Fort Wayne, Indiana offers plenty of ways to stay active! Summer and fall are the perfect time to get off the treadmill and take your workout to the trails.

Before you head out for a run, check out the interactive and downloadable maps from Fort Wayne Trails. These maps are updated regularly and show all of the trails available in Fort Wayne and Allen County.

The full trail map may seem overwhelming, especially if you're not familiar with our trails. So here are my top 5 places to jog around Fort Wayne.

5 Best Running Trails in Fort Wayne

1. Foster Park

Foster Park is always pleasantly active. With a golf course, dog playground, pavilions and sports fields, how could it not? This park has many open paved trails as well as smaller, more wooded ones. Attached to the Rivergreenway trail, this park makes a perfect spot or final destination on your workout!

Check out more information here

Martin Luther King Jr Bridge in Fall

2. Rivergreenway

The Rivergreenway is a 25 mile series of trails that stretch throughout central Fort Wayne and New Haven along the banks of Fort Wayne's three rivers. Fort Wayne has a spectacular, bustling downtown area that is also very safe and clean. This path integrates the riverside wildlife and scenery with the urban setting of downtown.

Check out more information here

Sunset over Saint Joseph River and Venderly Bridge at Purdue Fort Wayne
Photo Credit: @matt.hakey on Instagram

3. The Plex North and Purdue Fort Wayne

I have memories of running cross country meets in high school at The Plex North. With its wooded areas and hilly course, this spot is the perfect place to train. Settled right next to the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus, you will have plenty of smooth, scenic paths to satisfy your daily training. Run over bridges, past modern art, forest paths, and riverside to make your workout a memorable one. The section near Purdue Fort Wayne is even part of the Native Trees River Walk!

Bowman Lake at Fox Island in Autumn

4. Fox Island

Run through a marsh, beach, forests, fields all in one park! Fox Island is a 605 acre State Nature Preserve in Southwest Allen County that has 7 miles of marked of relatively flat trails, paved, dirt and gravel. This park couldn’t be more dog-friendly! Let your pooch off the leash at the doggie beach after your run or hop in yourself at the Bowman Lake swimming beach. Parking is $2, and I guarantee well worth it.

Find the Fox Island Trail Map here

Group of Friends on the Trails

5. Towpath Trail

Although Towpath may only be 5.5 miles, it connects with countless more trails like Eagle Marsh, the Lutheran Hospital campus, Rockhill Park and downtown. The possibilities are endless! I also really like this path because the trail is flat, paved, easy and clean. It’s great for walkers, bikers and all other activities. There is free parking at multiple spots around the trail, but the parking on Glendale Rd, off of Smith gives you a nice central location to start.

Check out the map here

Fort Wayne Outfitters Exterior

Gear Shops

When it comes to gear, our local shops have your back.

Stop by 3 Rivers Running Company for footwear and apparel, but also coaching services, gait analysis, and wellness classes.

Fort Wayne Outfitters is another local staple for athletes. In addition to apparel and gear, they have a variety of bikes, kayaks, paddleboards and more available for purchase or rent.

Fort4Fitness Marathon Start

Races Galore

Now that you’ve trained and have the gear, it's time to run a race! Fort Wayne is home to countless 5k’s occurring nearly every weekend. See the Fort Wayne Running Club website for their list of upcoming races.

Fort4Fitness hosts several events each year, leading up to Fort Wayne’s biggest health and fitness event of the year, their Fall Festival. The entire weekend is packed with races ranging from a senior marathon and children's marathon to the full 26-mile marathon.

This post was originally published in July 2017 and has been updated.