HomeWashingtonVancouver › David Douglas Park

David Douglas Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 604 Google reviews · Running trail in Vancouver, Washington · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from David Douglas 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.

MixedDog-friendlyFlat & fastRestroomsTrailhead parking

Family-friendly park offers plenty of paved walking & biking paths along with expansive green space.

What runners say about David Douglas Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (604 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“The park was clean and well kept, but the real draw was the trails.”

This is not a park you go to to get away from people. There are three baseball grounds in this park. It is an older Park so it can be a little run-down in spots and the parking is gravel which can get muddy. There's a paved path, where the concrete is a bit weather worn but usable.

★★★★☆ — Kelly , Jun 2022

I went to David Douglas hoping to get a quick walk in, and fell in love with the long path. The pathways in the park are paved and well maintained. The trails in the forest are steep, but clear of debris. There are picnic tables and covered areas for events located throughout the park.

★★★★★ — Grey , Mar 2023

The park itself looks a little rundown and old, but the forest trail is amazing. You (almost) can't hear any cars and the forest by the trail is largely untouched, like a taste of thick forest in the middle of Vancouver.

★★★★☆ — Kristi , May 2018

It is one of the big parks in Vancouver. Little League, concessions, bathrooms, parking, trails, outside bb. No Frisbee golf. I seen a family of gnomes on the trail in the woods.

★★★★☆ — Chad , Apr 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 604 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 12 mentions

“It is an older Park so it can be a little run-down in spots and the parking is gravel which can get muddy.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly 11 mentions

“Good space to walk a dog or get a quick trail walk done.”

More trails like this →

🚻 Restrooms 8 mentions

“Little League, concessions, bathrooms, parking, trails, outside bb.”

More trails like this →

🛣️ Paved surface 5 mentions

“There's a paved path, where the concrete is a bit weather worn but usable.”

More trails like this →

🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

“The only thing I think they could improve is repaving the gravel - it’s very uneven in places and I wouldn’t recommend for taking a stroller.”

More trails like this →

Flat & fast 2 mentions

“This circles around the upper level of the park.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at David Douglas Park

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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitecityofvancouver.us
  • Phone+1 360-487-8311
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

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 David Douglas Park

1016 N Garrison Rd, Vancouver, WA 98664

Get directions

Running trails near Vancouver

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

Burnt Bridge Creek Trail

4.2 ★★★★☆ 547 reviews

Vancouver, WA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Flat paved trail biking & foot trail passing through open grasslands & heavily wooded areas.

under a mile away

Wintler Community Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,316 reviews

Vancouver, WA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

12.5-acre riverfront park providing beach access, benches, picnic tables & scenic mountain views.

1.4 miles away

Beaver Marsh

4.4 ★★★★☆ 270 reviews

Vancouver, WA

LoopScenicDog-friendly

Forest & creek-lined trail network popular for dog walking and quiet strolls.

1.8 miles away

Starke Natural Area

4 ★★★★☆ 47 reviews

Vancouver, WA

Dog-friendly

2.6 miles away

Biddlewood Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 171 reviews

Vancouver, WA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Neighbourhood park with an open green & forest area plus a playground & footpath.

2.7 miles away

Columbia Springs

4.7 ★★★★★ 270 reviews

Vancouver, WA

Natural surfaceScenic

Historic site, featuring fish hatchery ponds and wooded trails, plus an outdoor environmental classroom.

3.1 miles away

All running trails in Vancouver, WA →

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.