The 50 Most Gorgeous Running Races in America, State by State

Running is always better with a view. That’s why we rounded up the most scenic races in every state—from roads to trails, cities to country, mountains to prairies, and 5Ks to ultramarathons, these events all promise well organized and extremely rewarding courses, with new sights to delight your mind (and distract your tired muscles) every mile.

Unless otherwise noted, the cities listed here are the races’ starting locations. Some events may already be sold out for their next running, so check their websites for up-to-date details. Then, book your travel and start training, because these 50 runs are definitely worth the trip.

Little River Canyon Half Marathon, Fort Payne

Jacksonville State University and the Little River Canyon Center sponsor this annual small-town half marathon—last year’s race had just over 100 runners—held every October. The paved-road course offers 5 miles of breathtaking views along the canyon’s rim, then drops into gently rolling farm country.

Crow Pass Crossing, Girdwood

Competitor magazine called this 22.5-mile point-to-point course one of its 21 most-scenic trail races. It runs along Crow Pass National Historic Trail in Chugach State Park, and is not for the faint of heart: Runners are on their own for most of the course (no medical or aid stations) and, at one point, must cross a quarter-mile, thigh-deep glacial river. It’s held every July and is limited to 150 entries.

Antelope Canyon 50-mile, 55K & half marathon, Page

Held every February, both the 50-mile and the 50K (31-mile) courses overlook the world-famous Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River—but only the 50-miler passes through the spectacular red-orange Upper Antelope Canyon, one of the most photographed slot canyons in the world. The half marathon skips the canyons, but still has great views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. 

Little Rock Marathon, Little Rock

Runner’s World magazine called this one of its favorite “little marathons,” and noted its charming and varied course as one of the reasons: The race, held every March, “starts and finishes in the shadow of the state capitol, winds past antebellum mansions in the (hilly) historic residential area called Quapaw Quarters, and runs out-and-back along a scenic road by the Arkansas River.” There’s also a half marathon, 10K, and 5K held the same weekend.

Big Sur International Marathon, Big Sur

Conde Nast Traveler named this one of the country’s most scenic road races, thanks to its long coastal stretch on State Highway 1 and the chance to run across the iconic Bixby Bridge. If you’re not up for a full marathon just yet, sign up for the 21-miler (held concurrently with the marathon, in April) or the half marathon (held separately, in November), instead. 

Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run, Manitou Springs

“Big hills, awesome rocks, all challenge” is the motto of this long-running road race, which takes participants on a hilly loop through Garden of the Gods Park—a National Natural Landmark filled with 300-foot towering sandstone rock formations. If that’s not enough, you’ve also got views of Colorado’s majestic mountains on the horizon. 

Lime Rock Half Marathon, Salisbury

A race that starts and ends on a track doesn’t sound too scenic—but this June half marathon will not disappoint. Its out-and-back course winds along beautiful roads in the southern Berkshire Mountains region, and finishes (under a checkered flag!) with a lap in historic Lime Rock Park, the third-oldest continuously operating road-racing track in the country. Two laps of the track also serve as a fun 5K. 

Coastal Delaware Running Festival, Dewey Beach

This April weekend hosts a marathon, half marathon, 9K, and 5K, all of which are flat and fast with scenic ocean views. The longer races begin in Delaware Seashore State Park, traverse the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk, pass through the Gordons Pond Wildlife Area, and finish at the Dewey Beach lighthouse. 

Keys 100, Key Largo

Run the whole 100 miles yourself or do it as part of a six-runner team; either way, you’ll be treated to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Sunshine state. The race takes you down U.S. Highway 1 (and over lots of hilly bridges) to Key West’s Higgs Beach—very close to the southernmost point in the United States. Held every May, there are also 50-mile and 50K options. 

Peach Jam Half Marathon & 5K, Cumming

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution included this pair of races in its Spring 2016 roundup of “runs with a view” in the Atlanta metro area. They take place in April on the Big Creek Greenway—a wide, well-maintained concrete and boardwalk path that meanders through the woods and along the babbling Big Creek. “Running here,” the AJC says, “you’re more likely to hear the natural call of ducks, squirrels, and other wildlife than the sounds of traffic.”  

Paul Mitchell XTERRA Trail Run World Championship, Oahu

Known as the “crown jewel of trail running,” this race series is held every December. Though it's considered a "World Championship" race, anyone can enter any of the various distances: 21K (13 miles—just short of a half-marathon), 10K, or 5K, plus an adventure walk and a kids’ race. Its setting is the lush, green Kualoa Ranch; you may recognize its rainforests, valleys, beaches, and sheer cliff faces from shows and movies like LOST, Jurassic Park, and Pearl Harbor.

