The Rice U running trail is a great option to incorporate into a running path rotation. Forming a loop around the Rice campus, adjacent to the medical center, rice village, and the surrounding neighborhoods, it's well used by students, medical professionals and community members. The sand path is wide, well maintained, and mostly shaded by beautiful live oak trees, though after a heavy rain there can be quite a few puddles. The route is just under 3 miles, about 2.9 to be exact (which drives the perfectionist in me crazy). This is the perfect distance in my opinion as 3 miles is easily manageable by most, but it also allows more ambitious runners to go for 6 or even 9 miles with double and triple loops, respectively. This path is great, however free parking doesn't exist on campus so either pay the hourly rate or try your luck in the nearby neighborhoods or in rice village. As always, keep an eye out for parking signs and be respectful of the neighborhood. read more

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lots of trees and shade. lots of driveways passing thru the trail too. the path is not very wide. read more

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Ever since Rice started charging for visitors parking, which started years back, runners took it upon themselves to park around the neighborhood. Well the hoity-toity folks seemed to have a problem with that, so now there are "NO PARKING without permit" signs ALL OVER the neighborhood. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm you can't park on any of the West U streets. Apparently being rich isn't enough; they want to rule the roads and shoo away runners who come in peace. For those who complained in West U, next time you want to venture into the 'Trose for Greek Fest or Pride, or The Heights for White Linen Night or Lights in the Heights ... or any other welcoming neighborhood event - do us a fave and stay off our streets, m'kay? read more

I'll keep this short. The good: - If you're tired of running at Memorial Park or Buffalo Bayou, then Rice University Running Trail gives you another option. Approximately 3-mile (5K) loop with lots of trees, beautiful (and expensive) houses, and obviously Rice University for your viewing pleasure along the way. - Walking distance to Rice Village if you want to get some cold beers and good food (Hopdoddy, Yoyo's Hot Dog, Torchy's Taco, etc). The bad: - Parking. - Lack of water fountain. - I don't remember seeing a port-a-potty for just in case. That is all. read more

This is my go to place for a run. I haven't gotten into the memorial loop yet. Rice is more convenient. It's a great 5k gravel loop that circles Rice University. The downside is that there are only two water fountains on the course. I would like one on each of the four legs of the route. I don't drink much when I run, but in this heat, it's necessary for many. The Brian O'Neil's Running Club also runs out here every Tuesday evening. It's a good community event. This is an excellent track, with a decent amount of flow. Never too crowded. And close to the bars :) read more

Rice University Running Trail - How we do. - Active Life Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The path surrounding the hedges that envelope Rice University is a great place to have a measured run. It is right at 3 miles, it's flat, and fellow path users are polite and (for the most part) follow the rules of the road. You get a peek inside the beautiful Rice campus, see the grandeur of the homes across Rice Street and Sunset Boulevard, have the grassy vista towards Hermann Park, and get a bit of a flavor of how busy the medical district is. It's not something you'll find in the central part of many large metropolitan areas. read more

Rice University Running Trail - Active Life Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have been to this running trail a few times. I can't say I love it, but hey, it's a running trail and I am grateful for it. I believe it is about 2.8 miles. I like the scenery around it, it's interesting as you get to see all of the unique houses around the area. I don't like that you have to stop running to let cars exit the campus (it bugs me!). The reasons I don't really "love" it are: Too many cars driving around (you can smell the exhaust) very narrow not all dirt However, I do believe it is an A-Ok trail. So, visit it and try it for yourself. read more

Too many people. Too many cars being piloted by "bad drivers" who are clearly paying more attention to their Blackberry than they are to ensuring they do not hit anyone, worst of all, when I would not be able to throw them a business card before the ambulance secreted them away. It is poorly lit if you are a night Owl that wants to run, but is somewhat worried about being hit over the head with a pipe and waking up in a dungeon where some strange man tells you to put lotion on the skin ... When you strip all of that bad mojo away, it is a very nice loop to run, walk, or gaspingly run then wheeze and walk, or however you prefer to do it based on how much you have smoked, how recently you have quit, and how serious you are about getting back into shape for that special someone. The Rice undergrads make this a much more appealing running location than the other centralized running areas that tend to attract the wealthier/older/more out of shape sorts - however you can be certain if you run long enough you will see the most attractive person in the world come upon and swiftly dodge, then run super fast to get away from the least attractive person in the world. It is fun, like Pacman. Just there are less things to eat on the trail. Which means by the time you get back to Brian O'Neill's you can get hammered on a small number of drinks since you have not filled your belly with big strawberries and power pellet driven ghost eating munchies. Remember to wear sunscreen. read more

