Los Angeles Runners Choose Beachfront Strand and Griffith Park Trails

Los Angeles offers real running variety across a huge geographic spread, from flat beachfront paths to genuine hill trails minutes from Hollywood. Here are the best running routes in Los Angeles for 2026.

The Strand, Santa Monica to Venice Beach

The Strand is a paved beachfront path running about 3.3 miles from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach, part of a broader roughly 20 mile beachfront path stretching south toward Redondo Beach. It is flat and fast with ocean views, passing Muscle Beach and Venice's outdoor courts. The adjacent 1.6 mile Palisades Park bluff-top path above the beach is palm-lined with pier views and popular with locals and visitors alike.

Griffith Park

Griffith Park covers more than 4,200 acres with a 53 mile network of trails, fire roads and bridle paths, one of the largest urban parks in the United States. The classic route from the Griffith Observatory car park to the Mount Hollywood summit runs on unpaved fire road with moderate to steep elevation gain, rewarding runners with panoramic views over the entire LA Basin.

Runyon Canyon Park

Runyon Canyon Park, 130 acres just two blocks off Hollywood Boulevard, has a loop route via the Fuller Avenue entrance connecting Inspiration Point and Clouds Rest. The surface is dirt and fire road with steep sections and stairs, and on clear days the views extend as far as Catalina Island.

The LA River Path

The LA River Path runs 7.4 miles of paved, mostly flat multi-use trail through Glendale, Griffith Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village and Elysian Valley to Egret Park, using underpasses and overpasses to avoid street crossings, a rare uninterrupted flat urban run in the city.

Running the LA Marathon Route

The LA Marathon's "Stadium to Stars" course starts at Dodger Stadium and runs Sunset Boulevard through Downtown and Echo Park, then west via Hollywood, Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards, through Brentwood on San Vicente, finishing on Avenue of the Stars in Century City. This replaced the historic "Stadium to the Sea" route that finished on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, changed in 2021 after the city of Santa Monica raised its fees for hosting the finish line.

Practical Guide to Running in Los Angeles

The Strand and the LA River Path are the most reliable choices for a flat run; Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon are the better options for genuine elevation and trail terrain, both busy from early morning.