Must Run Trails in the Northwest & Southwest
Where Do You Train?
I get a lot of questions about how and where I train while living in the van. Though I’m not traveling to a new place every day, I’ve spent the past 3 months all over Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Utah. Since moving into the van I definitely spend more time planning – where to sleep, where to shower, and where to train.
Sometimes I use google. Other times, I reach out to locals for recommendations. Sometimes it’s just luck. Sometimes, in the moment I see a beautiful place, I stop, get out a map, and go!
Here are 10 (or so) beautiful places I’ve run:
NORTHWEST
- Chuckanut Mountains – Bellingham, Washington
- Klahhane Ridge (Lake Angeles and Heather Park Trailhead) – Olympic National Park, Washington
- Seven Lakes Basin – Olympic National Park, Washington
- Forest Park – Portland, Oregon
- Hamilton Mountain – Columbia River Gorge, Stevenson, Washington
- Smith Rock State Park – Terrebonne, Oregon
- Crescent Mountain – Cascadia, Oregon
- Clam Beach County Park – Arcata, California
- Redwood National Park – Berry Glen, California
- Marin Headlands – Mill Valley, California
SOUTHWEST
- Duck Lake to Mammoth Crest Trail – Mammoth Lakes, California
- Angeles National Forest – Palmdale, California
- North Beach – Del Mar, California
- Joshua Tree National Park – California
- Kelso Dunes and the Mojave National Preserve – Baker, California
- Zion National Park - Utah
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area – St. George, Utah
- Bright Angel Trail to South Kaibab – Grand Canyon National Park
- Chuck Wagon Trail – Sedona, Arizona
- Phoenix Mountain Preserve – Phoenix, Arizona
- Honeybee Canyon – Tucson, Arizona
Primary Subcategory
Training - Run
MORE STORIES
Core Routine For Runners: The Dozen
I was introduced to the "The Dozen" in the winter of 2012 by my favorite Oregon running family. I love this set of core exercises for its efficient targeting of core muscle groups, and because no gym equipment is required! You can do this on a grass field, in your hotel room, or really anywhere you can lay on a flat surface.
Reflecting on the Year of the Underbird
This past August, we launched our Year of the Underbird program: an open application for aspiring Olympic Trials marathoners, with a promise to select 5 women for a 6 month contract encompassing a stipend, gear, storytelling, and community support. As we reach the end of our flight with our selected athletes, we invited each of them to share a few reflections on their past 6 months as teammates.
Black History Month: Celebrating Our Athletes
We are honored to support five exceptional Black women athletes challenging norms in the running industry: athletes, advocates, and powerful voices in the sport. We invited each of them to reflect on their journeys through sport: how their identity has affected their development, and how they hope to impact the rising generation of athletes. Hear from Madie Boreman, Kendra Coleman, Brenna Detra, Carmen Pelar Graves, and Ari Hendrix-Roach.