Doesn’t exist wrote:
And when the trails are in good condition, it’s 100 degrees with 100% humidity and there’s bugs everywhere. Basically the only good times to run at during the fall and even then it’s dicey
Yes, definitely stay away from places that have atmospheric conditions that no human has ever encountered.
Reading, PA or Berks County PA. All of the trails mentioned in the link below are also active running trails (at least by the local running community anyways)
http://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/GIS/Pages/HikingTrailMaps.aspx
About 1.5 hrs outside of Philadelphia. Appalachian Trail passes thru Berks County in Hamburg.
I agree that Charlottesville checks all the boxes. A few smaller, more off-the-radar picks:
Davis, WV: abundant trails, real mountains, ~3hr from Pittsburgh. Local outdoor scene is good, but can't speak to running community specifically.
Marietta, OH: Sleeper pick. Great urban singletrack network (20+ mi of trail and growing), plus hundreds of miles of trail in the nearby Wayne National Forest. Within 2-3 hours of Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Terrain is very hilly, but you'd have to drive to ~3hr to get to real mountains in WV. Local running scene is small.
Saranac Lake, NY: Close the Adirondack High Peaks, great access to trails, surrounded by beautiful lakes, but more of a "real town" (has a hospital, not all properties are rentals or second homes) as opposed to nearby tourist destinations like Lake Placid and Keene Valley.
Others: Burlington and Waterbury, VT, Greenville, SC, Harrisonburg, VA.
State College, PA
Lynchburg, VA
Black Mountain FTW wrote:
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Point by point.
-Proximity/easy access to large trail network
Trails are easily accessible and plentiful. Black Mountain and neighboring Montreat sit at the feet of the Black Mountains, a range with many peaks in excess of 6,000 feet (the highest your going to find east of the Mississippi)
- Is located in/very close to mountainous terrain (with 3-5k ft peaks a plus)
See above. Mount Mitchell (the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi at 6700 ft) is within running distance of Black Mountain: a hard twenty miles.
- Has a existent running community
Definitely exists and is bolstered by neighboring communities in Brevard and Asheville. Black Mountain hosts the Black Mountain Marathon and the 40-mile Mt Mitchell Challenge each February which attracts a fairly deep talent pool.
- Within a couple hours from an airport
Asheville has a small regional airport. Charlotte-Douglas is roughly 2 hours away and can get you almost anywhere.
Bottom line: If you are interested in trail running and especially interested in serious vert on the East Coast, Black Mountain is the ticket. The Adirondacks and the White Mountains in New Hampshire could give it a run for its money, though the winters are less hospitable. Differences in culture are also fairly pronounced.
Great answer here, plus Montreat College’s new track facility is an easy jog from town. Less popular South Mountains have some great trails about 30min south too. And, Oles Guacamole’s
Winning the "Urban Trail" category is Richmond, VA
20+ miles of single track along either side of the river a few blocks from downtown
Why are you asking? Are you moving to the Beast Coast?
UltraTrail wrote:
What are your favorite(s) trail towns/cities east of the Mississippi?
Some criteria I'm looking for in my own search is:
- Proximity/easy access to large trail network
- Is located in/very close to mountainous terrain (with 3-5k ft peaks a plus)
- Has a existent running community
- Within a couple hours from an airport
Looking forward to hearing what your favorites are! Thanks in advance.
Um, hello wrote:
Black Mountain FTW wrote:
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Point by point.
-Proximity/easy access to large trail network
Trails are easily accessible and plentiful. Black Mountain and neighboring Montreat sit at the feet of the Black Mountains, a range with many peaks in excess of 6,000 feet (the highest your going to find east of the Mississippi)
- Is located in/very close to mountainous terrain (with 3-5k ft peaks a plus)
See above. Mount Mitchell (the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi at 6700 ft) is within running distance of Black Mountain: a hard twenty miles.
- Has a existent running community
Definitely exists and is bolstered by neighboring communities in Brevard and Asheville. Black Mountain hosts the Black Mountain Marathon and the 40-mile Mt Mitchell Challenge each February which attracts a fairly deep talent pool.
- Within a couple hours from an airport
Asheville has a small regional airport. Charlotte-Douglas is roughly 2 hours away and can get you almost anywhere.
Bottom line: If you are interested in trail running and especially interested in serious vert on the East Coast, Black Mountain is the ticket. The Adirondacks and the White Mountains in New Hampshire could give it a run for its money, though the winters are less hospitable. Differences in culture are also fairly pronounced.