Rice Running Trail. Good looking girls, great 3 mile track, decent amount of parking around the track. What else could a boy ask for? Rice U. recently started charging a dollar to park in their lot around the stadium, you have to either be contract or insert your credit card. Its only a dollar a day, (which isnt really that bad). I forgot to mention that they have what looks like a small bike track in the parking lot for those of us who like to ride without being interrupted by the red lights or passing cars. Also, they have bike racks if you are interested in riding your bike there to go for a run! read more

This trail is pretty awesome! Its about 2.91 miles according to my Nike+ App and Garmin watch, and situated around the scholarly Rice University. You'll find a good mix of runners from the area, Rice students, and Rice faculty, as well as just your normal foot traffic around campus. What I like most is the trail is extremely well shaded by trees about 90% of the trail. The trail is about 3 running people wide (yes that is a scientific measurement), with extra gravel run off that can accommodate the uber passers (passers who pass the passers). The trail feels really safe. Its not as spacious as Memorial Park but this trail is much more shaded. With the drought last year, Memorial Park is 75% a bake-athon :(. Negatives are traffic and smog when you run down Main St as well as at the intersection of University & Greenbriar, as well as being careful crossing the entrances for Rice University.. (It's not a problem if you actually slow down and look both ways.. lol) Come any day of the week, or if you want to be one of the fold, come on Tuesdays with the Brian O Neil's Running club. you'll know who the BON Runners are when you see them.. Then swing by for a post run beer! read more

If I had my "druthers," I would make this trail a lot wider. However, this is my go-to when I want to run outside in Houston. Here's my reasoning: 1. Parking isn't too impossible. There are plenty of nearby street parking (my preference is from Shakespeare), lots, etc. 2. Shaded runs. There are nice mature trees lining most of this trail. If you're lucky and it's springtime, you can smell the lovely jasmine along Rice Blvd's leg. 3. Water fountains, on the Sunset Blvd side close to Main St. and one on University Blvd close to Lot 5 and Loop Rd. 4. Pedestrian-friendly area. Cars out here understand that this is first and foremost a student/pedestrian area and also a running trail. They are SIGNIFICANTLY more considerate and accommodating than the rest of normal Houston. 5. BON Running Club on Tuesday nights. They make the atmosphere most fun if not a little crowded. 6. It's a near perfect 3-mile trail. Great for the casual 5k. AND it's easy to extend your run into nearby neighborhoods or Hermann Park. On the downside, 1. Perhaps that trail could be widened a bit, 2. There are some uneven patches which have not lent to a recurring injury I have, and 3. It is susceptible to rain since it is a dirt / crushed granite trail. Overall, I must say that I come here to run (whenever I'm motivated and uninjured...) read more

First off, a warning. When crossing Fannin between the train station/Hermann Park and Rice, BE CAREFUL. I've seen so many people almost get hit here and there have been multiple fatalities. It's a wide intersection, drivers sit for a while at the light and get frustrated, and people assume they have the right of way. Trust no one, I've seen so many drivers turn without looking for pedestrians and cyclists. That said... I love this trail. It's shaded, the texture is great, and the people generally know to keep right and not block the trail. There are two water fountains I know of, and you can jog over to Rice Village for a post-run reward of food/drinks. It's also fantastic if you're looking for more than the 3-mile loop, because you can run across Fannin to Hermann Park and add another 1-2 miles of beautiful greenspace. Just, again, heed my above warning. The only other warnings I have are that it's not well lit at night and it can get muddy. I do wish they'd put some lights up for some of us evening joggers. read more

Perfect for 3 miles (5k) training. It's a dirt trail on the outskirts of rice university. I tried it on a Saturday morning at 7am. Not a lot of runners, so it was perfect, just have to watch out on the dirt trails for some roots that have been spray painted orange. If you're not paying attention you could trip or stub a toe. I actually did two laps around the university and then went around Herman park, the zoo, Miller outdoor theater, the museum, and the golf course. Great on your knees when training. I will definitely come back more times. Lots to see. Before I knew it I already had 10 miles clocked on my Nike running app.. read more

