Best Parks and Scenic Running Paths in Baltimore
Take advantage of Baltimore's vast green spaces to get outside and stretch your legs.
One of the best ways to enjoy Baltimore is by foot—whether running on one of our scenic waterfront paths, or enjoying the more than 4,000 acres of parkland in the city. During your stay in Charm City, check out these popular parks for scenic and challenging workouts. Or if you just want to take a leisurely stroll, that works too.
Waterfront Parks in Baltimore
Federal Hill Park
With show-stopping views of the Inner Harbor, the multi-level Federal Hill is the perfect challenge for sprints. Bring the kids who are sure to enjoy the playground at the very top.
Take in the view of downtown Baltimore from Federal Hill.
Canton Waterfront Park
Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views at Canton Waterfront Park.
Sitting directly on the Baltimore Harbor, Canton Waterfront Park is an eight-acre space to have a picnic, practice meditation or take a few quick laps. It’s also home to popular events like WTMD First Thursday concerts.
Fort McHenry
Perched on a peninsula in Locust Point, the .9 mile paved winding walkway around historic Fort McHenry offers spectacular views of the Harbor. The grounds surrounding the fort are free to explore, but you’ll want to go in to learn more about the its history and enjoy the museum.
Inner Harbor Promenade
Winding around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor from Locust Point to historic Fell’s Point is an almost 7-mile paved promenade. It’s the perfect place to take in scenic views of the waterfront and the charming neighborhoods that surround it, whether out for a casual stroll or a run.
Point Park
Point Park offers both refreshing green space and unparalleled views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the Domino Sugars sign
Tucked away at the tip of one of Baltimore’s newest neighborhoods, Harbor Point, Point Park offers both refreshing green space and unparalleled views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the Domino Sugars sign. Several gateways around the park are etched with directional signage in traditional Algonquin languages to honor the indigenous groups that once inhabited the land. Stroll or bike along its pathways, settle in with a book on the modern benches or simply enjoy a quiet moment by the water.
Rash Field
With pickleball and volleyball courts, a self-serve kayak rental kiosk, and a skate park, this scenic waterfront park presents multiple ways for you to move your body for free or at a low cost. Rather relax and enjoy the view? Sprawl out on the lush green lawn, take a seat on one of the tiered stone benches or cozy up for a nap in one of the hammocks!
After a $35 million renovation, Rash Field Park offers something for everyone along Baltimore’s waterfront!
Baltimore Parks with Lots To Do
Carroll Park
Just west of Pigtown and Camden Yards, 117-acre Carroll Park offers a welcome stretch of green just right for a run, or take advantage of the baseball fields, basketball courts, skate park or 9-hole golf course. Carroll Park is also the site of the historic Mount Clare Museum House.
Druid Hill Park
The popular mile-long loop at the base of Druid Hill Park wraps around the drinking water reservoir, and offers sweeping views of the city below. The park is also home to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens.
Take in the views from the reservoir.
Patterson Park
The ornate Patterson Park observatory located in Patterson Park in Highlandtown.
This historic park bordering Highlandtown, an artsy neighborhood on Baltimore’s east side, offers a variety of picturesque pathways to knock out a couple of miles. Be sure to pass by the historic and ornate Patterson Park Observatory, or enjoy one of Patterson Park‘s many amenities: tennis courts, a swimming pool, an indoor ice skating rink, playgrounds and a dog park.
Wyman Park Dell
Hidden between the Remington and Charles Village neighborhoods, this scenic, 16-acre wooded hollow offers paved walkways and grassy expanses just right for warm-ups and cool-downs. Be sure to stop by the nearby Baltimore Museum of Art.
Sprawling, Natural Parks in Baltimore
Jones Falls Trail
This ten-mile hiking and biking trail follows its namesake Jones Falls waterway, which winds through the woods, past Cylburn Arboretum and Druid Hill Park and down to the Inner Harbor. It’s so lush and hidden away, you won’t feel like you’re in the city at all.
Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park
Composed of 1200 acres of woods, streams and trails, Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park is one of the largest urban woodland areas in the country. It’s also home to the Carrie Murray Nature Center where you can learn about native species and their habitats.
Loch Raven Reservoir
Loch Raven Reservoir offers miles of woodsy trails for running, hiking and spotting wildlife.
For those who don’t mind traveling a little farther to the north, Loch Raven Reservoir, which provides the drinking water for Baltimore City, offers miles of woodsy trails for running, hiking and spotting wildlife. On most weekends throughout the year, a stretch of road through the watershed is closed to vehicle traffic and open to pedestrians.
Cylburn Arboretum
Tucked along the Jones Falls waterway, this 200-acre urban oasis boasts a variety of plantlife and terrains for nature lovers to explore. Unlike other area parks, Cylburn is devoid of courts and recreational facilities, making it the perfect place to peacefully connect with your surroundings. Explore the three miles of woodland trails, wander through the gardens or beat the heat inside the historic Cylburn mansion.
At 200 acres, there’s so much for you and your dog to explore at Cylburn!
Kid-Friendly Parks in Baltimore
West Shore Park
The Walter Sondheim Fountain is the perfect place to splash around during the warmer months.
Try a refreshing romp on the splash pad at the Walter Sondheim Fountain followed by a picnic in the shade. Situated between the Maryland Science Center and the Baltimore Visitor Center, the water is on from May through September, keeping your little ones cool and entertained all summer long!
Pierce’s Park
Located near the Pier 5 Hotel, Pierce’s Park is much more than a playground. It’s an imaginative space of discovery, where children can interact with locally created sculptures intended for climbing, a living willow tunnel and even a musical fence.
