College Running Trails
 

TheActiveTimes.com

Upon your college search there are many things to consider – location, cost, class sizes and, most of all, campus facilities. If you're an avid runner, or someone who is looking to get in, or stay in shape, you may want to consider these colleges.

Students should have access to a variety of athletic facilities, and they should take full advantage of them. College isn't cheap, and student debt may haunt you for a while; so if you have access to free amenities, you should definitely consider putting them to use and getting the most out of your college experience.

When it comes to running trails, these 10 universities are hard to beat. Large and small, near and far, they all provide easy access to trails and opportunities on or close to campus; many are even within a short distance of forestlands, wildernesses, national parks and monuments.

Best College Campuses For Trail Running

Colorado
 

Colorado

Blocks from the Boulder campus, several trailheads provide easy access to open space and mountain parks. Trails at Chautauqua Park and Flagstaff Mountains lead to the Flatirons and into the Front Range. The nearby Indian Peaks Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park offer opportunities for further exploration. If you're up for a challenge, try the Nolan's 14 – 14 peaks over 14,000 feet in roughly 100 miles.

Alaska
 

Alaska

While the University of Alaska Anchorage campus is out of the way for most of the country, everything is big in Alaska. West of the university is Kincaid Park with its 43 miles of trails, and to the east is Chugach State Park with 280 miles of trails and more than 100 peaks. Flattop Mountain, for example, is the most visited in the state. For a big weekend, head north to Denali National Park.

Utah
 

Utah

On Salt Lake City's east side, the Utah campus meets the Wasatch Front – and trailheads provide access to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. A 13.5-mile section of the existing 100 miles of trail runs around the northeast Salt Lake Valley. The trail is expected to stretch 280 miles when complete. Four wilderness areas south of the city offer ample opportunity for scenic runs.

Oregon State
 

Oregon State

The small Oregon State University-Cascades has a brand-new campus near Riverside Park and the Deschutes River Trail through Bend. Several other trails lead through town and Shevlin Park and connect with trails on national forest lands. Outside town, the Three Sisters, Mount Washington and Mount Jefferson wildernesses and Smith Rock State Park are easy to reach, while Crater Lake National Park and Mount Hood are good weekend getaways.

Cal
 

Cal

In the densely populated Bay Area, the upper part of Berkeley's campus is a mostly undeveloped preserve with scenic trails. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area – home of the North Face Endurance Challenge – Muir Woods National Monument and Point Reyes National Seashore are across the bay. Farther out for the weekend arte Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, where the north end of the 211-mile John Muir Trail is located.

Vermont
 

Vermont

With the university's Centennial Woods adjacent to the campus, the Island Line Rail Trail and several parks and natural areas, the University of Vermont, Burlington has options. East of the city, the Catamount Outdoor Family Center offers several miles of trails and holds several races. On weekends, head for Camel's Hump State Forest and other access points along the Long Trail. Or cross into New Hampshire, where the White Mountains are home to four wilderness areas.

Wisconsin
 

Wisconsin

With its Lakeshore Nature Preserve and its Arboretum, UW Madison has plenty of trails branching out from campus. Try the preserve's high point in the Eagle Heights Woods or out to Picnic Point on Lake Mendota. The Madison area offers much more, too, like the Capitol City State Trail, which connects to the Badger and Military Ridge state trails outside town. The 1,000-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes through several parks and natural areas east of the city.

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For the complete list of Best College Campuses For Trail Running, go to TheActiveTimes.com.

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