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Forest Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 34,419 Google reviews · Running trail in St. Louis, Missouri · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Forest 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.
Opened in 1876, this 1,300-acre park includes 3 museums, a zoo, athletic fields & golf courses.
What runners say about Forest Park
“The trails and open spaces are peaceful, well-maintained, and beautifully landscaped, which makes it easy to spend an entire day just exploring.”
“It’s huge, beautiful, and has something for everyone , walking trails, lakes, museums, golf, and so many peaceful spots to just relax.”
“The trails and open spaces are peaceful, well-maintained, and beautifully landscaped, which makes it easy to spend an entire day just exploring.”
This is a beautiful park at St Louis. Has a great walking path. Also has a large water area, where people were paddle boating. Well maintained lawn throughout to sit and relax. Would def recommend this place if you are looking for a place to relax. It also has lots of benches in shade.
Forest Park is hands down one of the best spots in St. Louis! It’s huge, beautiful, and has something for everyone , walking trails, lakes, museums, golf, and so many peaceful spots to just relax. You can spend hours here and still find something new every time.
What a tremendous asset to the People of St. Louis! We were able to have a few walks around different parts of the park during our weekend visit. Couldn't even come close to seeing it all, but really enjoyed what we did see. Definitely worth spending some of your time in St.
What a great place to spend the day! Did a 10K walk on a Sunday! Plenty of tracks, availability of restrooms and water points around the park! a lot of free attractions such as Museum and Zoo! ! It is definitely worth the visit !
Trail conditions & character
“It’s huge, beautiful, and has something for everyone , walking trails, lakes, museums, golf, and so many peaceful spots to just relax.”
“The trails and open spaces are peaceful, well-maintained, and beautifully landscaped, which makes it easy to spend an entire day just exploring.”
“Parking can get busy on weekends or during special events, but that’s a small trade-off for such a gorgeous, lively park with rich history and endless activities.”
Plan your run at Forest Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- 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
- Websiteforestparkforever.org
- Phone+1 314-367-7275
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–10 pm |
Running trails near St. Louis
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
St. Vincent Greenway Trailhead: Forest Park
5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews
Forest Park Access - Oakland
5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews
St. Vincent Greenway Trailhead: Trojan Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 309 reviews
Park with a playground, picnic tables, a splash pad, and basketball courts, plus a centralized location.