HomeIowaPella › Big Rock

Big Rock

4.6 ★★★★★ 64 Google reviews · Running trail in Pella, Iowa · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Big Rock'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.

Trailhead parking

What runners say about Big Rock

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (64 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

Wel groomed 83 acre park with hiking trails. The big walk is just a short distance from the parking area.

★★★★★ — Mike , Apr 2023

Quick hike to the rock, my pregnant self and three year old were able to get to the rock in the rain easily. We did make a wrong turn at second bridge. Follow the yellow trail markings as best you can. Daughter enjoyed the educational flaps showing the types of trees.

★★★★☆ — Hailey , Sep 2021

It's a great park with some nice walking trails. There's signage near trees that give you information about the plants and stuff but the park is very poorly maintained. Lots of choking vines killing trees.

★★★★☆ — Raymond , Jun 2023

Big Rock Park is such a hidden gem in Pella! Such a fun, easy place to hike, geocache, picnic, and enjoy nature! There is a partial disc golf course if you prefer as well. Just a great fall ready to spend a day here!!

★★★★★ — Dana , Nov 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 64 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking

“The big walk is just a short distance from the parking area.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Big Rock

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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitecityofpella.com
  • Phone+1 641-628-4571
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 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 Big Rock

Big Rock City Park, Big Rock Park Rd, Pella, IA 50219

Get directions

Running trails near Pella

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

Central Park

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Scenic

1.4 miles away

3.3 miles away

Red Rock Dam Mountain Bike Trail

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3.7 miles away

Cedar Bluffs Natural Area Trailhead

4.4 ★★★★☆ 12 reviews

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2 miLoopScenic

13.2 miles away

Edmundson Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 423 reviews

Oskaloosa, IA

ScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a playground with a rocket ship slide, plus a swimming pool and a dog park.

17.1 miles away

Caldwell Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 7 reviews

Oskaloosa, IA

18.9 miles away

All running trails in Pella, IA →

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.