Top Five Urban Trails for Running in the World

 1. Tijuca Forest Trail, Rio de Janeiro

    Tijuca Forest is the world's largest urban forest, covering 12.4 mi². Tijuca Forest has become a National Park since 1961 and is home of a large amount of species of wildlife and plants. It also contains a number of well-known attractions, such as the sculpture of Christ the Redeemer at top of Corcovado mountain.

2. Thames Path, London

    Following the length of the River Thames from its source to the end, Thames Path is a national trail with the length of 184 miles. The entire length of the path is available for running and walking. There are many notable tourists spots along the route, including Hampton Court Palace, Thames Barrier, Big ten tower.

3. Great Coastal Walk, Sydney

    Located along the great urban coast of Sydney, the Great Coastal Walk covers a distance of approximately 100km and numerous sightseeing spots. This walk begins at the famous Bondi icebergs and meanders towards Tamarama. Runners are able to enjoy spectacular views of famous Mackenzie's Point Beach and Marks Park, as well as a range of aboriginal rock carvings. The Walk also covers various well-designed houses and castles.

 4. South Mountain Park, Phoenix

    Covering an area of 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the U.S., as well as one of the largest urban parks in North America. This park contains a mountainous area and native desert vegetation in a natural condition. This park also features a total of 58 miles of trails for hiking and running for tourists to enjoy a variety of flora and fauna. In addition, the lookout point of the park is relatively high, rising over 1000 feet above the desert floor. Runners in this park can experience the beautiful sight of the City of Phoenix from the summit.

5. Coast to Coast Walk, Auckland

    Coast to Coast Walk is an approximately 192-mile path in New Zealand. It connects three diverse national parks: the Lake District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and the North York Moors National Park. It is named because it connects the Pacific Ocean on one side of the city to the Tasman Sea at the other side. This is also one of a few places in the world where you can run from one ocean to another in a day. The most famous landmark that this path crosses include Manungawhau (Mt. Eden), and Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill). Both of them offers incredible views over the city.