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Swan Creek Greenway National Recreation Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 89 Google reviews · Running trail in Athens, Alabama · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Distance
- 2.3 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Swan Creek Greenway National Recreation Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Miles-long gravel, tree-shaded trail for walking, running and biking along a creek.
What runners say about Swan Creek Greenway National Recreation Trail
“3 mile course where ~1 mile is a combination of pavement and wooden boardwalks, the rest is nicely maintained crushed gravel and plenty of shad for hot summer running.”
“The Swan Creek Greenway walking trail provides several miles of shaded and scenic path for walking, biking and taking your dog for a walk.”
“Great trail to walk, run, or bike.”
“The Swan Creek Greenway walking trail provides several miles of shaded and scenic path for walking, biking and taking your dog for a walk.”
This is a nice urban trail to get outside with the family. The first mile follows the creek, then detours through portions of the city recreation area, before returning to the creek. The first mile and the last section offer some scenic views.
Swan creek is a 2.3 mile course where ~1 mile is a combination of pavement and wooden boardwalks, the rest is nicely maintained crushed gravel and plenty of shad for hot summer running. It's also connected to the 1.53 mile Athens school recreational trail. Again crushed gravel, well maintained, but not shaded.
First time on this trail. Mostly flat with rolling little heels here and there. Easy for people to walk with pez planus or plantar fasciitis. My feet just cannot stand concrete no matter what. Wonderful lazy brook babbling to my right as I walked under the overpass.
This place is so relaxing. There is enough room for you, bikers, joggers, and even pets to explore... The kids love the creek that flows through part of the walk. There is plenty of entrances to get to the creek which is nice if their are others around you just go a bit further down.
Trail conditions & character
“The Swan Creek Greenway walking trail provides several miles of shaded and scenic path for walking, biking and taking your dog for a walk.”
“3 mile course where ~1 mile is a combination of pavement and wooden boardwalks, the rest is nicely maintained crushed gravel and plenty of shad for hot summer running.”
“The Swan Creek Greenway walking trail provides several miles of shaded and scenic path for walking, biking and taking your dog for a walk.”
“The Swan Creek Greenway walking trail provides several miles of shaded and scenic path for walking, biking and taking your dog for a walk.”
“There IS a bathroom there if you can make it all the way to the school with the pickleball courts.”
Plan your run at Swan Creek Greenway National Recreation Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- Distance2.3 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteathensalabama.us
- Phone(256) 233-8740
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Athens
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Swan Creek Park
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Big Spring Memorial Park
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Robert Allen Tinnon Park
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Richard Martin Trail
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Knox Creek Park
4.1 ★★★★☆ 162 reviews
Small park in a subdivision featuring picnic tables and playgrounds, plus a basketball court.