Wadi Hanifah Trail (Sports Boulevard)

Wadi Hanifah is the main valley running through Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and its restored stretch has become the city's longest greenway. According to the Sports Boulevard site, the trail runs 13.4 km from Al-Olab Dam to Jeddah Road, and the wider valley has more than 50 km of paved and gravel walking and cycling trails, with separate pedestrian, cycling and equestrian paths. There is no single transit stop serving the full length, so visitors typically arrive by car, Uber or Careem and join the trail at one of the section entrances, where parking is generally available. No permit is known to be needed for walking, although individual sections and facilities may have their own opening arrangements. The route follows the flat valley floor, so elevation gain is negligible and the trail is easy in technical terms. The main challenge is distance and heat rather than terrain. Surfaces are a mix of paved paths, which suit walking and cycling, and gravel tracks in more natural sections, where the valley retains palms, reeds and wetland vegetation fed by treated water. Shade is patchy, with tree cover in some stretches and open sun in others, and there is little exposure beyond the heat. Landmarks include Al-Olab Dam at the upstream end, the green belts along the channel, and bridges and viewpoints that cross or overlook the wadi. Walkers can pick any point as a turn-around, since the route can be done in sections; a short stretch takes about an hour, while the full length takes several hours on foot. Refreshments and restrooms are available at some developed entrances, but supplies are not continuous along the trail, so carrying water is wise. Because the corridor is within the city, bail-out is simple: visitors can leave the valley at any access point and call a ride. Evenings in the cooler months are popular with joggers, cyclists and families, and weekends can be busy.