Walking might be the . OK, it鈥檚 not as flashy as its cousins, running and hiking, but that a moderate walk is just as effective at battling high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease as a vigorous run or an uphill trek. And it does the job with a lower risk of injury. Some even suggests that walking can make you more creative. One of its听advantages听is that you can do it just about anywhere, but some routes听are more beautiful than others.听Here are ten听of the most scenic trails that听allow access greenery without leaving the听city.
Spanish Moss Trail
Beaufort, South Carolina听
Charleston gets all of the love, but the smaller coastal town of Beaufort, an hour and a half to the southwest, has just as much southern charm, with a fraction of the tourists. And it鈥檚 incredibly walkable, thanks in part to the , a ten-mile paved path that follows the former Magnolia rail line through the best of South Carolina鈥檚 Low Country听landscape. The trail starts in an old rail station near Depot Road and carries you over creeks, through expansive wetlands, and amid听stately neighborhoods shaded by live oaks thick with the iconic Spanish moss.
Jack A. Markell Trail
Wilmington, Delaware听
This paved path combines culture, history, and wildlife on its eight-mile journey from downtown Wilmington to the historic town of New Castle. Start听at , explore听open-air markets and seafood restaurants, and听finish听at New Castle鈥檚 , a sprawling green space on the Delaware River with a new pier that overlooks听a replica of a听Swedish merchant ship from the 1600s. In between, the trail dips into the , one of only a handful of urban wildlife sanctuaries听in the U.S., home to听a 212-acre marshy听preserve听for fish and other fauna听in the heart of the state鈥檚 largest city.
Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake
Austin, Texas听
The 听isn鈥檛 like anything else in Texas. It鈥檚 a 7,250-foot-long concrete pedestrian bridge hovering above the water on the edge of Lady Bird Lake. The views are stunning鈥攜ou have the lake itself, full of people听in kayaks and on stand-up paddleboards, as well as Austin鈥檚 skyline just beyond the shoreline鈥攂ut walking this听boardwalk is also a听deep dive into听an exploration of听Texan听culture. Keep an eye out for an installation of 36 bronze western-style belts integrated into railings etched with song lyrics from Texas artists.
The Scioto Trail
Columbus, Ohio
The first greenway to be built in Columbus, follows the river of the same name for more than 12 miles, connecting the city鈥檚 neighborhoods with its expansive park system. The most beloved stretch of the trail is the Scioto Mile, which cruises along the downtown waterfront through a series of green spaces and city landmarks. Keep walking听and you鈥檒l hit , a wildlife sanctuary where thousands of migrating birds make a pit stop听on their way south. The 120-acre park, which has its own system of walking trails that pass beneath the tree canopy and through restored wetlands, features one of the largest free-climbing walls in the nation听a massive man-made arch covered with holds set against the听backdrop of the Columbus听skyline.
The California Coastal Trail
San Francisco, California
This is one of the most dramatic in the country, spanning 1,200 miles along the Pacific Ocean. For a shorter option, focus on the 2.4-mile section near the Presidio, in San Francisco, which hits a collection听of the city鈥檚 landmarks. Start on the south end of this segment, and you鈥檒l pass the rocky bluffs of Baker Beach right out of the gate before hitting the Marin Headlands and ending at the Golden Gate Bridge. The听shoreline is a near constant companion and a number of connecting paths meander into the Presidio.
Bert Cooper Trail
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma听
Ten听miles north of downtown Oklahoma City,听 is a 2,500-acre reservoir with a yacht club and a lighthouse. The forms a 9.5-mile loop around the lake and offers lots of听water views. Birders in particular love this trail because Hefner marks听an important stopover for migratory species. Start at , at听the southern end of the reservoir, and amble听through forested areas and neighborhood streets. Be sure to walk the peninsula out to the lighthouse, which makes for the perfect picnic spot.
Lakefront Trail
Chicago, Illinois
On one side of the 18-mile-long , you have Lake Michigan, unfurling into the horizon like an inland sea,听and on the other, you have the city of Chicago and its towering skyscrapers. You could spend an entire day along this trail, bouncing from beaches to parks and back again. Just make sure you hit , with its听traditional Japanese garden and听a koi pond, as well as the , a 100-acre park full of prairie grass and trees.
Lafitte Greenway
New Orleans, Louisiana听
This 2.6-mile 听opened in 2015, and in just a few short years, it has become a听major artery for pedestrians and cyclists moving about New Orleans. The paved path runs from the French Quarter to the neighborhood of , offering a string of nature in the heart of one of the South鈥檚 most vibrant metro areas. Shaded by live oaks, bald cypress, and pecan trees, the route passes along the Saint听Louis Canal before crossing over Bayou Saint听John. From the northern trailhead terminus, it鈥檚 a quick walk to the 1,300-acre City Park itself, full of green space and wetlands, while the southern听terminus is听, on the edge of the French Quarter.
The East Coast Greenway
Washington, D.C.
When it鈥檚 eventually completed, the will run for 3,000 miles from Florida to Maine. More than 30 percent of this massive walking and biking trail is currently built, and some of that听passes through Washington, D.C. It cuts through听the National Mall and crosses the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River into Virginia, where it connects with the . While the capital鈥檚 monuments听are big attractions, be sure to make stops along the trail at the 听and the , the oldest continuously operating public garden in the country,听with more than 65,000 tropical and subtropical plants.
The High Line
New York City, New York
If there鈥檚 such a thing as the most famous U.S. greenway, it鈥檚 . This elevated trail, a repurposed听abandoned freight line on听Manhattan鈥檚 West Side, is an infusion of nature in the most populated听city in the country. The 1.45-mile bridge is designed听with public art, interesting architecture, and edible gardens. Various overlooks give you a bird鈥檚-eye view of some of the borough鈥檚 most iconic neighborhoods, while certain sections feature听a full canopy of trees, providing an escape from the cityscape. Hang out on lounge chairs on听the sundecks, enjoy views over the Hudson River, and catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.