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This review is for the Rice U running trail only. Started running this trail last week after joining the BON 5K running club. This trail gives me a break from my usual treadmill routine at the gym, and really gets my mind completely zoned out...in fact, I was so zoned out last week I actually got lost!!!! Lol. I know what you're thinking. How the hell do u get lost in a loop??? Let's just say it was one of those "Larae moments" where I completely get lost in my thoughts. With the bountiful trees that line the trail and the flowers along the side, I couldn't help but zone out! The only reason I started coming out of my trance was when I noticed the sun was starting to set, and I was getting ridiculously tired. I had somehow missed a turn here and there and had to ask directions back to my Rice Village starting point, 1.5hours later. Oops! Long story short, this is a beautiful trail that can really give you a good mental break. read more

I don't know what kind of poopy pills Crystal was on when she wrote her review of Rice U. but damn woman, quite being such a pissy pot! :P Granted this is not the greatest running trail of all time as it can only accommodate so many people, but for us Houstonians we don't have many options. I'll share my two cents of why i think this is a great running route and how you can make it into an even better loop than the original 2.9 miles. This review is primarily about the 3 mile running loop around Rice U. campus but as most people know this is a world-class university with an absolutely beautiful campus. If you haven't explored the campus I suggest taking an afternoon and walking through it. You'll be amazed at what you find. I work closely with a number of professors at Rice and I even coached there for 4 years and all my student/athletes are awesome! The loop. It's mostly shaded and consists of a nicely packed dirt trail along a 2.9 mile loop surrounding the campus and has 2 water stops. It's narrow as I mentioned and you do have to be aware of cars that are coming in and out of the many entrances to the university. But you're running! You should always be conscientious of what's around you. To extend my run I sometimes add an additional 2.2 mile loop of Hermann Park which is adjacent to the Rice campus. Cut across Sunset over the light rail and you'll find a dirt trail that goes around the Houston Zoo and around Hermann Park and the golf course. It's a nice little jaunt that can extend your run to a nice 5-6 miler. Finally to add a little more variety, you can also opt to divert off the Rice loop and take a quick run up the Stadium Stairs. I love this run and in fact used to have my teams do this as dry land training during our water polo season. I make it challenging by running up and down each main stairline then run across the football field and up and down on the opposite side so you're literally running the entire stadium. You can't do that anywhere else in Houston! And finally, this is our weekly running route for our Brian O'Neill's Running Club so the next time you're out there on a Tuesday night and you get bombarbed by 100 people running at you all in the same direction, my apologies. But we're having some serious fun so you should probably just join us anyways! Run On! read more

I love night runs here! I've run several times after dark, and I've never had a problem with tripping, which is pretty amazing considering how clumsy I am. I'll trip even when there's nothing to trip on! If there's no light from street lamps or nearby buildings, there's generally passing cars whose headlights help illuminate the path in front of you. There are very few patches on the trail where I've run completely blind to what the immediate ground in front of me looks like, but I've never tripped or worried that I might do so. The ground is overall really smooth and flat with scarcely anything to trip on, save for a very minimal number of tree roots along Rice Boulevard. Those tripping hazards are marked in neon orange. There have been several other runners and walkers here at night when I've run from 7:00-9:00pm, so it won't be creepily desserted. It's enough people to make me feel safe but not crowded like it tends to be earlier in the day. I also enjoy the fact that this is a primarily dirt trail, making it way easier on my knees than running on cement sidewalks. Your shoes will definitely get dirty, but I love being able to kick clouds of dust behind me while running and feeling like Road Runner. read more

Pretty 3 mile loop around Rice campus. I love this trail, you always see other people out running which is great, especially if you are super competitive and like to race people even though they have no idea you are racing (not that I would ever do that... ehmm) Shaded by trees which is a must in the summer! There are water fountains too. You can park at Hermann Park or Rice Village. The only downside is the lack of lighting at night... it gets really dark and there are some sneaky tree roots which will try to trip you. read more

I mean, how do you review a running trail? Well, I'll try, it's a nice scenic route with plenty of shade. There are a few water fountains along the way. (Okay maybe just one that I can recall). Parking is not so great on weekends or evenings so for me it seems to defeat the purpose of driving here as it's not convenient. It needs to be convenient so that I will actually exercise! You know you feel the same way too sometimes so don't judge me! I have to say, I always seem to need to use a bathroom after completing the loop. I try to stay hydrated and bathrooms are very hard to come by.I'm just giving you a heads up so you can plan ahead. Again, this place isn't so convenient. Hermann Park, however, has ample parking, bathrooms and shaded areas to walk or run. Soooo ya. read more