Great answer here, plus Montreat College’s new track facility is an easy jog from town. Less popular South Mountains have some great trails about 30min south too. And, Oles Guacamole’s
Bingo. Between Black Mountain and Asheville has to be the best option for what the OP desires. Climate is almost bang on perfect year round for running. Summer is decent without bad humidity and winters are never terrible. May get some snow here and there but then it’s gone in a few days. Extensive trail system, college tracks, good size town, Charlotte isn’t a bad drive for a big airport otherwise it’s Asheville regional.
Blowing Rock is wonderful. Miles of trails in Moses Cone forest/park. Long steady climbs, flat around two lakes, cool summer temps, elevation 3000 to 4000. Home of Zap Fitness training group. I have seen many college teams here on training trips. Appalachian State trains here alot since they are local.
western NC
Asheville first and foremost - good running community... small towns near by: Black Mt, Weaverville, Waynesville, Arden, Hendersonville, etc...
Boone/Blowing Rock isn't bad either
2 hours to CLT...
Roanoke VA
thebanana wrote:
I agree that Charlottesville checks all the boxes. A few smaller, more off-the-radar picks:
Davis, WV: abundant trails, real mountains, ~3hr from Pittsburgh. Local outdoor scene is good, but can't speak to running community specifically.
Marietta, OH: Sleeper pick. Great urban singletrack network (20+ mi of trail and growing), plus hundreds of miles of trail in the nearby Wayne National Forest. Within 2-3 hours of Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Terrain is very hilly, but you'd have to drive to ~3hr to get to real mountains in WV. Local running scene is small.
Saranac Lake, NY: Close the Adirondack High Peaks, great access to trails, surrounded by beautiful lakes, but more of a "real town" (has a hospital, not all properties are rentals or second homes) as opposed to nearby tourist destinations like Lake Placid and Keene Valley.
Others: Burlington and Waterbury, VT, Greenville, SC, Harrisonburg, VA.
But then you have to live in Marietta. If I were choosing between SE Ohio trail running meccas, I'd go with Athens over Marietta or Portsmouth. Athens has a much better running scene, and the town is far superior to what Marietta can offer in regard to the social scene (restaurants, bars, performing arts, music, etc.)
There are several good cities in the easy for trail runners. Most have been named and I will list my favorite ones.
State College- has access from town and a great network of greenway paths. Downfall is lack of long climbs and variety.
Lynchburg- in town trails, Liberty U has an extensive network they maintain plus trails galore along the Blue Ridge Parkway both North and South of town.
Roanoke- right down the road from Lynchburg. Decent greenway system. Some in town trails by the star but you are in close proximity to trails along the parkway and easy access to the AT.
Johnson City Tn. - though lacking in a good greenway system access to single track with great climbs within an hour of town would rival anywhere.
And of course the Asheville/Black Mountain area.
Tallahassee
Atlanta
Sounds crazy. But just outside of Baltimore has Patapsco State Park which is UNBELIEVABLE! It's not "mountains" but the rolling single track goes on for over 100 miles. An hour away from there is the watershed area by Frederick, MD, where you can easily get your backside handed to you.
east coast is a bit of a misnomer if you're looking for trail towns. Asheville and Greeneville are the best, but both are far from the coast. If you are dead set on there being coast nearby, bar harbor is probably the best.
That's a good point Bar Harbor, Portland, Portsmouth, Boston. All are on the coast and within reasonable driving distance to the Western Maine Mountains, The Whites and The Greens plus mix in all the local and state parks. Local/State Parks in MA/NH/ME Blue Hills The Fells Lynn Woods Harold Parker WIllowdale Pawtuckaway Bear Brook Belknap Range Moose Mountain Mt. Kearsarge Monadnock - Sunapee Greenway
Kvothe wrote:
east coast is a bit of a misnomer if you're looking for trail towns. Asheville and Greeneville are the best, but both are far from the coast. If you are dead set on there being coast nearby, bar harbor is probably the best.
The OP said East Coast. I think some of you need to brush up on your Geography. Marietta? Chicago? Yeah...
Greenville is nice. Great little college town. So is Ashville. Lynchburg has a lot of trails and is close to the BRP and AT.
All of these places are an easy drive to the beach, but you'll have to deal with some humid summers. Spring and fall are beautiful, though. Someone said winter's are cold, but I have rarely seen sub freezing conditions in any if these placed. Cold rain, but not really winter.
Geography People wrote:
The OP said East Coast. I think some of you need to brush up on your Geography. Marietta? Chicago? Yeah...
Greenville is nice. Great little college town. So is Ashville. Lynchburg has a lot of trails and is close to the BRP and AT.
All of these places are an easy drive to the beach, but you'll have to deal with some humid summers. Spring and fall are beautiful, though. Someone said winter's are cold, but I have rarely seen sub freezing conditions in any if these placed. Cold rain, but not really winter.
The OP asked for trail towns/cities east of the Mississippi. Yeah...