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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

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City Park offers scenic trails and ancient live oaks.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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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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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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

Joe Brown Memorial Park

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.

City Park Wisner Bike Path

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

Festival Grounds Trail (City Park)

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.

A burly live oak hung with Spanish moss shades a walking trail in a park.

Big Lake

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.

Jefferson Davis Parkway

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

Lafitte Greenway Trail

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

Crescent Park

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

Mississippi Trail (Algiers Point)

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

Woldenburg Park

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

Mississippi River Trail

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.

Saint Charles Avenue

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.

Audubon Park Trail

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

The Fly

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