where to run:
central oklahoma
jump to:
oklahoma city
where: 19th street, plaza district area
how far: 3.4 mi (point to point) / 6.8 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: easy runs
about: out-and-back route through neighborhoods in western okc. grass median and sidewalks available for majority of the trail. intersects will rogers trail for easy add-on miles. east end is just a couple blocks north of the plaza district, west end merges with 23rd st at Meridian Ave.
parking: plaza district, 23rd and meridian, small park at 19th and drexel
bathrooms?: porta potties are common in the neighborhoods and at several parks along the way, no permanent public facilities
where: lake hefner
how far: 9.6 mi (paved loop)
what type of runs: long runs, easy runs, tempo runs
about: one of okc's most popular running and walking paths. pancake flat and almost entirely separate from vehicle traffic, but often windy - especially along the 3 mile-long dam on the north side of the lake. connects to several other trails at a few points around the loop. a majority of the loop is not lit during nighttime/early morning. water fountains were removed during COVID, so be sure to bring your own water!
parking: stars and stripes park, east wharf area off of britton bd, several public lots on the NE side of the lake
bathrooms?: look for porta potties in/near parking lots every 1 - 2 miles on the east and south sides of the lake. only permanent public facilities are located at Stars and Stripes Park on the south end of the lake
where: north side of lake hefner
how far: 1 mi paved loop, various single-track trails
what type of runs: recovery runs, intervals
about: paved loop has some rolling hills, but is well protected from the wind. the mountain bike trails are some of the only dirt trails in okc; keep an eye out for mountain bikers, but pedestrians are allowed on the trails. easy to access from lake hefner
parking: north of hefner rd, at the foot of the lake hefner dam
bathrooms?: porta potties in the main parking lot by the paved loop entrance, and at the playground right next to hefner rd
where: north side of downtown okc
how far: 0.9 mi loop
what type of runs: recovery runs, hilly intervals/fartleks
about: park in northern okc with a paved pedestrian loop. some rolling hills make it perfect to get workouts when training for road races. easy access to residential streets in crown heights and other surrounding neighborhoods
parking: parallel parking available on streets surrounding the park
bathrooms?: porta potty at the playground on the east side of the park, occasional additional porta potties in the surrounding neighborhood
where: grand boulevard in nichols hills
how far: 3.6 mi (point to point) / 7.2 (out and back)
what type of runs: easy runs
about: mix of paved trail and sidewalks connecting nichols hills plaza to stars and stripes park at lake hefner. some hills, but lots of trees while you're in nichols hills
parking: nichols hills plaza, lake hefner park (off grand blvd), stars and stripes park
bathrooms?: starbucks at nichols hills plaza and on may ave. tend to be friendly to runners in need. porta potties tend to be scattered at home construction sites around nichols hills, with fairly reliable porta potty access at the park between may and hefner parkway as well as at stars and stripes park on the west end
where: okc river trail to i40/i35 interchange
how far: 10.7 mi (point to point) / 21.3 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: long runs, easy runs
about: multi-use trail from okc river trail to eastern oklahoma city. grass available on the sides of the path for a majority of the route, in case you want softer surfaces. quite a few road crossings so not ideal for workouts. some rolling hills, especially on the east half of the trail. passes through woodson park and trosper park along the way, with trailheads near eagle lake and the dell parking lot
parking: woodson park, sw 15th and portland (river trail), trosper park
bathrooms?: very sparse, even for porta potties. some gas stations along the middle section and permanent facilities at woodson park towards the west end of the path
where: east okc
how far: 6.3 mi (point to point), 12.6 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: long runs, easy runs, tempo runs
about: mostly flat multi-use paved trail that passes through the adventure district, several golf courses, and along old railroad tracks. lots of shade and decent protection from wind. not many options for water or restrooms
parking: adventure district (science museum oklahoma, remington park, okc zoo), washington park, lincoln park golf course
bathrooms?: typically a porta potty nearby at the golf course on the north end of the trail, not much on or immediately adjacent to the trail besides that
where: south of tinker air force base
how far: 13.8 mi (loop)
what type of runs: long runs, hilly runs
about: paved multi-use trail around lake stanley draper in midwest city. lots of hills, with the longest/steepest of them being on the north and east sides of the lake. limited options for water and restrooms. quick access to low-traffic, hilly gravel roads on the west side of the lake if you want softer surfaces
parking: lake stanley draper marina, several parking lots along the trail (including northwest corner)
bathrooms?: porta potties at the main marina parking lot, rc airplane field, and campground entrance (all on the west side of the lake)
where: northwest classen high school
how far: 400m track
