HomeMissouriCape Girardeau › Cape Woods Conservation Area

Cape Woods Conservation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 206 Google reviews · Running trail in Cape Girardeau, Missouri · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Cape Woods Conservation Area'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.

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Wooded area featuring trails for walking, cycling and running as well as disc golf.

What runners say about Cape Woods Conservation Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (206 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Plenty of scenic and topographic variety in a reasonably short distance and the trails are clean and beautiful.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“There are certain spots that are very beautiful and quiet and you almost forget that you're in the middle of a town.”

🏃 great for running 2 mentions

“My favorite running trail in Cape!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“There are certain spots that are very beautiful and quiet and you almost forget that you're in the middle of a town.”

It was busy and full but still had a blast and passed not one person on the hiking path.

★★★★★ — J. , Aug 2021

Nice , urban trail . Needs maintenance in areas , but has nice wooded sections and transitions to retailers and parking lots and access areas. Restrooms close by, too.

★★★★★ — Billy , Oct 2025

Very quiet and peaceful, had the oppertunity to see a white fawn on the golf course. The creek that runs along the path is beautiful.

★★★★★ — Amber , Aug 2021

Cape Woods is a wonderful natural oasis in the middle of town. It's accessed from the east side of Mt. Auburn Road next to the car wash, a little south of the intersection with Kingshighway, where there is a parking lot and restrooms. There's also a walk-in entrance off Hopper Road between Clippard School and Mt.

★★★★★ — Sherry , Jan 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 206 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 8 mentions

“There are certain spots that are very beautiful and quiet and you almost forget that you're in the middle of a town.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“Needs maintenance in areas , but has nice wooded sections and transitions to retailers and parking lots and access areas.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“There are certain spots that are very beautiful and quiet and you almost forget that you're in the middle of a town.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Auburn Road next to the car wash, a little south of the intersection with Kingshighway, where there is a parking lot and restrooms.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

“Auburn Road next to the car wash, a little south of the intersection with Kingshighway, where there is a parking lot and restrooms.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly

“Cape Woods always has a wide variety of people enjoying the area: walkers, dog walkers, joggers, cyclists, and families.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

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Plan your run at Cape Woods Conservation Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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 trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitemdc.mo.gov
  • Phone(573) 290-5730
  • Social Instagram · 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 Cape Woods Conservation Area

1348 N Mt Auburn Rd, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Get directions

Running trails near Cape Girardeau

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

Dennis Scivally Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 212 reviews

Cape Girardeau, MO

ShadedScenic

Small park featuring a playground, picnic shelter, and a stone bridge over a creek.

1.2 miles away

Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 140 reviews

Cape Girardeau, MO

1 miLoopPavedScenic

1.5 miles away

Kiwanis Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 371 reviews

Cape Girardeau, MO

ShadedDog-friendly

55-acre green space with a dog park, fishing pond & ball field, plus playgrounds & picnic pavilions.

1.6 miles away

Klaus Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 119 reviews

Jackson, MO

Park with picnic tables, a public restroom, and kid-friendly hiking trails, plus areas for mountain biking.

1.9 miles away

Capaha Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 1,325 reviews

Cape Girardeau, MO

Scenic

Venerable park with baseball fields, a rose garden, a band shell, a fishing pond & a playground.

2.1 miles away

Crossroads Bike Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

Jackson, MO

3.2 miles away

All running trails in Cape Girardeau, MO →

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.