My bulldog completed his first 5K on this trail in 52:37! The week before that, I had an amazing fitness feat: carrying that 40-pound lazy SOB the last half mile. Whether it's walking my dog or running with Brian O' Neill's Running Club, the Rice University Running Trail is one of my favorite spots for fitness and fresh air. This scenic 2.9 mile dirt path trail loops around the whole university under the shade of mature oak trees. The campus side of the trail runs beside Rice Stadium, Hackerman Bike Track, Reckling Park, and Rice Soccer Field. To the outside, there's high-end neighborhoods, medical buildings, and Rice Village. Park your car in Rice Village and you can grab a fro-yo or cold one after your run! Running here before sunrise is the best time to go. Less traffic means less pollution. Also, running through cool crisp air is better than swimming through hot humidity of the afternoon and evening.. especially in the summer months. Distant multicolor medical center and campus buildings make for great scenery too. The trail gets more crowded as the day goes by. This can be a challenge because the path is only about 5 feet wide. One of my Tuesday evening runs was more like a pedestrian obstacle course. To the right, I slid past sweaty-chested power-walkers. Behind me, I heard a bike bell signaling to hurry it up - get outta' the way! On my left, I was passed by a blur of shirtless dudes and ta-ta tamed ladies. Approaching from the front was more of a hurdle: triplets in an extra wide jogging stroller. No, I did not jump the babies.. thought about it though. read more

The running trail at Rice is definitely a nice change of scenery compared to the urban landscape that is the TMC/museum district/downtown. The outer loop as many Rice people call it is approximately 3 miles and covered by trees for the entire distance keeping you in the shade even though it can get really hot in that Houston heat/humidity. You'll find lots of company along the loop in the mornings and evenings. There are a couple of hazards on the trail that are spray painted bright orange so you can see them during the day, but once it gets dark just be sure you keep an eye out for tree roots, overhanging branches and what not. If for some reason you find yourself in need of assistance due to heat exhaustion or some other injury, you can always press the blue light phone or call 713-348-6000 for Rice Police/EMS help! read more

The Rice U running trail is a good trail to run if you live close by it, you like a partially shaded running trail, and you just want to run without people watching (read: you don't get the same amount of people traffic as Memorial Park). WARNING: if you are a strict mile counter, this trail is not exactly 3 miles. It's about 2.9, so take back that pat on the back and run a little farther! Here's why I gave the place 3 stars: - the main parking lot where runners park became gated, and you have to pay $1 to park. I understand Rice has to make money to help maintain the trail, but it's still a pain when you've been running there for free for the past 3 years. - the trail is narrow compared to Memorial. Have to pass 2-3 runners who don't observe running etiquette and move when they see you coming? Then you'll have to run on the road or off the trail. - Exactly TWO water fountains. That don't work sometimes. And aren't clean (I swear I tasted algae the last time) - It's not lighted sufficiently. Tree roots - 4 / Arnel - 0 (and, yet, I still feel safer running around Rice at night than running at Memorial at night). Run free, y'all Oh, almost forgot: if you want a short track to bike around, Rice offers a 1/3mile bike loop in the stadium's parking lot. Take notice though, sometimes the bike track is closed. read more

First off this review is of the running trail not the actual university. I live in the medical center and this by far is a great place to run. I used to run on holly hall in front of my townhouse but the concrete was too much on my knees. I started running out at memorial but driving almost 20-30 minutes just to run 30-60 mins just wasn't worth it. The rice trail isn't the best of trails, especially with the tree roots but it is close and decently well lighted. I run at about 9 pm at night after I get off work and have never felt threatened. I get off too late or I would do the brian o'neil's run. I've been using this to train for my half marathon in february. Hit me up if you need a running buddy. read more

