What began as a phenomenon in the U.K., parkruns have made their way across the pond and now boast over 78 events (and counting) in the United States.
Parkruns are free, volunteer-led 5Ks that take place every Saturday morning—a great option for anyone looking to make racing a community experience and less of a highly competitive, nerve-wracking event.
One of the best parts of parkruns is that their courses often take participants through beautiful, scenic landscapes. In fact, a study suggests the nature element of parkruns was one of many contributing factors that kept runners coming back for more. (Though surely another contributing factor is the comradery and welcoming spirit of these events).
Parkruns welcome walkers and runners of all abilities. Euan Bowman, the parkrun North America territory manager, shared parkruns’s guiding principle: “There is no time limit, and no one finishes last because we have a volunteer who takes that position. Everyone is welcome to come along.”
In addition to the welcoming atmosphere, parkrun is super simple to join. Find and register for your nearest parkrun using the site map. Once registered, you will be emailed a barcode to use for all parkruns you participate in, anywhere in the United States. or around the world. There’s no need to register for each event, just show up and have that barcode handy for scanning at the finish.
Here are some of our top-picks for parkruns in the United States based on the natural features you’ll get to enjoy on the course.
Clermont Waterfront
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Clermont, Florida
Website
Right there in its name, this parkrun course is entirely on Lake Minneola’s South Lake Trail. Lake Minneola is one of 17 lakes in the Clermont Chain of Lakes spanning more than 8,000 acres, so there are plenty of spectacular lake views to be had. It’s a simple, flat out and back course that turns around just south of Waterfront Park, home to the Great Florida Triathlon.
Exploration Place
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Website
Starting and ending at Exploration Place (the state’s premier science center), this course takes participants across and along the Arkansas River. You’ll cross a suspended footbridge to the iconic Keeper of the Plains, a 44-foot-tall steel structure paying tribute to the state’s Native Americans. Along the river enjoy a mix of nature and urban views in Kansas’s largest city.
City Park
Time: 8 a.m. (May 1-September 30) and 9:00 am (October 1-April 30)
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Website
This out and back course starts and ends at one of Iowa City’s largest parks: City Park. You’ll run south on the entirely paved path of the Iowa River Trail just past the Lagoon Shelter House to the Theater Building and back. For almost the entire run, you’ll be right alongside the Iowa River.
Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Website
Nature abounds in the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is only a few miles south of this parkrun’s course, so you’ll have ample opportunity to spot great blue heron, bald eagles, painted turtles, and maybe even a beaver. On the historic Towpath Trail, you’ll run along the Ohio & Erie Canal on the same path mules once towed canal boats loaded with people and cargo—now used for kayaking and pleasure boats, in addition to transporting people and cargo (by diesel engine-powered boats now).
Weedon Island Preserve
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Website
Weedon Island Preserve, a 3,190-acre natural area on Tampa Bay, is home to a thriving marine ecosystem. Depending on how quickly you move along the boardwalks over tidal flats and through mangrove forests, you may catch sight of wading birds in the saltwater ponds below. The 45-foot observation tower (which you can climb post run) offers views of the preserve and even the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa.
Roosevelt Island
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Website
Set on an island midstream in the Potomac River, this parkrun features wooded trails and boardwalks, offering a tranquil escape within the nation's capital. Theodore Roosevelt Island is a fitting tribute to our 26th president, an enthusiastic outdoorsman and conservationist (Roosevelt created the United States Forest Service and protected lands that would become five national parks and 18 national monuments). So pay your own tribute to his legacy by getting outdoors. You’ll be rewarded with willows, sycamores, and boxelders along the island’s shores.
Tollgate Farm Park, baqʷab
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: North Bend, Washington
Website
About 30 minutes outside of Seattle, the Tollgate Farm parkrun, baqʷab (prairie in Snoqualmie) is a three-loop course on the traditional lands of the Snoqualmie people with stunning views of Mount Si—the state’s most popular hiking area. At 4,000 feet, Mount Si makes for an impressive backdrop for finish line photos. The course also encircles a historic farmhouse, barn, and farm, so you may just get to see some farm animals while you’re out there.