what type of runs: speed workouts, repeats, intervals
about: newly resurfaced track open to public use most of the day. lots of residential streets nearby for warming up/cooling down. if you are asked to leave the track due to a team practice, please respect the request! this is one of the only open tracks in oklahoma city and it remains open at the discretion of northwest classen high school
parking: at the track, west of the intersection of may and nw 36th ave
bathrooms?: nothing near the track, unless homes nearby have a construction crew with a porta potty. best bet would be to swing by a gas station during your warmup (OnCue on 36th st is ~0.8 mi away)
where: south side of downtown okc
how far: 8.5 mi (north bank, point to point, as of Aug 2023); 9.7 mi (south bank, point to point)
what type of runs: long runs, easy runs, tempo runs
about: multi-use paved trails along the north and south banks of the oklahoma city river. west end of the south trail connects to west river trail, while the east end of the north trail connects to the katy trail along 4th st. minimal hills, limited protection from wind. there are several crossover points along the trail, should you need to access the other side. easy access to will rogers trail, state fairgrounds, and bricktown canal trails
parking: okc riversport district, wheeler park, wiley post park, sw 15th and portland, 4th st and bryant trailhead, other various parking lots along the river
bathrooms?: chesapeake and devon boathouses require a keycard for access and typically unavailable. quite a few porta potties located in the parks on the south side of the river in wiley post park (although they are not very well-maintained), and easy detour to the wheeler district for more. crystal lake typically has one as well. fast food restaurants along meridian near the crossover are an option in a pinch
where: southwest okc to bethany
how far: 7.7 mi (point to point), 15.5 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: long runs, easy runs, hilly runs, tempo runs
about: multi-use paved trail along the north bank of the oklahoma city river. connects lake overholser in bethany to the west end of the okc river trail (south bank). almost entirely isolated from street traffic, with lots of trees and rolling hills
parking: sw 15th and meridian, crystal lake, off of w reno ave, lake overholser at nw 10th st
where: west okc
how far: 8.2 mi (point to point), 16.5 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: long runs, easy runs, hilly runs
about: multi-use paved trail that connects lake hefner trails to the okc river trail. several major road crossings, with lots of rolling hills. borders the oklahoma state fairgrounds and passes through will rogers park
parking: north side of the okc river at may ave, will rogers park, lake hefner at meridian and nw expressway
bathrooms?: few and far between other than gas stations near the 39th st crossing and at the north end where it meets with the lake hefner trails
edmond
where: east edmond, along the north side of lake arcadia
how far: distance varies, 13 total miles of dirt trails
what type of runs: trail runs, easy runs
about: multi-use dirt trails that weave through the wooded area between route 66 and the north shoreline of lake arcadia. very popular for mountain biking, so make sure to run aware! leave the headphones at home, and watch out for traffic. be sure to bring bug spray in the summer!
parking: integris parking lot off of i-35 frontage road; edmond, spring creek, and central state park; lake arcadia office off of 2nd street
bathrooms?: permanent facilities at the arcadia offices near the north side of the dam, as well as in the campgrounds near of the west end of the spring trail
where: just north of the rankin ymca, off of mary lee lane and rankin st
how far: 400m
what type of runs: intervals, repeats, time trials
about: open-use track, when not being used by central middle school. if you run at the track, please give the school priority when it comes to facility use! plenty of sidewalks/neighborhoods nearby for warmup and cooldown miles.
parking: limited parking next to track and tennis courts, additional parking at the ymca
bathrooms?: ymca is typically willing to let you use their restrooms, other than that you'll need to hit the OnCue on broadway and 8th st on your warmup
where: north edmond, connecting mitch park to the coffee creek neighborhood
how far: 1.4 mi (point to point), 2.8 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: easy runs, hill repeats
about: paved path through the coffee creek neighborhood to the east of mitch park. trail starts at a stoplight on kelley ave, and run through the neighborhood before dead-ending on boulevard. makes a great extension of the mitch park trail, and has several long hills that make good locations for hill repeats.
parking: nearest public lots are at mitch park
bathrooms?: permanent facilities at mitch park are the only option, other than lucking out on a porta potty on home construction sites in coffee creek
where: north edmond off of danforth and kelly
how far: 1.5 mi loop
what type of runs: recovery runs, tempo runs, grass repeats
about: edmond soccer club's soccer fields, well maintained and good footing. if you follow the fence line all the way around, it's almost exactly a 1.5 mile loop making it great for longer interval runs and recovery days. in the interest of maintaining the soccer fields please do not run on the fields themselves, and take care not to interrupt any games/practices being held during your run!
