HomeMinnesotaFaribault › Caron Park

Caron Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 128 Google reviews · Running trail in Faribault, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Caron 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.

ScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsQuiet

Casual park offering waterfalls, hiking trails, woods and a river.

What runners say about Caron Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (128 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“There is a porta potty available near the parking lot the hiking trails are beautiful.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“The waterfalls didn’t have too much water when we visited but we enjoyed the quietness and peaceful surroundings.”

We hiked a mile or two at Caron Park (a Steele County park) . It is a couple miles west of Nerstrand State Park and has many of the same attractions but many fewer people. That allowed us to let the dogs go off leashes for most of the hike. After 2 miles we'd hiked pretty much all the that was available.

★★★★★ — Eric , Nov 2025

High ranking in my list of favorite parks. Great little spot to stop and walk in the water at the falls. The creek is shallow, and clean. You can walk/play in that too. The boulder has always been a favorite..but unfortunately it's been graffitied, so it's not a good stop for photos anymore.

★★★★★ — Ashley , Jun 2020

Nice small park, if you want to get to the falls faster go behind the picnic shelter. There is a path that will take you their. But if you want to go a longer journey then go on the path behind the out house. Either way it’s a fun way to explore the woods!

★★★★★ — Hawkeye , Oct 2024

Amazing hiking, absolutely gorgeous in the fall. Nice little waterfall and a mind blowing big rock in the middle of the forest!

★★★★★ — Chase , Oct 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 128 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 19 mentions

“I would never have known about this place, but I read about it in a book of waterfalls in MN that I recently bought.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“The waterfalls didn’t have too much water when we visited but we enjoyed the quietness and peaceful surroundings.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“There is a porta potty available near the parking lot the hiking trails are beautiful.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly

“That allowed us to let the dogs go off leashes for most of the hike.”

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Plan your run at Caron Park

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 trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteco.rice.mn.us
  • Social Instagram

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 Caron Park

6816 170th St E, Faribault, MN 55021

Get directions

Running trails near Faribault

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

Cannon River Wilderness Area

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MixedScenicDog-friendly

Hills and camp sites feature in this woodland site with trails, some of which link to an oak savanna.

3.3 miles away

Cannon River Wilderness Area - West Trailhead

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Scenic

3.7 miles away

Falls Creek County Park

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5.2 miles away

Two Rivers Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 29 reviews

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5.9 miles away

Trail's Edge Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 29 reviews

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5.9 miles away

Heritage Park

4 ★★★★☆ 22 reviews

Northfield, MN

Simple park featuring a paved walkway, playground, basketball court & picnic tables.

6.1 miles away

All running trails in Faribault, 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.