HomeWisconsinAppleton › Derks Park

Derks Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 261 Google reviews · Running trail in Appleton, Wisconsin · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Derks 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.

Open 24hShadedRestrooms

Green space with an accessible playground & picnic pavilion, plus biking/walking trails & restrooms.

What runners say about Derks Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (261 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 8 mentions

“Nice combination of equipment that has been well maintained.”

🌳 shaded & cool 7 mentions

“Good size field, playground with swings and unique sets of monkey bars, restrooms and picnic tables, a pavilion, and plenty of shade surrounding the park.”

Always a nice stop with the kids as your adulting. After a Target run and coffee grab it's a great place to all take a break. Hopefully when you read this post COVID will be a memory but it can be busy place.

★★★★★ — Joe , Apr 2021

Fun playground! My 11 year old son gave the playground a 4 out of 5 stars. He said he would like more modern equipment to climb. It is well kept. It is a good size. I saw the younger kids having a blast. There are benches and some tables on the perimeter. There is a cement circular path around the playground.

★★★★★ — Allyce , Nov 2023

My boys had a lot of fun at this park. There was so much fun equipment for them to play on! I liked the sidewalk around the play equipment so I could walk while my boys played. The ground under the play equipment is like a rubber squishy ground! Super nice! I would like to have a cook out at this park!

★★★★★ — Nikki , Aug 2018

One of our favorite parks in the area. There is a play set for toddlers as well as older kids. Things are spaced out nice so it isn't so crowded. One shaded area on the playground. Only 'downfall' the bathrooms are a little walk, kinda difficult for toddlers potty training. BUT this is not a deal breaker.

★★★★☆ — Ashley , May 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 261 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.

🚻 Restrooms 8 mentions

“Good size field, playground with swings and unique sets of monkey bars, restrooms and picnic tables, a pavilion, and plenty of shade surrounding the park.”

More trails like this →

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 7 mentions

“Good size field, playground with swings and unique sets of monkey bars, restrooms and picnic tables, a pavilion, and plenty of shade surrounding the park.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Derks Park

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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • Websiteappletonparkandrec.org
  • Phone(920) 832-5905
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

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

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 Derks Park

3220 Guyette Dr, Appleton, WI 54915

Get directions

Running trails near Appleton

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

Telulah Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 843 reviews

Appleton, WI

PavedScenic

Family-friendly park with picnic tables, walking & biking trails & a 9-hole disc golf course.

1.5 miles away

Newberry Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 16 reviews

Appleton, WI

Scenic

1.6 miles away

Hydroelectric Heritage Trailway

4.8 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Appleton, WI

1.9 miles away

Peabody Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 369 reviews

Appleton, WI

ShadedScenic

Multi-use facility with numerous sports courts, picnic areas, disc golf, a boat ramp & wading pool.

2.0 miles away

Hidden Pond Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 57 reviews

Menasha, WI

Natural surface

Well-kept, secluded park offering a playground, a pond, swings and trails.

2.3 miles away

Memorial Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 91 reviews

Combined Locks, WI

Scenic

Kid-friendly park featuring playgrounds, trails, baseball fields and more, plus a sledding hill in winter.

2.6 miles away

All running trails in Appleton, WI →

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.