Top 10 Best Running Trails In Long Beach, CA - Madaboutrun

Top 10 Best Running Trails In Long Beach, CA

If you enjoy trail running in California, Long Beach is a great spot to do it. There are several excellent running trails in Long Beach, as well as a ton of fantastic sights to make the landscape enjoyable. To help you decide which trails to visit, here are the best 10 running trails in Long Beach, CA.

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Running Trails in Long Beach, CA

Running trails in Long Beach are stunning; however, no two running trails are the same. Each running trail has distinct characteristics like trail length, opening times, and difficulty level. This article will highlight things you need to know about running trails in Long Beach.

Waterfront Run

General description

The Waterfront Run is a beautiful multi-use path that connects Long Beach’s Belmont Shore area to the end of the breakwater across Island Grissom at the Long Beach Coastal Marina. The trail offers easy access to the Pacific Ocean and the city’s well-known Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier and runs beside a white sand beach for almost the entire course of its route.

There is plenty of space for trail users of all kinds on the 17-foot-wide paved trail, which has dedicated 6-foot-wide bicycle lanes and a 5-foot-wide walking lane. As you might expect, the vistas from the route are breathtaking. In addition to more classically gorgeous images of the delta of the San Gabriel River and the Palos Verdes in the distance, you can see cranes from the container port, oil islands, and ships docked in the outer harbor.

Level of difficulty

Easy

Length

7.5 miles

Number of steps

Average walk (3mph): 16,890

Average run (6mph): 12,540

Opening time

Open year-round

Getting there

Official website

https://www.visitlongbeach.com/neighborhoods/downtown-waterfront/

Elevation gain

47 m

Route type

One way

Map of the trail

Amenities

Easy to park

Benches along the way

Other activities/ features

Walking on the beach

Playing volleyball

Visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific

Opportunities for scenic views

The Lion lighthouse

Long Beach Marina (Los Angeles River meets the ocean there)

Nice views on the ocean and boats

Terrain/ Surface

Mostly paved

Weather Forecast

Long Beach Downtown and Marina

General description

This 5-mile trail in downtown Long Beach is lovely and features a lagoon, a couple of fantastic parks, and a circle around the harbor. If you’re staying close to the Convention Center or downtown, it’s a wonderful choice.

The Hyatt Hotel, next to the Convention Center, is a good starting point for exploring this Long Beach running trail. From there, explorers may complete a 0.8-mile circle around Rainbow Lagoon Park’s walkways. From this point, you can take the Convention Center Walkway, a multipurpose route, eastbound, over Ocean Boulevard, to Promenade Square. This pleasant route passes through a neighborhood with stores and eateries.

If you would like to continue your exploration, you may turn left onto one of the side streets downtown and travel 0.7 miles to Shoreline Dr. From there, you can choose between walking through Cesar Chavez Park or along the bike routes across the Los Angeles River.

Level of difficulty

Easy

Length

5.3 miles

Number of steps

Average walk (3mph): 11,936

Average run (6mph): 8,862

Opening time

Open year-round

Getting there

Official website

https://www.visitlongbeach.com/neighborhoods/downtown-waterfront/

Elevation gain

50 m

Route type

Loop

Map of the trail

Amenities

Easy to park

Other activities/ features

Walking

Exploring parks, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Shark Lagoon and the Jellyfish Touch Tank

Opportunities for scenic views

The Lion lighthouse

Pleasant parks

Relaxing views on the lagoon and marina

Weather Forecast

Wrigley Greenbelt

General description

The Wrigley Greenbelt is a fantastic 2-mile running trail in Long Beach. It is typically considered an easy course. Although walking, cycling and horseback riding are famous on this path, I found that there are still moments of the day when it is pretty empty. The paved path and bike routes on this running trail makes it one of the best trails. The route is lovely to explore anytime and is open all year.

Level of difficulty

Easy

Length

2 miles

Number of steps

Average walk (3mph): 4,504

Average run (6mph): 3,344

Opening time

Please check the official website

Getting there

Official website

https://www.longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/wrigley-greenbelt/

Route type

Out and back

Map of the trail

Amenities

Horse path, walking and bicycle riding trails

Other activities/ features

Walking, cycling, horseriding

Opportunities for scenic views

Peaceful, with a bit of nature: Ice plants, trees, hawks, American white pelicans, rabbits…

Beautiful sunsets

Relaxing views on the riverbed

Weather Forecast

California State University

General description

The California State University running trail is a trail surface with beautiful views. This easy course has an elevation rise of around 0 feet. For those looking to get outside and explore Long Beach, this running trail will increase accessibility to the region.

The trail creates a lovely multi-terrain circle around campus by going along George Allen Field, Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Atherton St, Earl Warren Dr, Beach Dr and Deukmejian Way.

Level of difficulty

Easy

Length

1.9 mile

Number of steps

Average walk (3mph): 4,279

Average run (6mph): 3,177

Opening time

Open year-round

Getting there

Elevation gain

0 m

Route type

Loop

Map of the trail

Amenities

Several parking lots in the area

Other activities/ features

Walking, inline skating

Opportunities for scenic views

Opportunity to run along George Allen Field, which is home to Long Beach State Women’s Soccer

Weather Forecast

Signal Hill Trail

General description

Signal Hill is one of the best running trails in Long Beach for its great panoramic views of Catalina Island, Orange County and downtown LA.

It takes 42 minutes on average to accomplish what is typically considered an easy journey. Since jogging, walking, and hiking are popular activities here, you can run across other individuals while exploring. The route is lovely to explore anytime and is open all year. I particularly enjoyed the wonderful sunset. It is really worth running there in the evening!

Level of difficulty

Easy

Length

1.7 mile

Number of steps

Average walk (3mph): 3,828

Average run (6mph): 2,842

Estimated duration

42 min

Opening time

Open year-round

Getting there

Official website

https://www.cityofsignalhill.org/588/Walkways-and-Trails

Elevation gain

63 m

Route type

Loop

Map of the trail

Amenities

Kid and wheelchair friendly

Dogs allowed on leash

Parking lot

Benches and picnic tables

Other activities/ features

Walking, hiking, exploring

Opportunities for scenic views

Great panoramic views of Catalina Island, Orange County and downtown LA

Great place for sunset or sunrise

Terrain/ Surface

Paved and smooth sidewalk, 4 feet wide minimum

Some dirt around the upper part of the trail

Weather Forecast