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

1. Chuckanut Mountains – Bellingham, Washington 
2. Klahhane Ridge (Lake Angeles and Heather Park Trailhead) – Olympic National Park, Washington
3. Seven Lakes Basin – Olympic National Park, Washington 
4. Forest Park – Portland, Oregon 
5. Hamilton Mountain – Columbia River Gorge, Stevenson, Washington 
6. Smith Rock State Park – Terrebonne, Oregon 
7. Crescent Mountain – Cascadia, Oregon 
8. Clam Beach County Park – Arcata, California 
9. Redwood National Park – Berry Glen, California 
10. Marin Headlands – Mill Valley, California 

SOUTHWEST

1. Duck Lake to Mammoth Crest Trail – Mammoth Lakes, California 
2. Angeles National Forest – Palmdale, California 
3. North Beach – Del Mar, California
4. Joshua Tree National Park – California 
5. Kelso Dunes and the Mojave National Preserve – Baker, California 
6. Zion National Park - Utah 
7. Red Cliffs National Conservation Area – St. George, Utah 
8. Bright Angel Trail to South Kaibab – Grand Canyon National Park 
9. Chuck Wagon Trail – Sedona, Arizona 
10. Phoenix Mountain Preserve – Phoenix, Arizona
11. Honeybee Canyon – Tucson, Arizona