HomeNorth CarolinaTrent Woods › Cottle Park

Cottle Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 85 Google reviews · Running trail in Trent Woods, North Carolina · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Cottle 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.

Dog-friendlyRestroomsWater

Public park with a playground, tennis court, and pickleball court, plus picnic areas and a walking trail.

What runners say about Cottle Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (85 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 9 mentions

“It's a nice clean little park with walking trail and plenty of benches to stop and rest if needed.”

Nice park with walking/running track around perimeter, kids play area, picnic area, restrooms and nice pickleball courts. Would love it if there were lights on the pickleball courts at least until 9. Was too dark to play even during summer by 8pm.

★★★★★ — Patricia , Jul 2023

Cute little park that is enclosed. They recently replaced the gate. Nice covered sitting area with clean bathrooms. There is also a pickle ball court and a grassy area to play. They have a walking path which is nice as well.

★★★★★ — Ashley , Dec 2025

I love this park. It’s perfect for my autistic son to run around and play.

★★★★★ — Jennifer , Oct 2023

This is a great little park. Mostly I'd say geared for younger children (2-10) but my older kids like to ring lead and get the littles playing together too. Gated playground area with large trees for shade. Easy restroom access and a really nice covered picnic table area.

★★★★☆ — Rebekah , Jun 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 85 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.

🚻 Restrooms 9 mentions

“Nice park with walking/running track around perimeter, kids play area, picnic area, restrooms and nice pickleball courts.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“We love going to Cottle Park with our dog to walk!”

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🚰 Water fountains 2 mentions

“As well as a bike rack, water fountains, and bathrooms.”

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Plan your run at Cottle 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, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitetrentwoodsnc.org

Hours

Monday 7 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–8 PM
Thursday 7 AM–8 PM
Friday 7 AM–8 PM
Saturday 7 AM–8 PM
Sunday 7 AM–8 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 Cottle Park

608 River Rd, Trent Woods, NC 28562

Get directions

Running trails near Trent Woods

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

Meadows Family Park

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Island Creek Walk - Croatan National Forest Hiking Trail

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2.2 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Hiking area featuring trails with views of a creek through a shady forest setting.

3.9 miles away

Jack's Island @ Lawson Creek Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 100 reviews

New Bern, NC

BoardwalkDog-friendly

Park featuring a boat ramp and kayak launch, plus fishing and dock space.

4.2 miles away

Martin Marietta park

4.5 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

New Bern, NC

4.3 miles away

Union Point Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,088 reviews

New Bern, NC

BoardwalkLitScenicDog-friendly

Popular park along the Neuse & Trent Rivers featuring play equipment, a large gazebo & a boardwalk.

4.9 miles away

Glenburnie Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 364 reviews

New Bern, NC

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Waterfront park with rolling hills and an 18-hole disc golf course.

5.1 miles away

All running trails in Trent Woods, NC →

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.