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Running trails in Modesto, CA
Modesto has 20 trails in the directory — 7 paved, 1 loop that returns to the trailhead, 2 with a stated distance, 6 shaded, and 1 open 24 hours. 19 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 4,928 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
East La Loma Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,075 reviews
Tree-lined city park offering basketball & tennis courts, disc golf, trails & a playground.
Ustach Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 493 reviews
Park with picnic facilities, a bike loop, basketball courts & playgrounds for toddlers & big kids.
Enslen Park
3.8 ★★★★☆ 409 reviews
Low-key park with open grassy areas & a baseball diamond, along with picnic tables.
Dry Creek Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 297 reviews
Recreational space featuring picnic areas, a kids' playground, and trails for biking, walking, and frisbee golf.
Thousand Oaks Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 302 reviews
Recreational area with trails and a bike path, plus picnicking, and a disc golf course.
Coffee Claratina Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 293 reviews
Neighborhood hangout spot with a basketball court, grassy areas, picnic facilities & a playground.
Tuolumne River Regional Park
3.9 ★★★★☆ 301 reviews
Public parkland covering 500 acres divided into 5 areas, including bicycle trails & a golf course.
Robertson Road Park
4 ★★★★☆ 285 reviews
Quiet recreational space with grass, play areas for kids and basketball courts, plus soccer pitches.
Wesson Ranch Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 226 reviews
Recreational green space featuring a children's playground, sports facilities & picnic sites.
Kewin Park
3.8 ★★★★☆ 225 reviews
Sprawling recreation area with a playground, paved bike trail and creek.
Moose Park
3.6 ★★★★☆ 197 reviews
Park featuring trails, a creek and a disc golf course, plus playground equipment.
Chrysler 99 Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 129 reviews
Large park with playground, trails and basketball courts.
Tuolumne Riverside Trail
4 ★★★★☆ 73 reviews
Popular spot for hiking and cycling, but also horses and dog walkers.
Virginia Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 57 reviews
Hiking area also suitable for cycling, walking, and running.
Trees For Tots
4.4 ★★★★☆ 16 reviews
Prescott and Hetch-hetchy Trail
3.5 ★★★★☆ 2 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Modesto
- Match the surface to your legs. Most of what's here is paved (7 of 20). Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More paved trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 1 trail here is a loop, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Modesto is Dos Rios State Park at 4.5 mi.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 1 trail in Modesto is open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 19 of the 20 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 1 is lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 6 have trailhead parking, 15 have restrooms, and 6 have a water fountain in Modesto. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 6 shaded, 4 that runners describe as quiet, 12 dog-friendly, and 14 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Modesto trails by type
Running trails near Modesto
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.