Adelaide's best running traces Colonel William Light's 1837 figure-eight Park Lands design, follows the River Torrens up to 35 kilometres from the foothills to Henley Beach, and climbs to Mount Lofty's summit views over the city and coast.
Adelaide offers one of Australia's most distinctive urban running layouts, built into the city's original 1837 plan. Here are the best running routes in Adelaide for 2026.
The Adelaide Park Lands Trail forms a full loop of about 19.5 kilometres, on mixed bitumen, pavement and unsealed path, encircling the CBD and North Adelaide in the distinctive figure-eight design laid out in Colonel William Light's 1837 survey, often cited as among the world's first designated public parks. The trail passes lakes, playgrounds and kiosks, and is fully wheelchair and pram accessible on its sealed sections; shorter northern or southern half-loops are also popular.
The River Torrens Linear Park Trail, known by its traditional name Karrawirra Parri, runs approximately 30 to 35 kilometres one way from the Adelaide foothills at Athelstone through the CBD to the river mouth at Henley Beach South, on a fully sealed shared-use path, ideal for a long training run of any length.
The Glenelg foreshore offers about 5 kilometres of flat, sealed beachfront path starting near the historic Glenelg Jetty, connecting to the Jetty Road precinct for a post-run coffee.
The Waterfall Gully Track climbs 4.4 kilometres one way, or 8.8 kilometres return, to the summit of Mount Lofty, 15 kilometres east of Adelaide, on a natural surface of stone steps and packed earth with steep elevation gain, rewarding runners with views over the city and coast. A gentler alternative starts from Crafers.
The City-Bay Fun Run, first held in 1973 with 1,600 runners and now one of Adelaide's biggest annual events, links the CBD to Glenelg foreshore. The 2026 edition, held on 20 September, offers 12, 21.1, 6 and 3 kilometre distances finishing at Colley Terrace, Glenelg.
The Park Lands Trail and Glenelg foreshore are the most reliable choices for a flat run at any time of day; Mount Lofty is worth the trip for anyone wanting genuine elevation and views.
This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.
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