HomeIowaDes Moines › Ewing Park Flow Trails Trailhead

Ewing Park Flow Trails Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 52 Google reviews · Running trail in Des Moines, Iowa · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Ewing Park Flow Trails Trailhead'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.

Natural surfaceScenicTrailhead parking

What runners say about Ewing Park Flow Trails Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (52 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Best all around biking area in Des Moines -- bmx pump track, 3 great flow trails, one with many jumps as well as several singletrack trails in the woods. Well maintained by CITA with new features including two wooden burns added last month. Check it out for yourself!

★★★★★ — Jan , May 2020

Lots of fun, variety and a bit of progression. Does a fair amount of maximizing fun with the relatively small amount of vertical. The lines are well taken care of and maintained. There's a nice playground just to the East of the flow trails for the kids to play at, and about 4 miles of singletrack in the woods.

★★★★☆ — Michael , Jul 2022

Beautiful park. Awesome trails. Great vibes. Lots to do there. There is a playground for kids. Bike trails. A bike track where kids go racing on. They have a Frisby net field and lots of picnic tables or areas to do so. One of the best parks I have ever seen

★★★★★ — Gerardo , Jun 2021

Very nice views great place to chill take the dogs for a walk and kids to play loved the view did I say that lol

★★★★★ — Diowa319 , Nov 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 52 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.

🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 5 mentions

“Best all around biking area in Des Moines -- bmx pump track, 3 great flow trails, one with many jumps as well as several singletrack trails in the woods.”

More trails like this →

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“Very nice views great place to chill take the dogs for a walk and kids to play loved the view did I say that lol”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

“Hidden gem of hiking/mountain biking trails, good restrooms, good parking.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Ewing Park Flow Trails Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • 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 — reported by runners
  • Websitecentraliowatrails.com
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–9 PM
Thursday 8 AM–9 PM
Friday 8 AM–9 PM
Saturday 8 AM–9 PM
Sunday 8 AM–9 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 Ewing Park Flow Trails Trailhead

1651 E McKinley Ave, Des Moines, IA 50320

Get directions

Running trails near Des Moines

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

Ewing Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 863 reviews

Des Moines, IA

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Spacious park with playgrounds, an 18-hole disc golf course, a pond & a lilac arboretum.

under a mile away

Easter Lake Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 568 reviews

Des Moines, IA

PavedScenic

Shady lakeside park featuring a beach, playgrounds, hiking and walking trails.

1.4 miles away

Fort Des Moines Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 582 reviews

Des Moines, IA

LoopScenic

Community recreation space with large picnic shelters, a playground & trails, plus a fishing lake.

1.8 miles away

Carl Voss Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Des Moines, IA

2.1 miles away

Easter Lake Spine Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 18 reviews

Des Moines, IA

Scenic

2.1 miles away

Gray's Lake Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 2,410 reviews

Des Moines, IA

ShadedLitScenicDog-friendly

167-acre park featuring a 1.9-mi. lighted walking path around a lake with small boat rentals.

3.7 miles away

All running trails in Des Moines, 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.