Where can I go to enjoy an urban hike? For many travelers, this question can be particularly difficult to answer, since many popular tourist destinations tend to be crowded and congested with traffic, pollution, or loud noises. The Best Urban Hiking Guide
Luckily, there are plenty of urban hiking trails all around the world that are perfect for travelers looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives in order to take in fresh air and natural beauty without leaving the city.
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These 6 urban hiking trails are considered some of the best by hikers of all experience levels, so consider planning your next vacation around one of them!
1) New York City – Lower Manhattan Trail
New York City’s Lower Manhattan is packed with a diverse array of parks, restaurants, and historic sites. This trail will take you through some of Manhattan’s finest public green spaces.
If you have time after your walk, visit The Battery at Castle Clinton National Monument or New York Harbor. Both offer spectacular views of New York Harbor, Ellis Island, and parts of Brooklyn and Jersey City. Plus they’re free!
2) Chicago – Lakefront Trail
The 18-mile Chicago Lakefront Trail is an urban haven for runners, cyclists and walkers. It has been rated as one of America’s best urban trails by both Runner’s World and Outside Magazine. Thanks to its location, there are many different ways to get from one city attraction to another on a lakefront path.
For example, you can go from Navy Pier to Lincoln Park Zoo via North Avenue Beach or even go around Wrigley Field via Fullerton Parkway.
There are also plenty of places to stop along the way and take in some views of Lake Michigan.
3) Los Angeles – Venice Beach Boardwalk
You can’t walk along Venice Beach’s boardwalk without stopping to take a photo or three. The wide, smooth and flat path is perfect for urban hiking. And if you bring your dog with you, he’ll get a great workout as well! Bring your camera, a good pair of sneakers and maybe some water; however, it’s hot in LA so don’t forget your sunscreen.
The Boardwalk has seven miles of paved pathway that are free to use and there are benches every block or so to sit down. Be sure to keep an eye out for street performers because they’re all over! You’ll have plenty of time at each end of the beach to stroll through some shops and grab lunch before heading back on your hike.
4) San Francisco – Golden Gate Bridge
The iconic Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks. Facing downtown San Francisco and with amazing views of Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and much of San Francisco Bay, it’s not hard to see why.
There are actually several hiking trails that climb to different points on top of or around the bridge—but most people simply walk across it if they have time.
5) Washington DC – National Mall
Stretching from National Harbor in Maryland to Eastern Market in DC, and from Arlington in Virginia to Anacostia in DC, it’s hard to define just what The Mall is.
It can mean any of several stretches along Independence Avenue SW or Constitution Avenue NW, or even simply a location near Washington D.C.’s monuments and memorials. Regardless of how you use the term, there are plenty of reasons why travelers visiting D.C.
6) London – Thames Path
The Thames Path National Trail runs through some of London’s most famous sites. Starting at its source near Kemble in Cotswolds, and ending up in The River Thames by Teddington Lock, it is one of Europe’s oldest long distance trails dating back to 1908.