HomeMinnesotaHopkins › Big Willow Park, Minnetonka

Big Willow Park, Minnetonka

4.6 ★★★★★ 350 Google reviews · Running trail in Hopkins, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Big Willow Park, Minnetonka'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.

MixedScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

Paved dirt trails run through this natural area and woodland with baseball and soccer fields.

What runners say about Big Willow Park, Minnetonka

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (350 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“So upkept and clean, everyone is so friendly, and there are so many twists and turns you can take to make it a fun hike/walk.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 9 mentions

“Beautiful area with lots of trails, baseball and soccer fields, and a playground.”

Beutiful place but not enough bathrooms. I was walking along and I amsaw a deer and it was soooooo cooooooool. I saw a dog running around and I hope it was ok. I got my Jordan’s dirty so I had to throw them away when I was done. They should also add some music and add more fish to the water.

★★★★☆ — Sebastian , Nov 2022

Love this park. Easy access and you're able to walk different paths easily. Great dog walking park!

★★★★★ — Andria , Feb 2023

Easily our new favorite walking/hiking area! There are a variety of paved and crushed gravel pathways (wider), but also tonssss of smaller ‘deer trails‘ (thinner, 1-person) through the woods that I prefer. Even with there being quite a few people there, it was super easy to feel alone out there. Super, super peaceful.

★★★★★ — Bailey , Oct 2024

Still my favorite place. Winter (2/23) update: trails are packed nicely but proceed with caution! I (barely) made it through the park testing out new hiking boots without falling on ice but took a BIG slip on black ice in the parking lot at the end. 🤣

★★★★★ — Kari , Mar 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 350 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 10 mentions

“Beautiful area with lots of trails, baseball and soccer fields, and a playground.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“I (barely) made it through the park testing out new hiking boots without falling on ice but took a BIG slip on black ice in the parking lot at the end.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 4 mentions

“There are a variety of paved and crushed gravel pathways (wider), but also tonssss of smaller ‘deer trails‘ (thinner, 1-person) through the woods that I prefer.”

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🚻 Restrooms 3 mentions

“Also there's a baseball field, restroom building, some benches, and a playground with slides, individual spinning rides, a teeter totter, and more”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Excellent, excellent place to walk/hike with your dog.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

“There are a variety of paved and crushed gravel pathways (wider), but also tonssss of smaller ‘deer trails‘ (thinner, 1-person) through the woods that I prefer.”

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🚰 Water fountains

“They have Drinking fountains!”

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Plan your run at Big Willow Park, Minnetonka

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • 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, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteeminnetonka.com
  • Phone+1 952-939-8200

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 Willow Park, Minnetonka

11522 Minnetonka Blvd, Hopkins, MN 55305

Get directions

Running trails near Hopkins

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

Minnehaha Creek Preserve - Town of Hopkins

4.6 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Hopkins, MN

under a mile away

Hilloway Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 8 reviews

Minnetonka, MN

1.2 miles away

Meadow Neighborhood Park and Community Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 132 reviews

Minnetonka, MN

Community park featuring an outdoor ice rink for hockey & skating, plus biking trails & a playscape.

1.2 miles away

Minnetonka Township Loops Trails Corridor System

4.1 ★★★★☆ 7 reviews

Minnetonka, MN

1.3 miles away

Central Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 139 reviews

Hopkins, MN

Dog-friendly

Vast green space featuring tennis courts, ballfields and a playground, as well as walking paths and picnic tables.

1.5 miles away

Burnes Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 360 reviews

Hopkins, MN

ShadedDog-friendly

Basic neighborhood recreation area with a playground, plus a baseball field & tennis courts.

1.6 miles away

All running trails in Hopkins, 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.