Best mountain towns for trail running
Across the West’s mountain towns, here’s where the trail running scene runs deepest — ranked by the recurring groups, clubs, and meetups we track. Tap a town to see who’s out there and when.
- TacomaSouth Sound — Point Defiance, the Foothills Trail & the Mt. Rainier gateway.6 groups
- PortlandForest Park, the Columbia Gorge & Mt. Hood — plus the Mazamas since 1894.5 groups
- BoulderCU Boulder — the Flatirons, Chautauqua & Boulder Creek.4 groups
- Fort CollinsColorado State University — the Poudre River & canyon, Horsetooth & Lory.4 groups
- Gallatin ValleyBozeman & Big Sky — the Bridger, Gallatin & Madison ranges.4 groups
- McCallPayette Lake — Brundage, Tamarack, Ponderosa State Park & Central Idaho.4 groups
- Park CityThe Wasatch Back — Mountain Trails singletrack, the Utah Olympic Park & world-class Nordic.4 groups
- Colorado SpringsPikes Peak — Garden of the Gods, the Incline & Manitou Springs.3 groups
- DenverThe Front Range — the South Platte, Clear Creek & the foothills.3 groups
- EugeneTrackTown USA — the University of Oregon, the McKenzie & the Willamette.3 groups
- Hood RiverThe Columbia Gorge — Post Canyon, Mt. Hood & the Hood River.3 groups
- LanderThe Wind River Range — Sinks Canyon, Wild Iris & NOLS.3 groups
- Methow ValleyThe eastern North Cascades — Methow Trails, Goat Wall & the Methow River.3 groups
- SeattleThe Mountaineers & WTA — the Cascades, the Olympics & Puget Sound.3 groups
- SpokaneInland Northwest hub — the Spokane River, Mt. Spokane & Riverside State Park.3 groups
The 15 towns where we track the most recurring trail running groups (of 61 with any) — a proxy for how active the local scene is, not a verdict on the terrain or trails. New towns and groups are added regularly, and many listings still need a verification pass.