Perfect Circles: 6 Great Trail Running Loops

Trail running is easy to love. You tap into the body-and-soul benefits of exercise in the outdoors, and on the best routes you move through some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery. And on the best of the best, you do it on a loop trail and experience new sights the whole way around. Ready to find your favorite? Start with this collection of loops for every type of runner in key spots across the country, and find more top routes in this comprehensive guide. And wherever you run and whatever conditions you encounter, take on any trail with the Brooks Cascadia Collection—and experience the force of nature.

Elks-Kings Loop, Tillamook State Forest, OR

9.8 miles

Ready to test yourself and your gear? This rugged, rocky route tags both Elk Mountain and King Mountain, traversing exposed ridges and delivering big views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding peaks of the Cascades. With a total elevation gain of 3,600 feet, this run makes for a memorable day that’s equal parts stunning and challenging.

Three Fingered Jack, Mount Jefferson Wilderness, Oregon

22.3 miles

This scenic loop through raw wilderness, connecting the Pacific Crest Trail with the Old Summit Trail in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, makes for a big (and beautiful) day. The route encircles Three Fingered Jack, a 7,840-foot volcano, with epic views of surrounding peaks and valleys.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, La Jolla, California

3.1 miles

Featuring a well-marked, 8-mile trail network that allows loop runs of various lengths, this coastal park is the perfect starter run in the San Diego area. The terrain is accessible and fun, and the colors are gorgeous: orange sandy trails, deep-green coastal sage and Torrey pines, and the vast blue of the Pacific Ocean below. A 3.1-mile loop includes the Razor Point Trail, the Beach Trail, the Broken Hill Trail, and the South Fork Trail, with short out-and-backs to Razor and Lookout Points.

Hangover Trail, Sedona, Arizona

8.2 miles

Experience the magical red-rock scenery of Sedona on this lollipop loop. You’ll pass under a rocky overhang (or “hangover”) for a tunnel-like experience before crossing an exposed, rocky slab between two spires. Like what you see? Sedona’s network of trails makes it easy to explore far and wide. 

Wasatch Crest Trail, Salt Lake City, Utah

12.6 miles

Get a bird’s-eye view of Utah’s iconic Wasatch Mountains from the Dog Lake-Desolation Lake Crest Loop. Expect wildflowers in summer, colorful fall leaves in autumn, and sparkling lakes in every season.

Green Mountain Loop, Boulder, Colorado

4.6 miles

At 8,450 feet, Green Mountain is only the third-tallest peak in the Boulder foothills. But the route to the summit, with 2,351 feet of elevation gain and (mostly) runner-friendly grades, is a local favorite. Bonus: Atop a short, rocky scramble on the summit, a survey marker identifies all the Rocky Mountain peaks visible in the distance.

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