Scenic Half Marathon, Sandpoint

The name says it all: This out-and-back race, held in September, takes runners across the iconic Long Bridge, with panoramic views of Lake Pend Orielle and the surrounding mountains. The half marathon takes place half on paved pedestrian and bike paths, and half on the rural Lakeshore Drive. There’s also a 10K and 5K option. 

Chicago Marathon, Chicago

Every October, approximately 45,000 people run the Chicago Marathon, one of the country’s largest and most competitive marathons. The race also has some of the most enjoyable—and varied—scenery. “The course winds through 29 neighborhoods, giving you a run-by tour of can’t-miss spots like Wrigley Field, Chinatown, and Lake Michigan,” says Runner’s World magazine.  

Beyond the Beach Marathon & Half Marathon, Gary

These September road races (there’s a 5K option, as well) start and finish along Lake Michigan in Marquette Beach Park, surrounded by Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Not only do you get a sea breeze and lake views along much of the course, but you can glimpse the Chicago skyline in the distance, as well. 

Mines of Spain Trail Races, Dubuque

Trail Runner magazine called this half marathon a bucket-list destination race, thanks to its “long, steep climbs along river bluffs, technical singletrack, ski trails through prairies, creek crossings, and some 2,000 feet of climbing.” The race (and its companion 5K and 10K) is held every August; with registration capped at 250 runners, it usually sells out quickly.

Lake Perry Rocks!, Meriden

This October race series has three different distance options: a 50K (31 miles), half marathon, and 5K. (And dogs can enter, too!) The courses are all on rocky, hilly, singletrack trails, through shaded woods with views of Lake Perry below. Race fees go toward the Kansas Trails Council’s “Friends of the Trail” fund, to benefit the very trails you’re running on. 

Cloudsplitter 100, Elkhorn City

If you’re not up for a 100-mile trail race, this October series also offers 100K (62 miles), 50K (31 miles), and 25K (15.5 miles) distances. All four options take place on the Pine Mountain Scenic Trial, in a secluded part of central Appalachia with diverse plant life and spellbinding views of Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Along the way you’ll pass pioneer homesteads, cliffs, waterfalls, caves, enormous sandstone boulders, and more.

Crescent City Classic 10K, New Orleans

Competitor magazine called this one of the 10 must-do 10Ks in the United States. One of the oldest 6.2-milers in the country, it’s become an Easter weekend tradition for more than 20,000 runners, both tourists and locals alike. The race begins in downtown New Orleans and runs through the French Quarter, then up the scenic Esplanade Avenue to New Orleans City Park. 

TD Beach to Beacon 10K, Cape Elizabeth

Olympic marathoner (and Maine native) Joan Benoit Samuelson founded this annual August race in order to show runners some of her favorite training grounds and her home state’s beautiful environment. The course does not disappoint: It begins near Crescent Beach State Park and ends next to Portland Head Light, the most photographed lighthouse in America, with tree-lined roads and stunning ocean views the whole way.  

River Valley Run Trail Festival, Manchester

This event features five races in one August weekend: Two trail races—15K and 10K—with breathtaking wooded scenery, a 5K race on rolling country roads, a 1-mile kids “stampede,” and a toddler trot for your family’s youngest runners. The 15K wind through the stunning Prettyboy watershed and climb to the highest point on the River Valley Ranch, with near-panoramic views of the Gunpowder Valley. Check out the series’ half marathon, held in April, as well.  

7 Sisters Trail Race, Amherst

This 12-mile out-and-back, held each May, follows the ridgeline of the Mount Holyoke Range and looks down on the Connecticut River and Pioneer Valley below. Don’t expect a PR with those views, though: You’ll be climbing roughly 3,700 feet on rocky, singletrack trail, so you might as well slow down and enjoy the scenery. 

Grand Island Trail Marathon, Grand Island Township

This race takes place every July along the perimeter of Grand Island, off the coast of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. (There’s also a 50K and half marathon.) You’ll run along beaches and through forests, with views of crystal blue water and 300-foot cliffs. The race’s website does point out the location’s tradeoffs: “This is a trail marathon on a wilderness island,” it states. “Do not expect large numbers of spectators and loud music. Expect extraordinarily beautiful views of Lake Superior.” (We’ll take it.) 

Lola’s Lake Waconia Half Marathon, Waconia

This road race, held every June, provides a sightseeing tour through the picturesque city of Waconia, a hilly but scenic run along the lake, and a finish in City Square Park. There’s also a two-person half-marathon relay, a 10-mile option, and a dog-friendly 5K run/walk.

