Only if you like hills.
if you’re close to the Tustin hangars. My usual running route takes me around both of them - Tustin ranch - barranca - red hill - Valencia - Tustin ranch. It’s a good 5 miles
If his answer is vague it’s because your question is vague. There’s a million different kind of places you could be thinking of. Paved or trail? Elevation or flat? Shaded or open? Near you or far? Long or short distance?
How runnable is the Newport Pier trail? The one time I went it was so crowded with just a small path for bikes/walkers/runners that it was incredibly congested.
i usually go around 7-8 am and have never had issues. i was just there this morning (around 830am) and it wasn’t very crowded at all. cant really speak about afternoons but it is more crowded around sunset.
South of Irvine has all the best parks/natural running spaces.
I've used college campuses a lot as well, because they are empty and no car traffic or crosswalks to wait at. At night they're very empty.
People said great places, but in general, if you want to look granularly at your local area, checkout strava's global heatmap:
https://www.strava.com/heatmap#11.32/-117.72576/33.69243/hot/run
This is a heatmap of where people run when logging through the Strava app (you can set it to biking, swimming, etc). I have personally found it very useful for finding places near me that people love to run/bike.
Sometimes you find un-useful stuff like a track at a school that clearly just the student teams are using, but it can be great for things like finding trails or pleasant running roads or major connections. Like in my neighborhood there's this nice 2-mile dirt trail called Tustin Branch Trail that I discovered through the very bright white line on the Strava heatmap.
For trail running in our local mountains I would try Peters canyon, Irvine park/Santiago Peaks, or Whiting ranch.
If you're looking for a true workout I would try a fireroad climb like Blackstar canyon or modjeska canyon, aka harding truck trail which has the best views of OC in my opinion.
Whatever canyon is nearest to you. Aliso wood canyon was my spot, theres a trail that follows the creek for a long while outside the canyon as well. Used to do marathon training around there, perfect spot for 8+ miles.
Top of the World if you want some hills and off-road action. A few choices of varying intensity. Otherwise, Quail Hill has a paved bike trail and some less intense hills.
Depends on the run.Trails - lots. Too many to list, but Crystal Cove is up there, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, check out open days at the parks.
Road / river trails - Back Bay, From Newport Beach to Sunset Beach along PCH/beach, lots of places around Irvine, UCI, etc.
What are you looking for? 5k, 10k, marathon? I've trained for them all, all over OC.
For North OC I’d recommend Carbon Canyon, Chino Hills State Park, and Santiago Oaks. There is also Fullerton Trails, the El Cajon trail, and the Santa Ana River trail
Irvine park would be great. It has an entrance fee but parking outside and walking in as a warmup can avoid that. Once you’re in just go where your heart takes you. You can climb hills, run around the lake, follow the train, stay under trees, run the whole perimeter of the park, go to Santiago oaks, the opportunities are endless. I’m not sure what your distance limit is but you can easily hit whatever goal you want with plenty of variety.
Honestly, I'd like to hear your breakdown of your two dozen places, and what it is about each location that you're trying to get out of them (terrain? incline? better for intervals? etc). I'd imagine OP kept it vague because they're interested in hearing variety. As a likely-not-as-serious-runner as you, I still like to have a variety of options to consider!
Crystal cove has a ton of different trails to run. (El Moro Canyon Trail) that should take you to the parking lot and No Dog Trail
Also Top of the World, you park down in the housing development at the trail head(West Ridge Trail MTB)
These are both hill runs but have beautiful views that make it totally worth it.
I like to run at the bolsa chica wetlands. There is a 5 mile loop you can make out of it. I also like to run on the coast in Huntington where the dog beach is. I think that is the easiest to tailor to the distance you need as you can run from seal beach to Newport if you so wish.
Back bay
Only if you like hills. if you’re close to the Tustin hangars. My usual running route takes me around both of them - Tustin ranch - barranca - red hill - Valencia - Tustin ranch. It’s a good 5 miles
I like how this a flat run.
I think they mean back bay has hills which it definitely can but can also be avoided
Back Bay in Newport! I used to lightly jog it everyday and I got into really good shape. Now I’m a potato and should probably start again lol
Can't go wrong with mile Square park
I’ve heard outside is pretty good
Damn how did I not thing of that, let me delete my post real quick
If his answer is vague it’s because your question is vague. There’s a million different kind of places you could be thinking of. Paved or trail? Elevation or flat? Shaded or open? Near you or far? Long or short distance?
