HomeNorth DakotaBismarck › Cottonwood Park

Cottonwood Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 302 Google reviews · Running trail in Bismarck, North Dakota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Cottonwood 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.

PavedRestroomsTrailhead parking

200+ acres of open space with a trail, sports complex, BMX track, playground & fishing hole.

What runners say about Cottonwood Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (302 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 7 mentions

“The soccer fields are so well maintained andset up so all teams have the spsce they need.”

🏃 great for running 2 mentions

“Also great for running, walking a track/trails, biking, cycling.”

The soccer fields are so well maintained andset up so all teams have the spsce they need. The bathrooms are pretty good for a public park with running water and a couple of fountains. The playground equipment is very nice as well and kept up to safety standards.

★★★★★ — T. , Sep 2023

Groundskeepers keep the parking lots and fields spotless and clean cut. It's an expansive park, great for softball, soccer practices, running, bringing your dog. Like I said, spotless every inch but it's also in a vetu safe part of town. Great park

★★★★★ — Dani , Jul 2019

Clean, well maintained. Wish there was a map of the fields for soccer games on the premise to know where you are headed. Nice playground for younger kids. Has paved walking or biking trail and a stocked pond for fishing!

★★★★☆ — Katie , May 2023

A park, softball fields, soccer fields, walking/biking trail. Lots to do. Well maintained. And for us bikers, it is nicely connected to the Bismarck trail system

★★★★★ — Glenn , Jul 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 302 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 4 mentions

“Enough parking for a really great crowd and we had a really great softball tournament there!”

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🛣️ Paved surface

“Has paved walking or biking trail and a stocked pond for fishing!”

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🚻 Restrooms

“The bathrooms are pretty good for a public park with running water and a couple of fountains.”

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Plan your run at Cottonwood 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
  • Websitebisparks.org
  • Phone+1 701-222-6455
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–11 pm
Tuesday 6 am–11 pm
Wednesday 6 am–11 pm
Thursday 6 am–11 pm
Friday 6 am–11 pm
Saturday 6 am–11 pm
Sunday 6 am–11 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 Cottonwood Park

Cottonwood Trail Ext, Bismarck, ND 58504

Get directions

Running trails near Bismarck

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

Atkinson Nature Park

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Kiwanis Park

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Park with swings, slides, play structures, a climbing rock and a horseshoe area.

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Zonta Park

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Sertoma Park

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PavedScenic

Large riverside park with playgrounds, walking trails, sand volleyball, horseshoes & public art.

2.6 miles away

George Bird Rotary Arboretum

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North Central Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 122 reviews

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Public park featuring a playground, tennis courts and a shelter for picnics.

3.8 miles away

All running trails in Bismarck, ND →

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.