Mississippi River Marathon & Half Marathon, Greenville

These races actually start in Arkansas before traveling over the Mississippi River Bridge to finish in downtown Greenville. (Runners meet at the end and are bussed to their starting lines.) The courses are flat and fast; the marathon runs along a scenic lake for the first several miles, and both races offer gorgeous views while crossing the river. 

White River Valley Trail Trek, Branson

This June event offers a 5K and a 13K option through the rugged Ozark Mountain region, on the award-winning trails of Table Rock State Park. Both races start and end at the same point, but the longer course travels down along the scenic Lake Taneycomo and climbs 330 feet to the highest point on the course.

Wulfman’s CDT 14K Trail Race, Butte

This race, held on “Summer Solstice Saturday” in June, follows 14 kilometers (about 8.6 miles) along Montana’s Continental Divide Trail between Homestead and Pipestone passes. The singletrack trail has some incredible sights, with sweeping vistas and soaring rock formations everywhere you look. Run it two years in a row and you’ll get a completely different view the second time, since the course switches start-to-finish direction every year. 

Nebraska Marathon, Omaha

October 2016 will mark the debut of the full Nebraska Marathon; its half-marathon and 5K companion races were both held for the first time in 2015. Both the half and the full course take runners along the Missouri River through Lewis and Clark Landing and Heartland of America Park, then cross over into Iowa before turning back to the waterfront finish-line festival. 

Rock ’n' Roll Marathon’s Strip at Night, Las Vegas

For most race courses, running them at night would mean missing out on the best scenery. But on the famous Las Vegas Strip, after dark is the best time to take in the sights. This November road-race-slash-dance-party (with marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K options) begins just as the sun is setting, and treats runners to dazzling lights and upbeat music from start to finish. 

Reach the Beach Relay, Bretton Woods

Find 11 friends and form a team for this 200-mile relay that stretches from New Hampshire’s rugged White Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean at Hampton Beach State Park. You’ll pass fields, lakes, vistas, and even the occasional covered bridge. Oh, and it takes place in September—peak season for New England fall foliage.  

Belmar Five, Belmar

This small-town Jersey Shore road race attracts several thousand runners every year, thanks to its fast, flat, and scenic course around two lakes and along the Atlantic Ocean. The sea breeze helps keeps runners cool, even in the heat of July, and the finish-line festival at Silver Lake Park is not to be missed. 

Santa Fe Thunder Half Marathon, Santa Fe

Few races provide a mix of urban and rural scenery the way this one does: It starts in downtown Santa Fe but quickly climbs into the hills outside of town. From there it’s all downhill (literally) as you drop into the Rio Grande Valley, taking in views of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains. It’s held every September; there’s a 5K and a mile-walk option, as well. 

Catskill Mountain Road Relay, Phoenicia

This 100K (62-mile) road race is run every August—traditionally in teams of five to 10, but in recent years some solo ultra-runners have taken on the challenge (and succeeded), as well. It’s a grueling but breathtaking course with more than 7,400 feet of elevation change, starting at sunrise and climbing several Catskill Mountains peaks on long and winding country roads.

New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K, Todd

These races, held every May, take place in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. All three distances finish along the banks of South Fork New River, one of 14 American Heritage Rivers in the United States. You’ll also pass by Christmas tree farms, horse ranches, and the historic hamlet of Todd along the way. 

Kroll’s Diner Bismark Marathon, Bismarck    

This September race follows the Missouri River (and crosses over it twice) on a fast and flat out-and-back, made up mostly of paved streets and bike trails. There are also marathon-relay, half marathon, 10K, and 5K options, as well as a Kids’ Mini Marathon the evening before.

Towpath Marathon, Peninsula

Runner’s World magazine called this “one of the most beautiful races on the fall calendar,” thanks to its unique setting in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. (The autumn leaves don’t hurt, either.) The October marathon—along with its half marathon and 10K options—follows the Towpath Trail along the Ohio & Erie Canalway, the same path that mules used to tow canal boats in the 1800s.  

Williams Route 66 Marathon, Tulsa

This November race series—featuring a full marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, and 5K—takes runner through downtown Tulsa and along the Arkansas River. The full and half marathon both cross over the iconic American highway for which the race is named, and the full course runs along it for just a few blocks. 

Gorge Waterfalls 50K, Cascade Locks

This unique 31-mile course, run every April, includes “quite possibly more waterfalls than you can count,” according to its parent group, Rainshadow Running. (They do a 100K out-and-back, too!) As it winds through the picturesque Columbia River Gorge, the course passes by Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, Multnomah Falls, Oneota Falls, and Dry Falls, to name a few—and directly underneath Ponytail Falls. 

