HomeMinnesotaCottage Grove › Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park

Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 405 Google reviews · Running trail in Cottage Grove, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Cottage Grove Ravine Regional 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.

PavedScenicDog-friendlyHillyRestroomsTrailhead parking

Park on an expanse featuring a lake, wooded trails, a playground and a picnic pavilion.

What runners say about Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (405 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“They recently decided to use live goats as eco-friendly lawn mowers; you can tell that this park is well-kept and ecologically-minded.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Still a beautiful park with lots of walking trails and a calm, boat free lake to fish or kayak in”

This versatile park is a beautiful place to get in some nature time! There's all sorts of paths (paved and unpaved). You could easily spend 4-6 hours to explore all of the trails. This is my go-to place for hikes, cross country running, and nature photography!

★★★★★ — A. , Jun 2023

Dense forest trails .day pass will cost you $7 and $30 for annual pass. Miles of walking trail through the dense forest which is very soothing . Beautiful lake also you can enjoy fishing and biking

★★★★★ — Nivedita , Jun 2021

This is a fantastic park. There are several trails that you can run or bike. If you start on the upper parking lot and round down hill, around the lake, through the woods and back you can easily put in 5 miles. You can fish in the little lake off of a pier or in a small non-motorized boat.

★★★★★ — Evie , Aug 2020

CG Ravine Regional Park has changed over the past 20 years. It is a good park to hike, run, or ski. The new building is a good place to stay warm in the WI ter months.

★★★★★ — Ellery , Jan 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 405 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.

🛣️ Paved surface 8 mentions

“Nice regional park with long paved and dirt trails (at least in the summer).”

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🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“Still a beautiful park with lots of walking trails and a calm, boat free lake to fish or kayak in”

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🚻 Restrooms 5 mentions

“Buildimg close bybqith bathrooms and a seek and find sheet for kids to check off items on their hike.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 4 mentions

“If you start on the upper parking lot and round down hill, around the lake, through the woods and back you can easily put in 5 miles.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“I'm pretty disappointed in the renovation effort and them shrinking the playground / turning a grilling area and nice trees in to a parking lot.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“There's a children's playground and the park is dog friendly.”

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Plan your run at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park

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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteco.washington.mn.us
  • Phone+1 651-430-8226
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 9 am–5 pm
Tuesday 9 am–5 pm
Wednesday 9 am–5 pm
Thursday 9 am–5 pm
Friday 9 am–5 pm
Saturday 9 am–5 pm
Sunday 9 am–5 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 Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park

9653 Keats Ave S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016

Get directions

Running trails near Cottage Grove

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

Woodridge Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 558 reviews

Cottage Grove, MN

Paved

Large community park with kids' areas featuring a playground, tennis and baseball fields, plus basketball courts and picnic pavilions.

1.4 miles away

Tree Tree Tree

4.5 ★★★★★ 37 reviews

Cottage Grove, MN

Paved

2.3 miles away

Spring Lake Park Reserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 764 reviews

Hastings, MN

ScenicDog-friendly

Bison aside, this sprawling place offers multiple trails, hiking opportunities, picnic spots, and a playground for kids.

3.0 miles away

Pine Glen Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 66 reviews

Cottage Grove, MN

City park offering a baseball field, a playground, basketball, and a public restroom.

3.1 miles away

Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area

4.5 ★★★★★ 104 reviews

Cottage Grove, MN

ScenicDog-friendly

Remote-feeling nature preserve featuring hiking trails amid sand dunes, prairies and forests to see plants, birds and other wildlife, plus river views.

3.1 miles away

Hamlet Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 305 reviews

Cottage Grove, MN

Large recreational area featuring ball fields, a skate park and a playground.

3.1 miles away

All running trails in Cottage Grove, 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.