HomeVirginiaRoanoke › Happy Hollow Gardens Park

Happy Hollow Gardens Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 208 Google reviews · Running trail in Roanoke, Virginia · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Happy Hollow Gardens 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.

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parkingQuiet

Park featuring a boardwalk and trails through blooming azaleas.

What runners say about Happy Hollow Gardens Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (208 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Totalling about 2 miles, these well-maintained paths offer varying levels of difficulty, but none are strenuous, and most can accommodate a stroller.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 13 mentions

“It is simply a beautiful and ambient oasis for tranquility in the middle of the urban hustle and bustle, for resting and resetting the mind and connecting with people who matter.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 8 mentions

“A Serene Escape From the moment I stepped into Happy Hollow Gardens Park, I was enveloped in a natural oasis that seemed a world away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.”

A Serene Escape From the moment I stepped into Happy Hollow Gardens Park, I was enveloped in a natural oasis that seemed a world away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

★★★★★ — Smooth , Apr 2024

Photos are from May 2021; The trail has areas of incline (beyond the flowers) The drive up the mountain is very beautiful just be prepared for an extremely windy drive.

★★★★☆ — Mm , Jul 2021

A curvy, slow drive outside Roanoke to this park, which has nice walking trails and some azalea clusters that we fortunately caught in bloom on Apr 24. Parking is somewhat limited. If we had not caught the azaleas in bloom this park would be nice but not exceptional.

★★★★☆ — Paul , Apr 2025

I had learned several days earlier that this place existed and that it had a boardwalk going through azaleas. Wet weather delayed us from our first opportunity, but the weather was excellent the next day, Saturday. We had been concerned the place might be crowded.

★★★★★ — Alan , Apr 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 208 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 14 mentions

“It is simply a beautiful and ambient oasis for tranquility in the middle of the urban hustle and bustle, for resting and resetting the mind and connecting with people who matter.”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 8 mentions

“A Serene Escape From the moment I stepped into Happy Hollow Gardens Park, I was enveloped in a natural oasis that seemed a world away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“The small parking area was a bit crowded, but there were still a few places to park.”

More trails like this →

⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“Photos are from May 2021; The trail has areas of incline (beyond the flowers) The drive up the mountain is very beautiful just be prepared for an extremely windy drive.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Dogs are allowed but narrow walking paths and trails so you have to keep them on a short leash.”

More trails like this →

🪵 Boardwalk 2 mentions

“I had learned several days earlier that this place existed and that it had a boardwalk going through azaleas.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Happy Hollow Gardens Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • 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
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteroanokecountyparks.com
  • Phone+1 540-387-6078
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 am–8 pm
Tuesday 8 am–8 pm
Wednesday 8 am–8 pm
Thursday 8 am–8 pm
Friday 8 am–8 pm
Saturday 8 am–8 pm
Sunday 8 am–8 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 Happy Hollow Gardens Park

6697 Mt Chestnut Rd, Roanoke, VA 24018

Get directions

Running trails near Roanoke

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

Poor Mountain Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 172 reviews

Roanoke, VA

4 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

A series of looping mountain trails leading to scenic overlooks , waterfalls and a stream.

1.2 miles away

Salem Rotary Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 271 reviews

Salem, VA

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

Peaceful recreation area offering swimming, fishing, a walking trail and picnics.

3.4 miles away

Starkey Swamp

4.8 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

Cave Spring, VA

Boardwalk

3.9 miles away

Green Hill Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,236 reviews

Salem, VA

PavedScenic

Expansive park with an open field, riverfront area, walking trails, picnic shelters & playgrounds.

4.0 miles away

Pawpaw Trail

5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Salem, VA

4.1 miles away

Riverside Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 26 reviews

Salem, VA

4.2 miles away

All running trails in Roanoke, VA →

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.