Home › Texas › Little Elm › Cottonwood Park Nature Trail
Cottonwood Park Nature Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 27 Google reviews · Running trail in Little Elm, Texas · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Cottonwood Park Nature Trail'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.
What runners say about Cottonwood Park Nature Trail
Actual trail but it’s mowed and has benches. About 1.9 miles. Not any parking where the map says but 1/4 mile further there’s a baseball field w lots of parking and another trail entrance. Behind the field are some more trails.
This trail is probably the closest you can get to nature around this area. Beware of snakes!!
Probably one of LE's best kept secrets. Peaceful little trail. Has a bench or two to sit, there are some parts of the trail that seperate off the loop and go into a neighborhood. It's mostly unpaved, tons of trees, some peeks of the lake here and there.
Explored the Cottonwood Park trail on a beautiful day. It is a dirt loop trail about a mile long, well maintained. Lots of migrating ducks. Saw a red-tailed hawk being chased by crows. Trees are beginning their spring awakening.
Trail conditions & character
“Explored the Cottonwood Park trail on a beautiful day.”
“Has a bench or two to sit, there are some parts of the trail that seperate off the loop and go into a neighborhood.”
“Not any parking where the map says but 1/4 mile further there’s a baseball field w lots of parking and another trail entrance.”
Plan your run at Cottonwood Park Nature Trail
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
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 |
Running trails near Little Elm
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Little Elm Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 5,609 reviews
Beachfront park offering swimming, athletic fields, hiking trails, picnicking & a playground.
Johnny Broyles Nature Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 143 reviews
Park with a paved hiking trail leading to a playground, plus volleyball.
Beard Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 553 reviews
Lakefront park with a nature-themed playground, wakeboarding/aquatic park, picnic area & trails.
Doe Branch Park
3.8 ★★★★☆ 61 reviews
Park with kid-friendly hikes, plus a trail and opportunities for walking, nature viewing, and boating.