Attention all big city hikers!
I’ve been asked to put a piece together for BACKPACKER magazine about great hikes in city parks. Ever been in a city for a long weekend or a business trip and wanted to get some hiking in? Do you live in an urban area with a bangin’ city park? Can you get lost in a forest as easily as you can get lost on your streets? Then I want your help!!
I’ve put together a list of large urban areas with amazing city park systems; now I’m looking for the best hike or route in these parks. I want info beyond what I’ll find on the parks Web site or in a guidebook – we’re looking for info that only a local (or frequent visitor) would know.
Where’s the best trail to take to get away from the crowds? Coolest spot to watch the sunset? How about the longest running route in Central Park? Where can you see amazing plant life, uncommon to city life? Best way to spend your lunch hour?
Below you’ll find a list of cities and their parks. Leave your suggestions in the comments or feel free to email me at adrienne@backpacker.com.
Cities and parks:
Boston, MA – rowing the Charles or urban wilds
Seattle, WA – Discovery Park
Philadelphia, PA - Wissahickon Valley Park
Los Angeles, CA - Griffith Park
New York, NY - Central Park (best connection of trails to run)
Chicago, IL - Chicago Lakefront
San Francisco, CA - Golden Gate Park
Austin, TX - any of the parks, including the 10-mile Town Lake Hike & Bike Trail; Zilker Metropolitan Park
Phoenix, AZ - Piestewa Peak at the Phoenix Mountain Preserve
San Diego, CA - Balboa Park
Jacksonville, FL – Hanna Park
Nashville, TN – Radnor Lake Natural Area; the Warner Parks
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Comments
LaurenO
Portland, Oregon:
Mount Tabor Park in eastern Portland. Great views of Mt. Hood and downtown Portland and fantastic old growth trees.
Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge: Along the Willamette (“wi-LAM-et”) River, there’s a multi-use trail for walking, running and cycling that will take you to or from downtown, and goes for miles. There’s also dirt trails opposite the paved trails where you feel like you’re not in a city at all. Chances are great to see osprey, eagles, herons, and other birds.
Tyron Creek State Park: In southwestern Portland, another sweet, small park with trails that make it feel big.
Forest Park: In northwestern Portland, 4,900 acres! Lots of opportunities for hiking and biking.
Lauren
San Francisco: Golden Gate park is nice but the Presidio area is better. Its on the northwest side of the city and connects to beaches, like Chrissy Field with AWESOME views of the Golden Gate and Alcatraz. If you walk all the way west from Chrissy Field you will find a small tunnel that takes you under the GG Bridge and around the cliffy west coast of the city. Bring a jacket… SF is foggy and windy year round!!!
Also, just south of the city is a town called Pacifica. If you have a car, trek down there for a great surf spot. Nice small waves, easy for beginners. If its a flat day however, it is FLAT. Rent a wetsuit- average water temp is 52 degrees.
Barb
Sacramento – American River Parkway
Follows the American River from the confluence with the Sacramento River near Old Town Sac and goes upstream all the way to Folsom Lake. Paved trails for running, walking, and cycling. Dirt trails for horses or more rugged walkers. Lots of areas along the river to go for a swim (in clean Sierra Nevada meltwater), play fetch with your dog, or watch the ducks, egrets, blue herons and other wildlife. We’ve seen coyotes, jack rabbits, deer, and other ground rodents. There are a few sand beaches along the trail too where you might see people wake-boarding on the shore, putting in rafts or tubes to go down a stretch of river, picnicking, etc. It’s a great stretch of land to feel like you’re out of the city, but really you’re not that far away at all.