parking: parking lot on west side of the fields
bathrooms?: permanent facilities are only unlocked during games, next best bet is to swing by the gas station on kelly and covell (0.5 mi away)
where: central edmond
how far: 0.7 mi (point to point), 1.4 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: short runs, connector to other routes
about: paved trail through the woods south of target and lowes in edmond. connects the UCO campus and surrounding neighborhood to bryant ave and hafer park.
parking: off of edmond rd/2nd st, across the street from UCO
where: central edmond
how far: 1.3 mi loop
what type of runs: easy runs, add-on loop for longer runs
about: paved loop around hafer park in central edmond. main loop is mostly through shady/wooded areas, but can get crowded with families in the evenings and on weekends. bathroom facilities in center of the park make it a good loop to include on longer runs. sidewalks connect to the central middle school track, fink park trail, and a neighborhood on the east side of the park.
parking: within hafer park off of bryant ave
bathrooms?: permanent facilities in center of the park, typically only unlocked during daylight hours (hit or miss though, have a backup plan)
where: along kelly ave between 33rd and covell
how far: 4 mi (point to point), 8 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: easy runs, connectors between other loops/trails
about: wide, two-lane sidewalk from mitch park to south edmond. connects to lots of neighborhoods along the way, plus plenty of sidewalks that branch off to quiet streets nearby. nearby routes/loops include mitch park, coffee creek trails, and edmond soccer fields.
parking: mitch park, store/restaurant lots along kelly ave
bathrooms?: various drug stores/gas stations along the way
where: north edmond
how far: 2.9 mi loop, multiple smaller loops within
what type of runs: hilly runs
about: multi-use paved trail, connects to multi-use trail along kelly ave. as well as coffee creek trails. several rolling hills along the main loop make this great for getting some elevation change in, with lots of trees along a significant portion of the loop for good shade.
parking: mitch park YMCA, large lots off of covell to the west of kelly ave.
where: oklahoma christian university campus
how far: 2.5 mi, w/ access to additional spurs/small loops for more mileage
what type of runs: easy runs, tempo runs, intervals on 800m soccer field loop (north side of campus)
about: paved trail around the OC campus. crushed gravel trail runs alongside pavement for most of the loop for easy access to softer surfaces. a street crossing on the north side connects you to an additional ~1 mi of path.
parking: south side of campus at memorial road church of christ, north side of campus near the soccer fields (off of smiling hills blvd)
where: northeast side of lake arcadia in east edmond
how far: 3 mi (point to point), 6 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: easy runs, hilly runs, hill repeats
about: multi-use paved trail that will eventually be part of the trail system around the circumference of lake arcadia. the trail currently runs from post to midwest, where the pavement ends and feeds into a mountain bike trail. lots of rolling hills, with a huge incline (80 ft of gain, ~8% grade) along the north part of the dam that's perfect for hill repeats. you can also take the gravel road across the top of the dam if you'd rather skip the big hill
parking: off of post rd next to the water tower (at the trailhead) or at the lake arcadia park offices off of 2nd st
bathrooms?: porta potty in the parking lot by post rd, permanent facilities at the park offices
where: east edmond, just off i-35
how far: 3 mi (point to point), 6 mi (out and back)
what type of runs: long runs, progression/tempo runs, hilly runs
about: multi-use paved trail that will eventually be part of the trail system around lake arcadia. runners/walkers can start on the east or west side of i-35; the west side has a path that passes below i-35 before linking up with the main trail. lots of rolling hills make this a good route for developing some strength or adding some variation and challenge to your tempo runs
parking: integris parking lot off of i-35 frontage road, buffalo wild wings parking lot on west side of i-35, lot next to the lake arcadia entrance on 15th st
where: central edmond
how far: 2.4 mi
what type of runs: easy runs, workouts, hill repeats
about: loop around the UCO campus in edmond. can get busy during the school year, but a good loop for fartleks. the long, steady incline on the east side is great for long hill repeats, and the steep climb on the southwest corner along 2nd st is perfect for hill sprints.
parking: fink park, across 2nd st from the main entrance to UCO
bathrooms?: not many good options, without hopping into one of the campus buildings. only public bathroom is the 7-11 gas station on ayers and university on the west side of the loop