HomeOhioWilmington › Cowan Lake Spillway Trail - Trailhead

Cowan Lake Spillway Trail - Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 66 Google reviews · Running trail in Wilmington, Ohio · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

We have not been able to confirm the surface, distance or shape of Cowan Lake Spillway Trail - Trailhead yet from its own listing, the park's website or runner reviews — so those cells stay blank rather than guess. What is below comes straight from the listing and from reviewers' own words. 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.

ScenicRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Biking, boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking and lake-swimming options at a serene park with woodland trails.

What runners say about Cowan Lake Spillway Trail - Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (66 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Great views and nice clean trails.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Restricted horsepower lake is much more peaceful and enjoyable than the unlimited horsepower lakes.”

Hiked this yesterday. I was kind of worried based on the trail reviews on the all trails app. I found it quite pleasant the only bad thing I would say about the trail is a lot of areas are narrow where you would have to walk single file trail is more like 5 1/2 miles round-trip.

★★★★★ — Trish , May 2023

Nice trail to walk, clearly marked, but halfway through had to turn around because there was no clearing or bridge. Would have had to wade through ankle deep water. Nice walk through the woods along the water. Beautiful views.

★★★★☆ — Kimberly , Nov 2020

Love this place more then anything else. Awesome place for camping, fishing, biking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, boating, swimming, the whole nine yards.

★★★★★ — Greg , Aug 2019

This trail used to be almost so over grown you couldn't follow it. It's more clear now. Nice to have other options for short hikes around the area.

★★★★☆ — Holly , Oct 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 66 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“Great views and nice clean trails.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Restricted horsepower lake is much more peaceful and enjoyable than the unlimited horsepower lakes.”

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🚻 Restrooms

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at Cowan Lake Spillway Trail - Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • 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
  • Websiteohiodnr.gov
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Cowan Lake Spillway Trail - Trailhead

999 Sprague Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177

Get directions

Running trails near Wilmington

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

Cowan Lake State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 1,507 reviews

Wilmington, OH

PavedShadedScenic

Camping & cabin rentals are available in this 1,075-acre park that offers hiking, boating & fishing.

under a mile away

2.7 miles away

OgdenTrail/Elizabeth J Looney Memorial Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Wilmington, OH

15 miShaded

4.2 miles away

Luther Warren Peace Path

4.6 ★★★★★ 20 reviews

Wilmington, OH

3.5 miPavedShaded

4.2 miles away

Lytle Creek Nature Preserve

3 ★★★☆☆ 1 reviews

Wilmington, OH

5.3 miles away

J. W. Denver Williams Jr. Memorial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 401 reviews

Wilmington, OH

PavedDog-friendly

Recreation area with a playground and splash pad, plus picnic tables, and areas for baseball, tennis, and basketball.

6.2 miles away

All running trails in Wilmington, OH →

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.