HomeMinnesotaRochester › Bear Creek Park

Bear Creek Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 138 Google reviews · Running trail in Rochester, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Bear Creek 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.

ShadedScenicDog-friendlyRestrooms

Tree-lined walking paths, sports fields, a playground & picnic shelters in tranquil surroundings.

What runners say about Bear Creek Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (138 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Safe and clean and handicap friendly which is huge for me!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Walked it at night and was totally safe with beautiful views.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Very little parking or shady areas to park.”

It's private.. Typically people keep there dogs on a leash... If you keep walking and go over the walking bridge to the right you will run into a fenced dog park

★★★★★ — Bonnie , Oct 2016

Nice walking trail. Very little parking or shady areas to park. Nicely mowed.

★★★★☆ — Kathy , Aug 2021

Lovely park with scenic views of the river. A paved walking/bike path goes north/south along the river as well. Playground equipment is best suited for kids 8 and under. The North side of the park is a bit close to a busy road (Hwy 14), but is easy to avoid.

★★★★☆ — Kristy , Oct 2020

One of my favorite bike routes. It's a great little 5 mile ride for my family.

★★★★★ — Emma , Nov 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 138 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“Walked it at night and was totally safe with beautiful views.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Very little parking or shady areas to park.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Typically people keep there dogs on a leash.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

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Plan your run at Bear Creek 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 trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiterochestermn.gov
  • Phone(507) 328-2525

Hours

Monday 7 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–10 PM
Thursday 7 AM–10 PM
Friday 7 AM–10 PM
Saturday 7 AM–10 PM
Sunday 7 AM–10 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 Bear Creek Park

1237 Marion Rd SE, Rochester, MN 55904

Get directions

Running trails near Rochester

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

Three Links Park

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Scenic

Playground with areas for kids of all ages, plus a picnic area.

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Eastwood Park

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Quarry Hill Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,497 reviews

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MixedScenicDog-friendly

Peaceful natural area with a nature center, trails, wildlife habitats & educational programming.

1.7 miles away

Quarry Hill Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,502 reviews

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MixedScenicDog-friendly

Large park offering hiking trails, a man-made cave & a nature center with classes & live animals.

1.7 miles away

Quarry Hill West Entrance

4.8 ★★★★★ 61 reviews

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PavedScenic

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Silver Lake Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 767 reviews

Rochester, MN

Scenic

Park featuring a lake with boating & fishing, an accessible playground, pool, skate park & more.

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Rochester, MN →

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.