Are you looking for some good running trails in Miami? Perhaps you are looking to explore new parts of the city whilst achieving your fitness goals? If this sounds like you, then you should definitely check out these 8 great places to run in Miami below.
Running is a great way to stay fit and enjoy the diverse nature of the city at the same time. There are plenty of beautiful parks and beaches around the city where you can go running, all centered around iconic locations.
Miami has a wide variety of running trails. Whether you want to take a short or long run, there are plenty of options for you. You just need to know which ones are best suited for your fitness level.
Trail Running – What Is It?
Before we get into the article, let’s first answer the question: what is trail running?
Trail running is a type of running that takes place on well-maintained paths with minimal obstacles such as rocks, roots, or other terrain features. The path may be paved or unpaved and it will usually have signs indicating its direction.
Trail runners typically wear lightweight shoes and carry no water bottles or food. They also don’t use GPS devices because they prefer to follow their intuition and experience.
There are many different types of trail runs:
Short distance runs – These are ideal if you want to get started with trail running but don’t want to spend too much time. It’s recommended that you start with distances between 5km and 10km.
Long-distance runs – These are more challenging than shorter runs and you need to prepare yourself mentally and physically before embarking on one. A typical long-distance trail run is 25km or longer.
Ultra trail runs – These are very popular among trail runners who love to push themselves beyond their limits. An ultra trail run is often over 50km and requires a lot of endurance.
Trail Running Tips
Before we get into the best running trails in Miami, let’s take a look at some tips that will get you started on your running journey!
Choose A Suitable Route
Before starting any kind of exercise, make sure that you choose a safe and appropriate route. This includes checking whether the area is free of traffic and dangerous animals. Also, make sure that the path is not blocked by trees or bushes so that you won’t trip while running.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
When choosing what to wear, keep in mind that you need to be comfortable during your run. You must also ensure that you have enough space in your pockets to store your phone, keys, and wallet.
Bring Along A Map
Even though you might already know the location of the park or beach where you plan to run, it never hurts to bring along a map. This way, you will always be able to find your way back home safely.
Start Slowly
Don’t expect to complete an ultra trail run in one day. Instead, start small and gradually increase your speed until you reach your desired pace.
Drink Lots Of Water
Make sure that you drink plenty of water before, during, and after each run. If you feel thirsty, you should stop and rest for a few minutes.
Pace Yourself
Try not to rush through the first part of the run. Take your time and focus on enjoying the scenery.
The Best Trail Runs In Miami
Now that we’ve gone over a little about what trail running is and how you can prepare for it – let’s have a look at a list of the best places to run in Miami.
Miami has a trail for any level of runner, so if you’re new to running try to pick something small. If you already have some experience, you can always double up on a loop to get more out of it! Let’s take a look at the list below:
Biscayne National Park
The park is located on the southern tip of Florida. It covers an area of about 8,000 acres. This national park offers many activities such as hiking, biking, bird watching, fishing, boating, etc.
If you’re looking for a great Trail to go running on in Biscayne then we suggest the following trails:
- Bayfront Trail – This is a 2.5-mile loop trail that starts at the end of the Bayfront Bikeway. There are several overlooks along the trail, making this a nice scenic run.
- East End Trail – This is a 1.3 mile out and back trail. It’s a flat and easy trail perfect for beginners.
- North Point Trail – This is a 0.6 mile out and back trail that begins near the intersection
South Pointe Park
Located in downtown Miami, this park is one of the most popular parks in the city. It features several walking paths, tennis courts, playgrounds, and basketball courts. The best trail for South Pointe Park is probably the Bayside Trail which connects the park to the bay.
Crandon Park
This park is located in Key Biscayne. It stretches over more than 1,600 acres. There are several great Trails here including the Crandon Nature
Trail which is approximately 3 miles long and the Crandon Beach Trail which is a 4.7-mile loop. If you’re looking for great intermediate trails that will help you improve your fitness levels, then these two trails are worth considering.
Haulover Beach Park
This park is home to the longest beachfront jogging path in the country. It is also known as the Ocean Runway because it is close to the ocean.
It has some great trails including the Haulover Loop Trail which is a 2.4-mile circular trail – this trail is great if you are looking for something gentle.
North Bay Village Trail
This trail runs through the heart of North Bay Village. It is a 3-mile circular trail that passes by waterfalls, ponds, and gardens. It’s a fairly easy trail to run and its terrain is mostly flat.
Brickell Trail
This trail is part of the Brickell Bike Path Network. It starts from SW 7th Street and goes all the way up to NW 2nd Avenue. It is a great trail if you want to do some running but don’t want to get too far away from civilization.
Downtown Riverwalk
This is another great place to go running. It is a 4.5-mile paved trail that connects the Historic River District with the American Airlines Arena – expect some impressive city views when running this trail.
Little Havana Greenway
This greenway is located near Calle Ocho. It is a 0.5-mile paved trail with exercise stations, so if you want to add more diverse training methods into your daily exercise, this can be a great place for it. It also has great views of Downtown Miami.
Final Thoughts
As you can see above, there are an incredible number of diverse running locations throughout Miami. Whether you want to run on concrete or in some of the city’s best parks, Miami will offer you anything you could want.
We hope that this article has given you some insight into the world of trail running in Miami. It’s a great city and even better when you are out there getting fit!