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Walkers head down an asphalt jogging path that circles an oak-shaded lake with blooming tulip beds.
City Park offers scenic trails and ancient live oaks.

The best biking, jogging, and walking paths in New Orleans

Scenic, striking, and historically significant places to stretch your legs

By Eric Craig and Missy Wilkinson Updated
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City Park offers scenic trails and ancient live oaks.
By Eric Craig and Missy Wilkinson Updated

Laid out in 1718 by a French architect who was primarily a pedestrian by necessity, New Orleans is (unsurprisingly) a very walkable city. That’s not just because it has a compact, antique footprint—its reclaimed swampland is also delightfully flat (if also terrifying low in its average elevation).

But let’s focus on the good: recent years have seen a boom in pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly infrastructure. We now have more than 100 miles of on- and off-street bikeways, according to the Department of Public Works—not too shabby! And don’t forget the city also has plenty of public parks to explore.

Whether you're wanting to lead a healthier lifestyle or looking to ride for fun, here is a list of 13 places to bike, jog, and walk in the city.

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Joe Brown Memorial Park

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If you're looking for a path in New Orleans East, this park, which is central to the neighborhood, has both a pedestrian trail and a competition-level track. Next door to the park is the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, which has a boardwalk and two hiking trails with scenic routes. The Joe W. Brown Park and the Audubon Discovery Trail are connected by a canal bridge.

Nature Center Dr, New Orleans, LA 70127

City Park Wisner Bike Path

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Opened in 2008, the Wisner Bike Bath stretches nearly five miles across Bayou St. John. The path, adjacent to City Park, starts where Zachary Taylor Drive merges into Wisner Boulevard, and ends near Robert E. Lee Boulevard.

A post shared by Suzy Lake (@suzylakeart) on

Wisner Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70122

Festival Grounds Trail (City Park)

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Measuring at one mile is the Big Lake’s sister path. A perfect training ground for runners, cyclists, and casual walkers, it does close during large City Park events—including Voodoo Music + Arts Experience.

City Park, 1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
A burly live oak hung with Spanish moss shades a walking trail in a park.

Big Lake

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If you’re looking for a smaller path, the trail around City Park’s Big Lake offers a scenic route that measures just over 3/4 of a mile. From there, you can explore the rest of the park, or head down Esplanade Avenue.

Big Lake, New Orleans, LA 70124

Jefferson Davis Parkway

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The Jefferson Davis Parkway Trail connects Bayou St. John to Mid-City, and also has a connection to the Lafitte Greenway.

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Canal St & N Jefferson Davis Pkwy & S Jefferson Davis Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70119

Lafitte Greenway Trail

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Completed in 2015, the Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6 mile trail that connects Mid-City to the end of the Treme neighborhood. It passes through native vegetation, urban gardens, playgrounds, and new retail developments.

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Lafitte Greenway, St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Crescent Park

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Crescent City Park has 1.4 mile trail that spans the Mississippi River. Inside the park, you'll find a secluded oasis, plus a dog park and stunning downtown views in what was formerly an industrial area. While it can be a little tricky to access, it's well worth the challenge.

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River Front., New Orleans, LA

Mississippi Trail (Algiers Point)

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Tracing the curves of the Mississippi River river, the trail is easily accessible from the Algiers Point Ferry and boasts truly stunning downtown views.

A post shared by Kelly Tesvich (@runkellytrun) on

Patterson Rd & Lavergne St, New Orleans, LA 70114

Woldenburg Park

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If French Quarter riding is more your thing, Woldenburg Park has a closed bike and walking trail that traces across the Mississippi River.

A post shared by Nico Camero (@oremac151) on

Woldenberg Park, 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Mississippi River Trail

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If your local track or path isn't long enough for you, check out this trail that begins near Audubon Park and spans 60 miles westwards towards Laplace, Louisiana.

St Charles Ave & S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Saint Charles Avenue

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A formal jogging trail it’s not, but that doesn’t stop hundreds of runners from sprinting up and down St. Charles Avenue’s expansive neutral ground at all hours of the day. Pro: it’s a shady, 7-mile strip that passes Audubon Park’s jogging loop, making it ideal for long runs. Cons: you have to be really careful to avoid both oncoming streetcars and their ankle-twisting tracks.

St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA

Audubon Park Trail

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Similar to City Park’s Big Lake Trail, the Audubon Trail loops two miles around the park’s scenic lagoon.

