HomeOregonHermiston › Hat Rock State Park

Hat Rock State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 480 Google reviews · Running trail in Hermiston, Oregon · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Hat Rock State 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.

MixedScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADARestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Lakeside park with boating, swimming, hiking, biking & a fishing pond amid arid sagebrush hills.

What runners say about Hat Rock State Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (480 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Bathrooms are clean and parking is plentiful.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“It’s such a beautiful, peaceful place with the Columbia River, a small pond, open grassy fields, and walking trails that are easy to enjoy for all ages.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“It’s such a beautiful, peaceful place with the Columbia River, a small pond, open grassy fields, and walking trails that are easy to enjoy for all ages.”

One of those truly magical places. It is still basically wild but has a ton of history and some serious variety of nature. There is recently a suspected arson fire that destroyed quite a bit of wilderness but it's already regenerating just like it should.

★★★★★ — Nathan , Jul 2023

Great place to stop for a restroom, shade and short hike on gravel path. Lots of paved parking and no entry fee. Could be a good place for a multi-vehicle group to meet and share a picnic meal.

★★★★☆ — Jennifer , Aug 2023

I'm always amazed at the caliber of Oregon's state park system. Every park, whether it be designating or maintaining, really showcases the insane variety and beauty of our state. And they have done it again with Hat Rock. As a long time Oregonian I had no idea this place existed.

★★★★★ — Stanley , Jan 2020

Nice stop wile driving out east. The park itself has a lot going on from a picnic area, short hikes and a fishing area. Bathrooms are clean and parking is plentiful.

★★★★★ — Scott , Jun 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 480 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 10 mentions

“It’s such a beautiful, peaceful place with the Columbia River, a small pond, open grassy fields, and walking trails that are easy to enjoy for all ages.”

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🚻 Restrooms 6 mentions

“Great place to stop for a restroom, shade and short hike on gravel path.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 6 mentions

“It’s such a beautiful, peaceful place with the Columbia River, a small pond, open grassy fields, and walking trails that are easy to enjoy for all ages.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“I did the hike from the Lewis and Clark trailhead Up to hat rock.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Went for first time with my wife and our dog.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Lots of paved parking and no entry fee.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

“Great place to stop for a restroom, shade and short hike on gravel path.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Hat Rock State Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • 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 — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteoregonstateparks.org
  • Phone(800) 551-6949
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–9 PM
Thursday 7 AM–9 PM
Friday 7 AM–9 PM
Saturday 7 AM–9 PM
Sunday 7 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 Hat Rock State Park

Hat Rock Rd, Hermiston, OR 97838

Get directions

Running trails near Hermiston

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

Lewis and Clark Commemorative Trail Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 11 reviews

Hermiston, OR

1.5 miles away

Butte Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 618 reviews

Hermiston, OR

PavedLitScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a playground and a spray park, as well as a dog park.

7.7 miles away

McKenzie Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 251 reviews

Hermiston, OR

PavedLitScenic

7.7 miles away

Oxbow Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 10 reviews

Hermiston, OR

5 miLoopPavedLit

8.1 miles away

Harrison Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 70 reviews

Hermiston, OR

PavedLitDog-friendly

Park with a trail for biking, running, and walking, plus some off-road paths.

8.6 miles away

Riverfront Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 463 reviews

Hermiston, OR

LoopShadedScenicDog-friendly

Sprawling riverfront park featuring a playground and trails for walking, jogging and biking.

9.3 miles away

All running trails in Hermiston, OR →

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.