The best running trails in Duval County

The Julington - Durbin Preserve loop offers a delightful escape into nature, perfect for a moderate 5.1-mile (8.3 km) jog that takes around 51 minutes. You'll wind through varied landscapes, from quiet pine forests and open sandhills to lush floodplain swamps, with minimal elevation gain of just 19 feet (6 metres). The paths are mostly hard-packed, making for smooth running, and you might even spot wildflowers or local wildlife like gopher tortoises along the way.

Planning your visit is straightforward, with an informational kiosk and picnic areas available at the entrance. The preserve offers flexibility with various marked trails, including options for a shorter 3-mile loop or a longer 5.8 to 6.2-mile route, allowing you to customize your distance. The trails are clearly blazed, ensuring easy navigation, and it's a great spot to visit any time of year, though fall brings beautiful wildflowers.

This preserve is a vital natural oasis, protecting extensive floodplain wetlands that are crucial for water quality and flood protection for the Julington and Durbin creeks and the St. Johns River. It's a haven for diverse wildlife, from bald eagles and ospreys to bobcats and seasonal manatees. Beyond jogging, the preserve is also popular for hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, and bicycling, offering something for everyone.

The Ortega Five Mile Loop offers a delightful blend of historic architecture and natural Florida scenery, making it a favorite for local joggers. You'll pass through the affluent Ortega neighborhood, admiring its grand, historic homes, before transitioning into the greener Ortega Stream Valley. Here, an 826-foot boardwalk along the Ortega River provides a tranquil escape, surrounded by native oaks, pines, ferns, and palmettos, creating a consistently pleasant atmosphere for your run.

This moderate 4.8-mile (7.8 km) jogging route features a minimal 37 feet (11 metres) of elevation gain, making it a relatively flat and accessible option that can be completed in about 48 minutes. The course is well-known in the local running community, with two city parks along the way that may offer water stations. It's a great choice for a steady workout or a leisurely run, particularly enjoyable during cooler parts of the day or year.

What sets this route apart is its dual appeal: the charm of Jacksonville's historic Ortega neighborhood combined with glimpses of true Florida landscape along the Ortega River. It's a recognized course by JTC Running, a local club, and follows much of the original Ortega River 5K course, highlighting its suitability for runners. This loop provides a unique opportunity to experience both urban elegance and natural beauty in one continuous, easy-to-navigate circuit.

If you're seeking a jogging route that combines natural beauty with a rich historical backdrop, the Walter Jones Historic Park via Mandarin loop delivers. This difficult 14.2-mile (22.9 km) route takes you through picturesque landscapes featuring mature oak trees draped in Spanish moss, sabal palms, and riverfront views of the St. Johns River from boardwalk sections. You'll also encounter restored 19th-century buildings within Walter Jones Historical Park, offering a unique blend of scenery and history as you run.

Planning your visit for this extended jogging route means preparing for a significant effort, despite the minimal 104 feet (32 metres) of elevation gain. The park itself is family-friendly, but this specific loop is rated difficult, so ensure you have very good fitness. Parking is available at Walter Jones Historic Park in Mandarin, Jacksonville. Consider an early start, especially in warmer months, and bring plenty of water for the estimated 2 hours and 21 minutes it takes to complete.

This route stands out as one of the best running trails in Mandarin, Jacksonville, not just for its length but for its historical depth. Walter Jones Historic Park holds the distinction of being Jacksonville's first historical park, established in 1994. You'll be jogging through an area once home to Harriet Beecher Stowe, with the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society on site, adding a layer of cultural context to your outdoor activity. Keep an eye out for various birds, including osprey and bald eagles, along the riverfront.

The Hanna Park South Trail, also known as the South Loop, offers a delightful jogging experience through a cool maritime hammock. You'll run beneath towering cabbage palms and through an oak and palm forest, with lush ferns lining the path. While mostly smooth and level, expect a few log crossings and varied surfaces like soft sand or leaf-covered dirt, making for an engaging 3.7-mile (6.0 km) route.

This moderate jogging trail is a quick one, taking only about 42 minutes to complete, with a negligible 7 feet (2 metres) of elevation gain. The park is a 450-acre oceanfront property, so you can easily combine your run with a visit to the beach. Look for 'H's stenciled on trees to help with navigation within the park's extensive trail system.

Hanna Park is renowned for its extensive network of over six miles of running trails, making it a popular destination for joggers in Northeast Florida. The South Loop can be combined with other routes like the Z Trail or Lil Joe for longer adventures. Its diverse scenery and proximity to the ocean make it a standout choice for a refreshing outdoor workout.

The Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail offers a unique jogging experience on a smooth, paved asphalt path, perfect for those who appreciate a long, consistent surface. As a "Rails to Trails" conversion, it guides you through a changing landscape, from open residential areas to dense forest canopies of oak and pine, creating a shaded, tunnel-like effect in many sections. You might even spot local wildlife like hawks, turkeys, and deer along the way, especially around the Camp Milton Historic Preserve.

Planning your visit is easy, with multiple access points and parking available at trailheads such as Imeson Road and Larry M. Carroll Memorial Park. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset year-round, and you'll find essential amenities like restrooms and water at the Camp Milton Rest Area (around the 5.7-mile mark) and the Baldwin Station Rest Area (near the 12.4-mile mark). With minimal road crossings, it's ideal for uninterrupted long runs.

This 12.1-mile (19.4 km) route, with a mere 124 feet (38 metres) of elevation gain, is rated difficult by Komoot but is widely considered easy due to its flat terrain, making it suitable for all jogging levels. It takes approximately 2 hours and 1 minute to complete. The trail's historical significance as an abandoned Atlantic Coast Line Railroad corridor, combined with its connection to the Civil War site at Camp Milton Historic Preserve, adds a layer of interest to your outdoor activity.