6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 861-2537
(504) 861-2537

The Fly

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If you still can't get enough of the Mississippi River, check out The Fly at Audubon Park. This part of Audubon Park is lined with beautiful oak trees. And, if you go around sunset, you'll have a beautiful backdrop for your evening stroll.

A post shared by Jessy Fedie (@jessyraeyoga) on

Exposition Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70118
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Joe Brown Memorial Park

Nature Center Dr, New Orleans, LA 70127

If you're looking for a path in New Orleans East, this park, which is central to the neighborhood, has both a pedestrian trail and a competition-level track. Next door to the park is the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, which has a boardwalk and two hiking trails with scenic routes. The Joe W. Brown Park and the Audubon Discovery Trail are connected by a canal bridge.

Nature Center Dr, New Orleans, LA 70127

City Park Wisner Bike Path

Wisner Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70122

Opened in 2008, the Wisner Bike Bath stretches nearly five miles across Bayou St. John. The path, adjacent to City Park, starts where Zachary Taylor Drive merges into Wisner Boulevard, and ends near Robert E. Lee Boulevard.

A post shared by Suzy Lake (@suzylakeart) on

Wisner Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70122

Festival Grounds Trail (City Park)

City Park, 1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124

Measuring at one mile is the Big Lake’s sister path. A perfect training ground for runners, cyclists, and casual walkers, it does close during large City Park events—including Voodoo Music + Arts Experience.

City Park, 1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
A burly live oak hung with Spanish moss shades a walking trail in a park.

Big Lake

Big Lake, New Orleans, LA 70124

If you’re looking for a smaller path, the trail around City Park’s Big Lake offers a scenic route that measures just over 3/4 of a mile. From there, you can explore the rest of the park, or head down Esplanade Avenue.

Big Lake, New Orleans, LA 70124

Jefferson Davis Parkway

Canal St & N Jefferson Davis Pkwy & S Jefferson Davis Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70119

The Jefferson Davis Parkway Trail connects Bayou St. John to Mid-City, and also has a connection to the Lafitte Greenway.

A post shared by Karinne (@karinneb) on

Canal St & N Jefferson Davis Pkwy & S Jefferson Davis Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70119

Lafitte Greenway Trail

Lafitte Greenway, St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Completed in 2015, the Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6 mile trail that connects Mid-City to the end of the Treme neighborhood. It passes through native vegetation, urban gardens, playgrounds, and new retail developments.

A post shared by FitLot (@fitlotusa) on

Lafitte Greenway, St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Crescent Park

River Front., New Orleans, LA

Crescent City Park has 1.4 mile trail that spans the Mississippi River. Inside the park, you'll find a secluded oasis, plus a dog park and stunning downtown views in what was formerly an industrial area. While it can be a little tricky to access, it's well worth the challenge.

A post shared by Sam Sikanas (@sammerjoe) on

River Front., New Orleans, LA

Mississippi Trail (Algiers Point)

Patterson Rd & Lavergne St, New Orleans, LA 70114

Tracing the curves of the Mississippi River river, the trail is easily accessible from the Algiers Point Ferry and boasts truly stunning downtown views.

A post shared by Kelly Tesvich (@runkellytrun) on

Patterson Rd & Lavergne St, New Orleans, LA 70114

Woldenburg Park

Woldenberg Park, 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

If French Quarter riding is more your thing, Woldenburg Park has a closed bike and walking trail that traces across the Mississippi River.

A post shared by Nico Camero (@oremac151) on

Woldenberg Park, 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Mississippi River Trail

St Charles Ave & S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

If your local track or path isn't long enough for you, check out this trail that begins near Audubon Park and spans 60 miles westwards towards Laplace, Louisiana.

St Charles Ave & S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Saint Charles Avenue

St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA

A formal jogging trail it’s not, but that doesn’t stop hundreds of runners from sprinting up and down St. Charles Avenue’s expansive neutral ground at all hours of the day. Pro: it’s a shady, 7-mile strip that passes Audubon Park’s jogging loop, making it ideal for long runs. Cons: you have to be really careful to avoid both oncoming streetcars and their ankle-twisting tracks.

St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA

Audubon Park Trail

6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Similar to City Park’s Big Lake Trail, the Audubon Trail loops two miles around the park’s scenic lagoon.

6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 861-2537
(504) 861-2537

The Fly

Exposition Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70118

If you still can't get enough of the Mississippi River, check out The Fly at Audubon Park. This part of Audubon Park is lined with beautiful oak trees. And, if you go around sunset, you'll have a beautiful backdrop for your evening stroll.

A post shared by Jessy Fedie (@jessyraeyoga) on

Exposition Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70118