A few months ago I asked for help on my blog and I had a few people ask about my favorite running routes... So here they are, but I have to excuse myself because some of these routes are not located in Idaho Falls. I like to explore different routes wherever I am (along canals, down dirt roads, new roads, trails, etc...). You can click on each map to see a larger version.

1 - Sacajawea Heritage Trail in the Tri-Cities, WA. You can complete a 16 mile loop from bridge to bridge. Start and finish at the Columbia Park Marina just off of Columbia Center Blvd. If you don't want to do the full loop, I recommend staying on the south side and exploring the trails between the marina and Columbia Park (4 miles to the east).

2 - Logan Canyon Trail – you can go as far or short as you want. Start at the Stokes Nature Center on highway 89 just east of Utah State University (through the canyon). I like this trail because it is completely enshrouded by vegetation and it is wide enough for multiple users (runners, walkers, and bikers).

3 - City Creek Trail – This is my absolute favorite place to run in Pocatello, ID. It is one of the most scenic trails with stunning views every step of the way. It is so easy to access and if you make it to the top of Kinport Peak you can see the entire valley.

4 - Salt Lake City, UT has hundreds of thousands of miles of trails within walking distance of the University of Utah. Can you tell I like trails by now? You could spend your entire life running and never touch all of the trails here. On the north side is the Bonneville Shoreline trail that takes you along the foothills where you can see the entire city and the Great Salt Lake. In the middle is Red Butte Creek that can take you through the canyon to a small reservoir. And on the south is Emigration Canyon where many of the pioneers traveled through to reach the Salt Lake Valley.

6 - Did I mention that Boise, ID has one of the best greenbelts in the world? It is easily accessible from Boise State University and you can go dozens of miles in either direction along the river. I love to head east and hit the dirt trails. Or you can stay west and enjoy more miles of asphalt paths.

5 - Idaho Falls, ID Greenbelt – my favorite place to run in Idaho Falls. You can go anywhere from a two mile loop all the way up to nine miles and hardly ever have to retrace your steps. I love to start and finish at Snake River Landing because of how beautiful the nature trails are there. It is one of the best places to do tempo runs or long interval days.

6 - And, since I live just outside of Idaho Falls, I have to include some of my favorite countryside route recommendations. This first one is 5 miles, starting on the north side of the soccer complexes and looping around the country roads. And don’t forget to stop by Reeds Dairy for ice cream, chocolate milk, or cheese curds on your way back home!

7 - West River Road loop (about 6 1/2 miles). This is a hilly loop that starts at the boat ramp on the west side of the river (about 7 miles north of Idaho Falls). Either way you loop around you’ll be in for some rollercoaster hills.

8 - New Sweden loops – 4, 6, or 8 miles long. Start at the American Heritage Charter School west of Idaho Falls, and run around the block. The nice thing about the countryside is each block is one mile long so you can lengthen or shorten your run by exactly two miles.

9 - John Adams Parkway out and back. Start at Ravsten Stadium next to I.F. High School and run east on John Adams. The traffic is super slow so it is safe, plus it is one of the few streets in Idaho Falls that has bike lanes on both sides of the road.

10 - Hillside Canal – just east of Bonneville High School is a canal that starts on Ammon Road then curves northeast along the Ririe Highway. In the summer you can find great camping spots along the canal.

11. And my list wouldn't be complete without mentioning Kelly Canyon, east of Ririe, ID. The annual Gnarly Bear trail runs are held at the Ski Resort, but you can drive up and down the canyon road and find numerous other trailheads. You can explore a new trail every day and get some of the best views of the Snake River Valley here.

I wish I could show dozens of other places to run but then my entire blog would be filled with maps... So I'll just recommend them and you can look for yourself - Provo River Canyon and greenbelt, Jordan River Parkway trail in Utah, Milwaukee Trail (next to the river just off of the University of Montana campus in Missoula - and don't miss out on running to 'The M' while you're there), Scout Mountain south of Pocatello, Arboretum Waterfront Trails in Seattle, WA (next to UW), and Pre's Trails in Eugene, OR. Have fun exploring!