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Barnes Creek Nature Trail

4 ★★★★☆ 31 Google reviews · Running trail in Des Moines, Washington · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Barnes Creek Nature Trail'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.

Barnes Creek Nature Trail — running trail in Des Moines, WA, photo 1
Barnes Creek Nature Trail — running trail in Des Moines, WA, photo 2
Barnes Creek Nature Trail — running trail in Des Moines, WA, photo 3
Barnes Creek Nature Trail — running trail in Des Moines, WA, photo 4
Barnes Creek Nature Trail — running trail in Des Moines, WA, photo 5
Natural surface

What runners say about Barnes Creek Nature Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (31 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

A local community trail that is maintained and runs for 0.6 miles in a north-south direction along Barnes Creek. There is no parking at the southern trail entrance but you can park on the shoulder on 16th Ave S fifty meters away.

★★★★☆ — Brian , Aug 2017

Simple trail connecting 15th Ave to SR-516, extending behind 16th Ave houses. Could use some maintenance (fallen tree blocking path, manuverable), but I was able to traverse it well.

★★★★☆ — Abi , Dec 2023

love this Lil parkinglot for no reason with connecting trails to des moines creek fully equipped with wild life, road kill, and coyotes if you can catch em slippin

★★★★★ — Ace , Mar 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 31 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

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Plan your run at Barnes Creek Nature Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Hours

Monday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Thursday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Friday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Saturday 7 AM–8:30 PM
Sunday 7 AM–8:30 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Barnes Creek Nature Trail

1232 WA-516, Des Moines, WA 98198

Get directions

Running trails near Des Moines

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

City of Des Moines Park Conservation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 352 reviews

Des Moines, WA

Scenic

Scenic waterfront location featuring a marina, trails, a beach and a pier, plus picnic tables for a relaxed visit.

under a mile away

Des Moines Creek Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 70 reviews

Des Moines, WA

2 miPavedScenic

Tranquil 2-mile-plus-long trail following a stream and passing through the woods on its way to the beach.

1.0 miles away

Des Moines Creek Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 379 reviews

SeaTac, WA

2 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

Paved hiking trail leading from a park to the beach with some minor elevation.

1.3 miles away

Saltwater State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 3,515 reviews

Des Moines, WA

Natural surfaceLitScenicDog-friendly

This park on the shores of Puget Sound has campsites, volleyball courts & an artificial reef.

1.3 miles away

Bluff Interpretive Loop Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

Des Moines, WA

Loop

1.4 miles away

McSorley Creek Loop Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 25 reviews

Des Moines, WA

LoopScenic

1.5 miles away

All running trails in Des Moines, WA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.