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Cedar Grove Natural Area

4.5 ★★★★★ 81 Google reviews · Running trail in Renton, Washington · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Cedar Grove Natural 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.

Open 24hTrailhead parking

Park featuring a river and a trail, popular on hot summer days.

What runners say about Cedar Grove Natural Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (81 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“A beautiful and needful river, surrounded by trees, critters, and a few, very few, nice people.”

Nice area but not easy access to the river. Most of this area is covered in an old decaying log jam that you have to climb over/on to get anywhere near the water so hopefully you have good balance.

★★★★☆ — Andy , May 2018

I actually love this place. It is nice to sit and just listen to the water run by and is very relaxing. It is not overcrowded and you are usually alone. If you need some peace or time to think, it is a fantastic place to go to.

★★★★★ — Brian , Apr 2021

Unassuming place right off the highway next to a bike path. Good quick stop by the river.

★★★★★ — Min , May 2023

Just the good ole fashioned nature pure and all natural careful though I've seen people really get hooked on the nature places and they are never the same again oh they will be smiling and feeling good and positive when they are full blown naturelaholics gotta have their outdoors fix can't say I didn't warn you it all…

★★★★★ — Plenty , Oct 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 81 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 3 mentions

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Plan your run at Cedar Grove Natural Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • 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
  • Phone(206) 296-0100

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Cedar Grove Natural Area

196th Ave SE &, SE Jones Rd, Renton, WA 98058

Get directions

Running trails near Renton

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

Belmondo's Reach

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Renton, WA

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Nature-preserve, trails and beach area along the Cedar River featuring picnic spots, swimming holes and salmon viewing.

under a mile away

May Valley Loop Trailhead

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LoopScenicDog-friendly

Kid- and dog-friendly hiking area featuring scenic trails through the woods.

1.9 miles away

Lake Youngs Trailhead

4.4 ★★★★☆ 74 reviews

Renton, WA

9.5 miCrushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

Long trail for walking, running, biking and dog-walking.

2.3 miles away

Margaret's Way Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 376 reviews

Issaquah, WA

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Park with kid-friendly hiking trails featuring scenic views on clear days.

3.0 miles away

Squak Mountain State Park Natural Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 477 reviews

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LitScenicDog-friendly

Day-use park with 1,500+ acres of forest lands, plus trails for hikers & horseback riders.

3.2 miles away

Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 191 reviews

Renton, WA

LoopMixedShadedScenic

Hike area with bridges, benches and parking for runners and hikers.

3.3 miles away

All running trails in Renton, WA →

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.