Home › Iowa › Indianola › Buxton Park Arboretum
Buxton Park Arboretum
4.8 ★★★★★ 163 Google reviews · Running trail in Indianola, Iowa · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Buxton Park Arboretum'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.
Park with benches and a fountain at the edge of a college campus, plus playground equipment.
What runners say about Buxton Park Arboretum
“A beautiful park for taking pictures, you regularly see senior photos, family photos, or wedding pictures being taken here.”
Nestled on the side of Simpson College campus, this is a great park. While it's not the biggest or fanciest, it is spacious and well laid out. There are a good number of walkways, and plenty of both sunny and shaded areas. A number of benches complete the payout.
The gardens and the fountains and the trees are absolutely gorgeous. I sat on a bench in the shade and just enjoyed the kids biking through the paz and the birds fluttering from tree to tree. Oh really great park to sit and relax in.
What a jewel! Lots of small garden beds, a wide variety of trees, plenty of benches and winding paths make this small arboretum a great place to visit.
Always nice place to walk. Hats off to the caretakers. The new kid section is great. We love to take our 2 yr old Grandson. New fountain.
Trail conditions & character
“A beautiful park for taking pictures, you regularly see senior photos, family photos, or wedding pictures being taken here.”
“There is a small playground for little kids, plenty of space to walk, lots of people bring their dogs, and others sit on benches to read or do homework.”
“Positioned next to Simpson College in the heart of Indianola, we enjoyed the sounds of the water fountain while looking at all of the different plants and flowers.”
Plan your run at Buxton Park Arboretum
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 trailheadwater — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteindianolaiowa.gov
- Phone+1 515-961-9420
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–11 pm |
Running trails near Indianola
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Moats Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 222 reviews
Park offering a playground, picnic areas, grills, and basketball courts, plus a public restroom.
Barker Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 67 reviews
Playground with slides, swings and a sand area, plus a picnic area and a BBQ grill.
McCord Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 92 reviews
Park featuring playgrounds for big and small kids plus soccer fields and a basketball court.