Pine Creek Challenge, Wellsboro

This September ultramarathon offers 100-mile and 100-kilometer options, with just over 100 participants total. The course follows the Pine Creek Rail Trail through forests, past farms, and through the mile-wide, 1,450-foot-deep Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” in Tioga State Forest. 

Newport Marathon & Half Marathon, Newport

These October road races feature miles of waterfront views and close-ups of Newport’s famous Bellevue Avenue mansions. After it splits from the half, the marathon course continues to the southeast point of the island, passing through the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge and running along Sakonnet River. 

Cooper River Bridge Run, Mt. Pleasant

Runners in this April 10K get the chance to cross one of the country’s most iconic bridges with 33,000 other pedestrians and no cars. As if that experience wasn’t cool enough, the race finishes in picturesque downtown Charleston, with a finish festival full of local music, food, and vendors. 

Run Crazy Horse, Crazy Horse

This October race series—with marathon, half-marathon, and five-person relay options—starts at the Crazy Horse Memorial (the world’s largest and still yet unfinished mountain carving) and ends on Main Street in Hill City. It runs, mostly downhill, through South Dakota’s famous Black Hills and Ponderosa pine forests, along the popular George S. Mickelson Trail. 

The Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race, Chattanooga

This 10.2-mile loop, run every March, starts out on wide dirt roads but quickly transitions to rocky, technical singletrack. The course is known for its cascading streams, blooming rhododendrons, and views of the Tennessee River. You’ll be giving back to the forest, too: The race is a fundraiser for the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, and its proceeds are used for trail maintenance. 

South Padre Marathon, South Padre Island

This November marathon (and its half-marathon companion) starts in historic Port Isabel and runs point-to-point along the world’s longest barrier island, with pristine beaches and Gulf-of-Mexico views nearly the entire way. This year’s course has more than 20 “Selfie Zones” along the course, giving runners the opportunity to take photos by local landmarks and other scenic spots. 

Moab Trail Marathon, Moab

Home to the 2016 USA Trail Marathon Championships, this course has a little bit of everything: narrow canyons, impressive red-rock arches, Colorado River views, constantly changing terrain, and two major climbs with about 3,500 feet of total elevation gain and loss. There’s also an incredibly scenic half marathon, and a 5K filled with natural and manmade obstacles—like caves, ladders, a rock maze, and more.

Covered Bridge Half Marathon, Pomfret

Vermont is home to many scenic trail runs and arduous mountain climbs with rewarding views, but no race is quite as unique as this small-town charity event held every June. Capped at 2,300 entries (which sell out in minutes), the race winds along country roads and passes by or under four historic covered bridges along the way. 

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, Roanoke

Runners climb and descend three different mountains, all with magnificent views of the Roanoke Valley below, on this annual April race along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s dubbed America’s Toughest Road Marathon, thanks to its 7,430-plus feet of elevation change—a national record for non-trail marathons. The companion 13.1-mile race holds the Toughest title for the half-marathon distance, and there’s also a challenging 10K option. 

Bellingham Bay Marathon, Bellingham

This course runs along a bluff overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands, and the North Cascade Mountains. Runners pass through rural farmland and along waterfront greenways before finishing in downtown Bellingham—the northernmost city in the contiguous United States. For a shorter tour around this Pacific Northwest wonderland, choose the half marathon, 10K, or 5K option, all held the same day in September.

BCT Harper’s Ferry Half Marathon, Harper’s Ferry

This race (and its companion 5K) takes place each May in Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park and the preserved Civil War–era towns nearby. The course, a mix of road and gravel trails, takes runners on a loop along School House Ridge South (with amazing views of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers), past John Brown’s Fort, and back in time through the villages of Bolivar and Harper’s Ferry. 

Ice Age Trail 50, La Grange

Held each May in the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest, this is one of the oldest trail races in the country. The course follows the wide, scenic Nordic Trail—terrain created by glaciers that flowed 10,000 years ago—through pine forests and open meadows, over rolling hills, and past the remains of old pioneer settlements. Choose from a 50-miler, 50K, or half marathon. 

Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run, Sheridan

Choose between 100-, 52-, 32-, and 18-mile options, all on rugged mountain trails and four-wheel drive roads. The race, held during wildflower season every June, is extremely challenging—with elevations of up to 10,000 feet—but is designed to highlight the scenery of the wild and primitive Bighorn Mountains.