat for birds.
Elton Beard Family Cabin
4.5 ★★★★★ 256 reviews
Clean park for kids and adults, featuring playgrounds, a disc golf course and a cabin.
Ford Nature Center
4.6 ★★★★★ 133 reviews
Serene venture featuring exhibits of native plants & wildlife, plus walking trails & workshops.
Mill Creek Metro Parks
4.8 ★★★★★ 127 reviews
Tranquil park featuring hiking and walking paths, a golf course and picnic spots.
Churchhill Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 109 reviews
Secluded space for family reunions featuring a playground and a basketball court.
Lynn Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 93 reviews
Relaxed park with a playground, basketball court and swings.
Cascade Gorge Natural Pool
4.8 ★★★★★ 75 reviews
Scenic attraction featuring hiking trails and a waterfall surrounded by nature.
MetroParks Bikeway Mahoning Ave Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 11 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Youngstown
- Match the surface to your legs. Youngstown gives you a choice: 2 paved, 1 boardwalk, 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 paved trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? A loop finishes back at the car with no backtracking; on an out-and-back you simply turn round at half your distance.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. Plenty of trails sit inside parks that gate at dusk and don't unlock until well after sunrise, so a trail that's perfect at lunchtime can be locked at 6am. 8 of the 11 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 3 have trailhead parking, 4 have restrooms, and 3 have a water fountain in Youngstown. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 4 that runners describe as quiet, 1 dog-friendly, and 2 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 Youngstown trails by type
Running trails near Youngstown
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.