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Croisan Creek Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 147 Google reviews · Running trail in Salem, Oregon · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Croisan Creek 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.

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendlyTrailhead parkingQuiet

Wooded hiking and biking trail featuring a surprise paved section.

What runners say about Croisan Creek Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (147 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“You’ll see some people’s backyards but there are beautiful tall trees including earthy fragrance.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“It's very quiet, provides a workout with uphill climbs, and offers beautiful scenery.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

We love having this neighborhood trail in our neighborhood. A shame there isn't a neighborhood trail in every neighborhood for people to take a short nature break and get some exercise.

★★★★★ — Karla , Sep 2023

Nice hidden trail in the middle of the city. I was out there for half an hour and saw about four people. Although the trail extends between neighborhoods (and the houses are often visible), there aren't that many sounds of people, and it's easy to feel that you're in a deep forest.

★★★★☆ — Paco , Nov 2018

Dogs allowed On Leash. Nicely maintained trail between two neighborhoods along croison creek road. Unpaved mostly with light patches of gravel, but mostly dirt trail. Some also bike this trail. Dog bag stands provided at each end of the trail to make sure people pick up after their dogs.

★★★★☆ — Nicolaus , Jan 2018

Nice exercise and hiking trail. The 2020 ice storm took out some big shade trees, so some of the trail has a blackberry/ivy problem (again). Needs a little tlc, otherwise well maintained. Beautiful wildflowers in spring, some wild cherries, though they are slowly disappearing. Fall is a nice time of year too.

★★★★☆ — L. , Mar 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 147 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.

🐕 Dog-friendly 7 mentions

“Perfect place to take your dog for a walk.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 6 mentions

“The unpaved trail gets a bit muddy in the winter (just wear boots), but in the summer it's perfect, with a tree canopy that offers protection from the sun and heat.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 6 mentions

“The unpaved trail gets a bit muddy in the winter (just wear boots), but in the summer it's perfect, with a tree canopy that offers protection from the sun and heat.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“You’ll see some people’s backyards but there are beautiful tall trees including earthy fragrance.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 4 mentions

“Watch for section of trail that's inexplicably paved, but that nature is slowly reclaiming.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Limited parking because it's at the end of a residential street.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“It's very quiet, provides a workout with uphill climbs, and offers beautiful scenery.”

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Plan your run at Croisan Creek Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Hours

Monday 5 am–10 pm
Tuesday 5 am–10 pm
Wednesday 5 am–10 pm
Thursday 5 am–10 pm
Friday 5 am–10 pm
Saturday 5 am–10 pm
Sunday 5 am–10 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 Croisan Creek Trail

4500 Croisan Scenic Way S, Salem, OR 97302

Get directions

Running trails near Salem

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

Skyline Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 80 reviews

Salem, OR

1 miLoopNatural surfaceDog-friendly

Hiking area near a high school with varied paths, old-growth trees, and a field.

under a mile away

North Croisan Creek Trail Head

3.8 ★★★★☆ 15 reviews

Salem, OR

Natural surface

under a mile away

Woodmansee Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 1,005 reviews

Salem, OR

ShadedDog-friendly

Outdoor activity space with a soccer field, disc golf & tennis courts, plus trails & a playground.

1.8 miles away

Bryan Johnston Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 376 reviews

Salem, OR

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Neighborhood park featuring a walking loop, a toddler playground & a half-court basketball court.

1.8 miles away

Clark Creek Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 261 reviews

Salem, OR

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Relaxed neighborhood park with creeks and playgrounds for the kids.

2.2 miles away

Joryville Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 300 reviews

Salem, OR

LoopMixedShadedScenic

Quiet park with scenic views from the hillside and multiple walking loops, plus shaded picnic spots.

2.3 miles away

All running trails in Salem, OR →

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.