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE running here! This is my favorite trail to run on. I used to think Memorial was my favorite until I came here. What's great about this trail?? Let's see, first it's pretty covered because of the beautiful trees that aligns the trail. Okay, okay... honestly I hate getting darker (and my skin just absorbs sun like no other) so the shaded trail is a HUGE plus for me. Second, it's not busy like memorial! You can run your heart out without maneuvering all crazy to avoid running over people (or having people run you over). I mean, you are going to run past a slow, cute couple walking, or some students going to/from their classes, but it's doable and not annoying. The trail is kept well and they were recently (and by recent I mean a good 2-3 months ago) added more pavement on the trail. The only "con" I have is how it's not well lighted in the evenings. A friend of mine commented about how it feels creepy at night, but I'm usually a morning/day runner so I personally do not have an issue with lighting. I've also seen a runner fall down because he did not see a hole in front of him (at least that's what I heard him claim to these ladies) so do be mindful about that. The tree roots that are visible on the ground are marked with neon colors to help you avoid them. The traffic around this area seems pretty understandable about runners and bikers. I haven't had any issues with cars going in/out from Rice University. On Tuesdays, there's a farmers market from 3-7 that I still have yet to visit :( It looks pretty cool every time I run past it, but I usually carry nothing but my keys so there's no point in me window shopping. Also, if you run during the morning... the side near sunset street and shepard... I believe there's a cafeteria or dorm room by that side of Rice U because I always smell delicious something either being baked or cooked. I seriously wanted to follow my nose and claim to be a student and eat there! What's worst... during the afternoon time, I smell fried chicken or french fries coming from the same area/building. Seriously! I really wonder if I can go in there and order some food!! It smells wonderful every I run past there! (Maybe that's another reason why I love this trail so much... it reminds me of all the goodies I can consume afterwards). Anyway, I've mapped this trail before and it's about 3 miles. If you like to mix things up during your run, you might want to consider running here and then get on the Hermann trail which is literally across the street (Main). If I'm not mistaken, running the two trails combined gives you a good 5 miles. Happy Running! read more

I wish I could say I had the brains and the money to attend Rice as a student, but instead I just reap the benefits of their running trail! I attended the BON's 5k Running event last week with Larae M. and really enjoyed walking/jogging this track. I've decided to make this my new weekday workout when I don't feel like doing the gym thing...which is mostly every day! :) It's right around the corner from work and like JQ said, the scenery is worth the walk and the drivers do interfere at times, but I still like it. Besides, if I do this before heading home after work I bypass traffic...not a bad trade out. read more

I'm allergic* to running so I haven't actually USED this trail. I just drive alongside it on Main street OTW to work. After two months here in Houston, I just want to say, thank you. Thanks, Rice University for having a running trail that harbors shirtless guys with Ryan Gosling/Reynolds worthy bodies. Thank you for being a huge distraction when I drive to work, where everyone wears scrubs. The view of superbly toned abs that I hear running daily produces makes the threat of a fender bender almost worth it. Usually though, I just miss my turn onto Fannin street & have to drive to the next intersection. 4 stars? Its bc not everyone who runs on this trail is a shirtless guy who may or may not be Ryan Reynolds body double. Some of them really don't need to be shirtless running or otherwise. Like the Chewbacca body double I saw one day. It's just an image I can never un-see. *(Seriously, my lungs burn and my heart doth protest too much when I attempt to run. I get anxiety just looking at running shoes--which are always ugly. ) read more

The outer loop of Rice is a little bit less than 3 miles, so it makes for a nice jog/run. There's lots of trees and shade so it's great for running in the summer (but try to go in the evening since it's still really hot). I also try to avoid running around 5-6, because rush hour traffic leaves a lot of exhaust fumes that make it hard to breathe :/. Be careful if you run at night! The area around Rice/Medical Center is kind of sketchy at night, so run with a friend if you must get in your daily dose of cardio after dark. Also be careful of the tree roots that are out to trip innocent runners. They're painted bright orange to warn you during the day, but they're pretty much impossible to see at night. The whole loop has two water fountains spaced along the trail, and there are also water bowls set out for our furry friends :). read more

What a great resource! I love to run here. Why? There's always someone else running the trail. And not a creeper, I'm talking normal looking athletic people. The major pros are the free parking you can find in the Rice area, or by the church lot on Main St. Also, there's so many young ones running in super fit condition, that I almost feel that they're constant advertising for the healthy lifestyle, so they motivate me to keep running the extra mile. I love it! The one con that I cannot forget is the smell. If you happen to run on Rice trash day (which I believe is Wednesdays? but I'm not sure) you will get a sweet smell when you pass the dorm section on the trail. But that only lasts for about .2 miles so you should be good. It might even improve your running time :-) Speed right through that section! I am definitely a fan of this trail and I try to do it at least twice a week. read more

