While Houston’s flat landscape might not present the most challenging turf for runners, every January more than 7,000 participants compete in the Houston Marathon on a course that’s been a race site for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Local running clubs and frequent fun runs provide plenty of inspiration for marathon training and moral support.

But it’s the diversity of trails and paths in the city’s inner and outer loops that really provide a runner’s high for elite and amateurs alike. Here’s a guide to the best neighborhoods for going the distance in Houston.

The Heights

The Heights Historic Shopping district
Eureka Heights Brewing Co. hosts a runners club on Thursday / Photo by Stephanie A Sellers / shutterstock.com

Despite the neighborhood’s name and an elevation 23 feet higher than Downtown Houston, you won’t find many hills in this historic enclave. However, the area is a favorite among runners for the variety of terrain and scenery ranging from Victorian architecture to art installations.

Spots to Check Out

  • Paul Carr Jogging Path: Heights residents Rebecca and Bob Thai are regulars on this approximately 1.9-mile path, located on the picturesque esplanade of Heights Boulevard. Rebecca recommends the trail for shorter runs because of its dirt path that’s easy on the knees with shade trees and water fountains for staying hydrated in the city’s humid climate.
  • The Heights Hike and Bike Trail: Also known as the MKT Trail because of its past life as a railroad line connecting Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, this 8-mile paved path rewards early risers with a view of the sunrise illuminating the city’s skyline of skyscrapers.
  • Eureka Heights Brewing Company: Join their Laces Out Running Club for a Thursday evening run through the Heights with discounts on beer after you’re done.

Timbergrove, Garden Oaks, and Oak Forest

View of Downtown Houston from White Oak Bayou Trail
View of Downtown Houston from White Oak Bayou Trail / Photo by Mark Taylor Cunningham / shutterstock.com

This trio of nearby neighborhoods is popular among families who appreciate the tight-knit community vibe and large lot sizes paired with proximity to the city’s cultural and dining scene. There’s also plenty of outdoor activities with numerous parks, playgrounds, baseball fields, frisbee golf, and a skate park. Cyclists, runners, and power walkers all make appearances around the paths following White Oak Bayou.

Spots to Check Out

  • T.C. Jester Park: For a quick running fix, the park has a mile-long trail plus a pool and splash pad for cooling off in the summer months. The Houston Humane Society also holds their annual K9 Fun Run and Walk at the park with dogs and their owners competing to win.
  • White Oak Bayou Hike and Bike Trail: Pace yourself on this approximately 9-mile concrete path where you can take a sunset pit stop on the Watonga Boulevard Bridge to watch the emergence of Mexican free-tailed bats.

Rice Military

Runners in Memorial Park
Memorial Park / Photo by IVAN VIEITO GARCIA / shutterstock.com

The neighborhood is named for the Rice family who originally owned the land and the area’s historic past as a training camp during World War I. The streets are lined with townhomes and a few of the original bungalows which were commonplace before the central location made it desirable for commuters heading downtown. But the biggest draw is Rice Military’s nearness to Houston’s largest urban greenspace.

  • Memorial Park: Twice the size of Manhattan’s Central Park, Memorial Park covers 1,466 acres. The Seymour-Lieberman Exercise Trail is packed with runners from dawn to dusk who do laps around the three-mile crushed granite trail. There’s also a quarter-mile timing track with four lanes for runners who like to keep tabs on their performance.
  • Kung Fu Saloon: Residents have their very own running club hosted by this vintage arcade bar on nightlife-heavy Washington Avenue. Wednesday night runs offer three- or five-mile options with a cool down session at the bar afterwards.

Eldridge

Path at George Bush Park
George Bush Park / Photo by Nader El Assy / shutterstock.com

This suburb in far west Houston was once rural but now is home to the city’s Energy Corridor with 19 million square feet of office space occupied by oil and gas companies and related industries.

Real estate tends to be traditional, single-family homes thats appeals to families moving from overseas who work in the energy business and want a short drive to the office and highly rated schools for their children. However, there’s plenty of recreation for runners in this business-friendly area.

  • Terry Hershey Park: Named to celebrate the conservationist who advocated for the preservation of Buffalo Bayou, which borders the 500-acre park, this greenspace is a destination for hill work and long runs on its 12-mile trail.
  • George Bush Park: This nature reserve honoring the 41st president and former Houstonian has a one-mile trail where runners can get in a quick lap.
  • Bear Creek Pioneers Park: Runners share the trails with equestrians, and nature lovers enjoy the aviary and small wildlife habitat for rescued animals, including a pot-bellied pig.

The Museum District, Medical District, and West University Place

Hermann Park with pound and fountain in the background
Hermann Park / Photo by lunamarina / shutterstock.com

As the headquarters for the city’s art scene with the massive Museum of Fine Arts and the tranquil grounds of the Menil Collection, there’s still room in the Museum District for greenspace among the mix of modern and traditional homes, along with high-rise and mid-rise options.

Nearby, the Medical District’s housing stock ranges from $55,000 to $700,000 for a single-family home while the median sale price in “West U” is $1,200,000. However, all residents enjoy the area’s recreational offerings from low-impact pursuits like people-watching and paddle boat rides, along with more physical activities like golf, biking, and running, of course.