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Ashawa Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 136 Google reviews · Running trail in West Des Moines, Iowa · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Ashawa Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Park for all ages, featuring slides, swings, a sandbox and a basketball court.
What runners say about Ashawa Park
“The restrooms are clean and the water fountain actually has cold water.”
“I was there on a really hot day and there was enough shade to hide in if I wanted to and the equipment didn't burn my kids.”
“Two different playgrounds for kids of all ages.”
This is a nice park. Lots of play areas, including swings. Open green space, baseball field and a full painted basketball court. Picnic tables, shelter, bathrooms, water fountain. I think this would be a good place to fly kites. It seemed a bit windier in the shelter picnic table.
My son loves this park. There is a small playground for smaller kids and a bigger playground for bigger kids, but not too big for the smaller kids. There are swings, a balance beam, benches, picnic tables, a drinking fountain, and bathrooms. Park is a bit of walk from the parking lot.
This is a nice little park. Quite a ways to walk to the playground from the small parking lot though. My kids love going here. It gets very busy at lunch time. Lots of kids to play with from around the area. No shade on hot days unless you go sit at the small shelter. Make sure your kids have some SPF on! ;)
Two playgrounds, one for older and one for younger children. Shelter with bathrooms and water fountain. Walking path. The photos of the girl by a water fountain (also found on Google Maps / reviews) is NOT at this park and is the reason we came here but is not present.
Trail conditions & character
“There are swings, a balance beam, benches, picnic tables, a drinking fountain, and bathrooms.”
“I was there on a really hot day and there was enough shade to hide in if I wanted to and the equipment didn't burn my kids.”
“There are swings, a balance beam, benches, picnic tables, a drinking fountain, and bathrooms.”
“Quite a ways to walk to the playground from the small parking lot though.”
Plan your run at Ashawa Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Websitewdm.iowa.gov
- Phone+1 515-222-3444
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
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