Walking might be the . OK, it’s 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 itsadvantagesis that you can do it just about anywhere, but some routesare more beautiful than others.Here are tenof the most scenic trails thatallow access greenery without leaving thecity.
Spanish Moss Trail
Beaufort, South Carolina
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’s 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’s Low Countrylandscape. The trail starts in an old rail station near Depot Road and carries you over creeks, through expansive wetlands, and amidstately neighborhoods shaded by live oaks thick with the iconic Spanish moss.
Jack A. Markell Trail
Wilmington, Delaware
This paved path combines culture, history, and wildlife on its eight-mile journey from downtown Wilmington to the historic town of New Castle. Startat , exploreopen-air markets and seafood restaurants, andfinishat New Castle’s , a sprawling green space on the Delaware River with a new pier that overlooksa replica of aSwedish merchant ship from the 1600s. In between, the trail dips into the , one of only a handful of urban wildlife sanctuariesin the U.S., home toa 212-acre marshypreservefor fish and other faunain the heart of the state’s largest city.
Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake
Austin, Texas
The isn’t like anything else in Texas. It’s a 7,250-foot-long concrete pedestrian bridge hovering above the water on the edge of Lady Bird Lake. The views are stunning—you have the lake itself, full of peoplein kayaks and on stand-up paddleboards, as well as Austin’s skyline just beyond the shoreline—but walking thisboardwalk is also adeep dive intoan exploration ofTexanculture. 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’s 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 walkingand you’ll hit , a wildlife sanctuary where thousands of migrating birds make a pit stopon 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 nationa massive man-made arch covered with holds set against thebackdrop of the Columbusskyline.
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 collectionof the city’s landmarks. Start on the south end of this segment, and you’ll pass the rocky bluffs of Baker Beach right out of the gate before hitting the Marin Headlands and ending at the Golden Gate Bridge. Theshoreline is a near constant companion and a number of connecting paths meander into the Presidio.
Bert Cooper Trail
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tenmiles north of downtown Oklahoma City, 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 ofwater views. Birders in particular love this trail because Hefner marksan important stopover for migratory species. Start at , atthe southern end of the reservoir, and amblethrough 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,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 itstraditional Japanese garden anda koi pond, as well as the , a 100-acre park full of prairie grass and trees.
Lafitte Greenway
New Orleans, Louisiana
This 2.6-mile opened in 2015, and in just a few short years, it has become amajor 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’s most vibrant metro areas. Shaded by live oaks, bald cypress, and pecan trees, the route passes along the SaintLouis Canal before crossing over Bayou SaintJohn. From the northern trailhead terminus, it’s a quick walk to the 1,300-acre City Park itself, full of green space and wetlands, while the southernterminus is, on the edge of the French Quarter.
The East Coast Greenway
Washington, D.C.
When it’s 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 thatpasses through Washington, D.C. It cuts throughthe National Mall and crosses the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River into Virginia, where it connects with the . While the capital’s monumentsare big attractions, be sure to make stops along the trail at the and the , the oldest continuously operating public garden in the country,with more than 65,000 tropical and subtropical plants.
The High Line
New York City, New York
If there’s such a thing as the most famous U.S. greenway, it’s . This elevated trail, a repurposedabandoned freight line onManhattan’s West Side, is an infusion of nature in the most populatedcity in the country. The 1.45-mile bridge is designedwith public art, interesting architecture, and edible gardens. Various overlooks give you a bird’s-eye view of some of the borough’s most iconic neighborhoods, while certain sections featurea full canopy of trees, providing an escape from the cityscape. Hang out on lounge chairs onthe sundecks, enjoy views over the Hudson River, and catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.