I just love this running trail. It has to be the prettiest running trail in Houston. Although, I haven't been to all of the running trails in Houston yet. But I still stand by my belief! The trail takes you past the main entrance of the university. It's so beautiful! I've even seen photo shoots there! The trail is almost 3 miles long around Rice Uni. There are so many trees! I love all of the shade. Running in 90 degree heat with 90% humidity is the worst! THE WORST! But the shade does help a lot! I just love looking at all of the pretty houses around the university covered in ivy. They remind me of my college days in New England. There are two water drinking fountains, one near the main entrance on the north part of the loop and one near the stadium on the south part of the loop. I'm so happy they fixed the southern fountain. It used to spray like 100 feet in the air, but it didn't the last few times I used it. The trail is like dirt covered in tiny rocks. It's not fun getting one of the tiny rocks stuck in your shoe. When that happened to me, I was like, omg I'm dying! There are tree roots here and there, but they regularly get spray painted like neon orange so you can see and avoid them. And the trail gets super dusty! When I get home after running on the trail, my shoes are covered in like orange dust. If you want to keep your new sneakers shiny and brightly colored, just be wary that this trail will coat them in dirt. (I'm now only going to run the trail in my older shoes because I'm kinda vain lol) And because of all the shade, rain puddles do not dry up very quickly on the trail, especially on the southern part of the loop. If it's been raining recently, you'll see some puddles. The trail is close to Hermann Park and Mecom Fountain and the Museum District. This is a very scenic part of town. And just two blocks away is the Rice Village shopping center with lots of shops and eateries. This is a great trail and a great area! read more

It's difficult to find a safe, shaded running trail near the medical center. This one offers a solid three mile loop around the gorgeous Rice campus, and it's usually not too crowded, even on the weekends. Water fountains are also available along the way for long runs. It's a pretty friendly and ideal place for all runners and walkers. I even feel safe running at night (although I would recommend bringing some sort of light since it's almost pitch black). One drawback is that the trail gets flooded in some places following inclement weather, forcing me to dodge a few puddles. Another warning is to pay heed to the crosswalk traffic signals during rush hour-I've seen a a few near accidents with cars and joggers who think they have the right of way. read more

Love this place for a walk. Very scenic with the tree line, beautiful homes, nearby shops and rice university. Not a good place to run when it's dark though bc there is no lights for the owls and bc of the roots. Also I don't like that the path crosses car intersections. Otherwise a great place for a walk or jog since it's crushed granite and easy on the joints read more

Tested out the Rice University running trail today and got my butt kicked by the summer heat (which isn't really the trails fault at all). The trail itself is beautiful - oak tree lined providing shade, beautiful homes on the other side of the road for day dreaming about better times, and the perfect 3 mile distance which provides just enough cardio burn for one day. Overall, I liked it and will be back for sure. read more

My favorite trail in Houston for three reasons: 1. It is shaded! This makes a huge difference when going on a long run. 2. I can ride the train there! This makes me very happy. As a Houstonite I spend way too much damn time in my car, and it annoys me that I have to drive to go run. Except when going to Rice. 3. Less crowded than Memorial. While the people watching at memorial can be entertaining, sometimes all the people stress me out. This trail is far less crowded so you can run in peace, and check out all the beautiful houses. If you are like me you day dream about living in them, and it makes your run go by faster. Side note, this might be weird but the rocks here are smaller and get in my shoes. The only negative I can think of about the Rice trail. read more

A combination of Farrah A, Tanya A, and Chris S' reviews pretty much have this spot covered. I would just echo #3 on Farrah's list: "It's not a social scene. People come to run and run only. No meeting by the benches, pumping iron or chatty Cathy's gabbing on their cellie." I would add that you won't see a lot of baby strollers and Dick Hoyts running around like you might see at Memorial Park due to the narrower path. This is a good thing because it would just be typical of me to trip and knock one over. read more

Kind of obsessed with this running trail. I'm not going to lie, it's one of my favorite things about Houston. It's so pretty, and I love that being on it means I am surrounded by others who care about health and fitness. I love that I can bring my dog, and that other people bring theirs. And I love that it's walker/runner/jogger friendly. All are welcome! I haven't ever parked on Rice property, I usually park at Hermann Park and cross the street at Sunset to get on the trail. Free parking that way! Usually works, unless you try to do it on a busy/nice weather-ed weekend. If I had one critique, it's that I wish bikes were not permitted on the trail. They are pretty rare... I'd say I usually come across one bike per visit, but they are really dangerous in my opinion. There are so many runners, walkers, and doggies, and many (myself included) don't hear the bikers because we run with headphones and music. I have not found that the bikers yield to pedestrians, meaning I'm very afraid that me, my dog, or someone else will get clipped by a bike trying to zoom around. So beware of the occasional bike, but otherwise--enjoy this beautiful trail! read more