South Boulder Creek
Time: 8 a.m. (June 1 - September 30) 9 a.m. (October 1 - May 31)
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Website
This parkrun’s flat course on the South Boulder Creek Trail provides stunning mountain views in the distance, as well as mixed grass prairie and the meandering South Boulder Creek right beside the path. The course has both paved paths and trail terrain, and traverses a few wooden bridges. Keep an eye out for bobolinks and other ground-nesting birds—or perhaps you’ll glimpse a black bear in the trees.
Jan Alfano Trail
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Prescott, Arizona
Website
One of the newer parkruns established in the United States, this parkrun hosted its inaugural event in June 2024. You couldn’t ask for a better location: Prescott, at a mile-high in Central Arizona, is surrounded by the Bradshaw Mountains. But closer to you, as you run on this course, are views of Willow Lake and the Granite Dells, an ancient valley of granite boulders estimated to be 1.4 billion years old. If you’re lucky, you may even get to run with a burro from a nearby ranch.
Canyon Rim Trail
Time: 9 a.m. (October 1-April 30) and 8 a.m. (May 1-September 30)
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Website
Canyon Rim Trail is a beautiful 10-mile trail system in Twin Falls, Idaho. This parkrun starts under Perrine Memorial Bridge, a beautiful 1,500-foot truss bridge over Snake River, and takes you out and back along the trail. You may find it challenging to stay on pace instead of slowing down to admire the stunning canyon views that stretch far into the distance. In fact, this parkrun was named among the most scenic parkruns in The Ultimate Guide to parkrun published in 2024.
Coal Creek Trail
Time: 8:00 a.m. (May 1-September 30) and 9:00 a.m. (October 1-April 30)
Location: Cedar City, Utah
Website
If you’d rather run in a canyon, then immerse yourself in Cedar Canyon. Enjoy spectacular views of Triassic and Jurassic red rock layers tilted at a 45-degree angle as you run on a concrete and asphalt course adjacent to Coal Creek. The high desert environment also offers unique plant life, classic winter conditions, bright blue skies, and—at 6,000 feet of elevation—guaranteed shortness of breath.
Northside Beltline
Time: 8 a.m. (May 1-September 30) and 9 am (October 1-April 30)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Website
Come see why one of Atlanta’s nicknames is “the city in the forest” at the Northside Beltline parkrun. The first portion of this course offers an oasis of trees within the bustling city center. You’ll pass lush green trees along the creek at Tanyard Creek Park before running beside the Bobby Jones Golf Course. It’s no wonder this trail is so popular among locals.
Third Creek Greenway
Time: 8 a.m. (May 1-September 30) and 9 am (October 1-April 30)
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Website
The entirety of this course is almost fully shaded, with sunshine casting shadows through the leaves overhead on the tarmac path below. There is a boardwalk and a few bridges that offer the occasional view of Third Creek and the gentle slopes on this parkrun’s route. But the most pleasant surprise will be the sections of bamboo along the trail.
College Park
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: College Park, Maryland
Website
Run through a “tunnel of trees” on the Paint Branch Trail. In addition to the wooded landscape, this parkrun gets bonus points for good vibes. In 2024, there were 11 days with over 200 finishers and a median of 172 participants for the year. While out among the trees, you’ll surely make new friends you’ll want to come back to see week after week in this large, energetic group of parkrunners.
Durham NC
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Website
The course starts from Southern Boundaries Park and takes you along the tree lined Third Fork Creek Trail. Enjoy a paved path with multiple boardwalks from which you may spot some wildlife. Event organizers said runners have spotted turtles, a resident blue heron, deer, rabbits, the occasional crawdad, and even a copperhead (fortunately just once). Many months of the year wildflowers are in bloom, and the trees offer a protective canopy from the summer sun. In 2024, there were 22 parkruns with 100 or more participants, so this parkrun is another great opportunity to get outdoors in a lively atmosphere.
Chelsey Stone is a freelance writer living in the Washington D.C. area. She’s covered health and fitness for Bicycling and Runner’s World, as well as travel for National Geographic.
