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Doanes Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 125 Google reviews · Running trail in Pleasant Hill, Iowa · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Doanes 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.

ScenicStroller / ADAHillyRestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

Ample open space featuring baseball, tennis, soccer and basketball courts, plus a playground.

What runners say about Doanes Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (125 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 10 mentions

“It has a great shelter, super clean, ample water fountains & shade, nice playgrounds, and pristine bathrooms.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Absolutely beautiful park and splash pad!”

Nice park with lots of activities. Well maintained and clean,nice view from the hill.🚴‍♂️☮😷

★★★★★ — Jeff , Jun 2021

Pleasant Hill has done an amazing job with this park. It has a great shelter, super clean, ample water fountains & shade, nice playgrounds, and pristine bathrooms. We enjoyed the small trail that connects the ball fields to the shelter area.

★★★★★ — Ryan , Jul 2022

I like this park. It has baseball fields, which I like to play at. They have a soccer area, tennis. There is a playground. It also has a wooded trail to adventure through. It's clean.

★★★★★ — Miss , Sep 2022

Great little park for kiddos. We love going there for my nephews ball games. Always clean and tidey. Awesome place to just take a walk also. You should try it.

★★★★★ — Heather , May 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 125 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 5 mentions

“Shelter was next to a playground with restrooms close and yet it was offset from the other places so it kept the playground from being over crowded with people not from our group.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“Well maintained and clean,nice view from the hill.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“The shelter behind the playground is on top of the hill and is cool and breezy even on a hot day.”

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🚰 Water fountains

“It has a great shelter, super clean, ample water fountains & shade, nice playgrounds, and pristine bathrooms.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

“Very nice playground area, parking was good.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Doanes Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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, water — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitepleasanthilliowa.org
  • Phone(515) 262-9368

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 Doanes Park

4900 Doanes Park Rd, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327

Get directions

Running trails near Pleasant Hill

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

Sunrise Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 80 reviews

Pleasant Hill, IA

Shaded

Clean playground with swings plus soccer fields at a grassy neighborhood park.

under a mile away

Copper Creek Lake Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 652 reviews

Pleasant Hill, IA

22 miPavedLitScenic

Large park with a lake for fishing & boating, a playground, a picnic/grill pavilion & forest trails.

1.3 miles away

Hickory Glen Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 15 reviews

Pleasant Hill, IA

Lit

2.3 miles away

Strasser Woods State Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 68 reviews

Des Moines, IA

1 miShadedDog-friendly

City-area nature preserve offering hiking and walking trails through woods, with a creek.

2.3 miles away

Carl Voss Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Des Moines, IA

3.2 miles away

Brook Run Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 84 reviews

Des Moines, IA

Small, clean, family-friendly park offering various playground bits and swings along with picnic tables to have a meal.

3.2 miles away

All running trails in Pleasant Hill, IA →

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.