I love this running trail! I run here every Tuesday with the BON running club and on my own time to time. Trail is shaded by beautiful trees and it wraps around the entire university and stadium. It's about a 5k (3 mile) run aground the neighborhood of Rice Village and part of medical center. read more

I really like the Rice loop. Pros: - It's located in probably the prettiest part of Houston - The location is convenient (for me) - The gravel path is better for running than cement and it makes a cool crunching sound as you walk/run - The trees! - Have I mentioned it's pretty? Cons: - The path is narrow, which makes it easily congested and sometimes difficult for runners and walkers to live in harmony. - The path floods very easily when it rains, which means you sometimes have to run in the street to get around the gigantic puddles. - The beautiful trees mean there are lots of beautiful tree roots, sticking up out of the ground. They try to paint them in neon colors, which is helpful, but you should still be careful. I prefer running/walking at the Memorial Park loop (mostly just because it's wider and has better people watching), but I am still very, very grateful for the Rice loop. It's a wonderful part of Houston. read more

Feeling like going for a run inside the loop, or escaping for some fresh air? Rice Village is a great place to go. Mapped it's approximately 3 miles, so almost a 5k. There are just a few problems. 1. The tree roots are overgrown and easy to trip over (If you aren't paying attention or it gets dark). 2. Narrow freakin' trail. Don't expect to run alongside a friend and not have to separate to opposite sides every time another runner coming towards you goes through. 3. CONSTRUCTION is confusing A.F. If you don't run the trail daily, don't be like me and wait till its dark outside to run for the first time. Somehow I ended up on Bissonet which is definitely not apart of the running trail. Needless to say, at least it's a nice neighborhood to get lost in after dark. read more

I personally prefer running at Memorial Park because the trail is wider and the route through the park is more scenic, but I run here on Tuesdays with BON Running Club when I can! The trail is about three miles long, and it winds along University Blvd., Rice Blvd., and Main Street. Pros: It's much shadier than Memorial...trees will cover you during your entire run, which is nice if you run during the day. Not that I'd recommend it since the trail is not too well lit, but you can probably still run safely after sundown since this is an area with high traffic, especially along Main Street. I also love Rice University's beautiful buildings and the whole collegiate atmosphere. Oh, and because parking always matters to me...the running trail will be pretty accessible if you park anywhere in Rice Village, so I have not had any issues so far. Cons: As I said, the trail is fairly narrow, so it is more difficult to jog around people. You have to watch out for cars exiting and entering the various Rice parking lots you'll intersect, and there are a few stoplights you may have to pause at. There are also some tree roots, and the trail can be a little uneven at times. I also wish there were a few more water fountains along the trail, and maybe somewhere I can stretch without getting in the way. No real complaints though, this is still one of the best trails in Houston! read more

I'm not an outdoor runner but Rice is slowly turning me into one. It's a 2.9 mile track around Rice that is not crowded by people, making it good for beginner runners. I like how it's shaded and has a gravel track, which makes it easy on the knees. What I don't like is that currently there are extended parts of the tracks that are blocked off by construction. It forces you off the road or into the parking lots. There are also areas where it doesn't smell too good as you run past, probably because the scent of the back alleyways of Rice are wafting in the air. Park in Rice Village. read more

I am so grateful the Rice allows the public to use this jogging trail. I often go here when the weather is nice and park on one of the side streets. I just find it easier then trying to deal with the hassle of parking in the visitors section. Yes, it has a few minor issues, the sidewalks can be crowded with people and you have to cross a few streets. So? I don't understand why people complain about this. Packed sidewalks at prime hours mean people are USING it. People will complain if nobody uses it or if everyone uses it. If running near others bothers you so much you are welcome to run elsewhere. I bring my dog here often and I love how there are a few water fountains sprinkled through the trail along with dog water bowls as well. I don't have to worry about my pup getting dehydrated.There's some really beautiful old trees that line the trail and they provide some really nice shade. read more