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Big Oak County Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 667 Google reviews · Running trail in Smyrna, Delaware · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Big Oak County 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.

BoardwalkLoopShadedDog-friendlyRestrooms

Clean family-friendly outdoor playground with a rocketship jungle gym, swings and a climbing wall.

What runners say about Big Oak County Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (667 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Public restrooms and very clean park.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“The large field does lack shade though, except near the edge of the forest.”

👟 good for all levels 5 mentions

“Beautiful landscape, my great neice and grandson had a ball they had several playgrounds for kids of all ages.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“Walking trail amd dog friendly!”

We come here often to take walks and play on the playground as a family. It’s a really nice fun park. I would definitely recommend this place . Watch out for the giant spiders 🕷️ they build webs on everything and it’s all icky sometimes. I’m gutted when I walk through a big web !

★★★★★ — Big , Apr 2025

Great park for kids of all ages. 2 separate areas, 1 for toddlers and small kids and 1 for older kids and teens. There is a rock climbing simulator. There is an exercise area. Picnic tables under a large canopy. Walking trail. Bathrooms. Dog friendly. Can't ask for more.

★★★★★ — Sofia , May 2025

The park is a perfect stop for tourists with kids who travel to Delaware for a vacation. There is a sheltered picnic area overviewing two nice play sets and a climbing wall. I saw locals use the picnic area for birthday celebrations, park's extensive ealways for jogging, walking, and biking with kids.

★★★★☆ — Val , Jun 2017

It's very clean. There are bathroom facilities and a pavilion with BBQ grills. Two separate space themed playgrounds, one for toddlers, the other for big kids. There is an elevated boardwalk through the woods as part of a walking loop. The large field does lack shade though, except near the edge of the forest.

★★★★★ — Joe , Nov 2016

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 667 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.

🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“There are bathroom facilities and a pavilion with BBQ grills.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Great place to walk, get some exercise, get your dog out there for a nice time.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“The large field does lack shade though, except near the edge of the forest.”

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🪵 Boardwalk 2 mentions

“There is an elevated boardwalk through the woods as part of a walking loop.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“There is an elevated boardwalk through the woods as part of a walking loop.”

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Plan your run at Big Oak County Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • 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.
  • Websitekentcountyde.gov
  • Phone+1 302-744-2495

Hours

Monday 6 am–8 pm
Tuesday 6 am–8 pm
Wednesday 6 am–8 pm
Thursday 6 am–8 pm
Friday 6 am–8 pm
Saturday 6 am–8 pm
Sunday 6 am–8 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 Big Oak County Park

417 Big Oak Rd, Smyrna, DE 19977

Get directions

Running trails near Smyrna

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

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Nature preserve featuring trails for walking or hiking.

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Silver Lake Park

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ScenicDog-friendly

182 acres of woodsy green space with walking trails, a playground, picnic shelters & water access.

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Schutte Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 410 reviews

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PavedShadedLitDog-friendly

Recreational retreat offering wooded trails, softball fields, a playground & a picnic pavilion.

9.1 miles away

All running trails in Smyrna, DE →

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.