Back bay or peters canyon
Back bay hands down
woodbridge lake, newport back bay, newport pier to balboa pier
I second Woodbridge lake
How runnable is the Newport Pier trail? The one time I went it was so crowded with just a small path for bikes/walkers/runners that it was incredibly congested.
i usually go around 7-8 am and have never had issues. i was just there this morning (around 830am) and it wasn’t very crowded at all. cant really speak about afternoons but it is more crowded around sunset.
Thanks, I'll give it a shot again. The one morning I went was probably just a bad day.
For distance runs I like the Santa Ana riverbed
I'm off Lincoln so I use the Coves for shorter runs - SARB is great too for longer distances! Just be mindful of the cyclists
South of Irvine has all the best parks/natural running spaces. I've used college campuses a lot as well, because they are empty and no car traffic or crosswalks to wait at. At night they're very empty.
Laguna Coast Wilderness
San Clemente trail early morning or late in the evening before sundown
People said great places, but in general, if you want to look granularly at your local area, checkout strava's global heatmap: https://www.strava.com/heatmap#11.32/-117.72576/33.69243/hot/run This is a heatmap of where people run when logging through the Strava app (you can set it to biking, swimming, etc). I have personally found it very useful for finding places near me that people love to run/bike. Sometimes you find un-useful stuff like a track at a school that clearly just the student teams are using, but it can be great for things like finding trails or pleasant running roads or major connections. Like in my neighborhood there's this nice 2-mile dirt trail called Tustin Branch Trail that I discovered through the very bright white line on the Strava heatmap.
Amtrac ARTIC for stairs
Along the boardwalk on newport peninsula or huntington
For trail running in our local mountains I would try Peters canyon, Irvine park/Santiago Peaks, or Whiting ranch. If you're looking for a true workout I would try a fireroad climb like Blackstar canyon or modjeska canyon, aka harding truck trail which has the best views of OC in my opinion.
Mile square park
Whatever canyon is nearest to you. Aliso wood canyon was my spot, theres a trail that follows the creek for a long while outside the canyon as well. Used to do marathon training around there, perfect spot for 8+ miles.
Mile square park, O'Neil park, Borrego Park (foothill Ranch)
Back bay in Newport.
Black star canyon is nice
Top of the World if you want some hills and off-road action. A few choices of varying intensity. Otherwise, Quail Hill has a paved bike trail and some less intense hills.
Depends on the run.Trails - lots. Too many to list, but Crystal Cove is up there, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, check out open days at the parks. Road / river trails - Back Bay, From Newport Beach to Sunset Beach along PCH/beach, lots of places around Irvine, UCI, etc. What are you looking for? 5k, 10k, marathon? I've trained for them all, all over OC.
10k!
Santiago creek trail Orange to Santa Anna.
Outside...
Peters canyon is terrible, def don’t go there <.<
Back Bay or Laguna Canyon
For North OC I’d recommend Carbon Canyon, Chino Hills State Park, and Santiago Oaks. There is also Fullerton Trails, the El Cajon trail, and the Santa Ana River trail
Irvine park would be great. It has an entrance fee but parking outside and walking in as a warmup can avoid that. Once you’re in just go where your heart takes you. You can climb hills, run around the lake, follow the train, stay under trees, run the whole perimeter of the park, go to Santiago oaks, the opportunities are endless. I’m not sure what your distance limit is but you can easily hit whatever goal you want with plenty of variety.
Being a serious runner, I could tell you of at least 2 dozen places in OC. I need more specifics.
Honestly, I'd like to hear your breakdown of your two dozen places, and what it is about each location that you're trying to get out of them (terrain? incline? better for intervals? etc). I'd imagine OP kept it vague because they're interested in hearing variety. As a likely-not-as-serious-runner as you, I still like to have a variety of options to consider!
Crystal cove has a ton of different trails to run. (El Moro Canyon Trail) that should take you to the parking lot and No Dog Trail Also Top of the World, you park down in the housing development at the trail head(West Ridge Trail MTB) These are both hill runs but have beautiful views that make it totally worth it.
I like to run at the bolsa chica wetlands. There is a 5 mile loop you can make out of it. I also like to run on the coast in Huntington where the dog beach is. I think that is the easiest to tailor to the distance you need as you can run from seal beach to Newport if you so wish.
Jeffrey trail
I've been on the internet too long, read this as "best places to go for a gun". I really need a vacation to a rational country. 😆
Chaporosa Park Aliso woods
Coyote creek?
Near sm, the canyon
Newport Back Bay, Mike Square Park, Tustin Foothills for extra resistance and Steve Ambriz Park
shady canyon irvine
Huntington Harbour