Home › Iowa › Waukee › Heart of the Warrior Trail

Heart of the Warrior Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 33 Google reviews · Running trail in Waukee, Iowa · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Heart of the Warrior Trail'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.

Heart of the Warrior Trail — running trail in Waukee, IA, photo 1
Heart of the Warrior Trail — running trail in Waukee, IA, photo 2
Heart of the Warrior Trail — running trail in Waukee, IA, photo 3
WaterTrailhead parking

What runners say about Heart of the Warrior Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (33 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Overview The Heart of the Warrior Trail starts northeast of Waukee’s Centennial Park and runs east-to-west through the city. Thanks to a $125,000 REAP grant secured from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 2011, the trail now crosses Alice’s Road and connects to Clive’s Greenbelt Trail in Lions Park.

★★★★☆ — M , Jul 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 33 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.

🚰 Water fountains

“Love the have water fountain for dogs!”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Heart of the Warrior Trail

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, water — reported by runners
  • Websitewaukee.org
  • Phone+1 515-978-0007
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 am–6 pm
Tuesday 8 am–6 pm
Wednesday 8 am–6 pm
Thursday 8 am–6 pm
Friday 8 am–6 pm
Saturday 8 am–6 pm
Sunday 8 am–6 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 Heart of the Warrior Trail

Heart of the Warrior Trail, Waukee, IA 50263

Get directions

Running trails near Waukee

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

Raccoon River Valley Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 94 reviews

Waukee, IA

89 miLoopPavedLit

Park with trails that's popular for cycling, featuring picnic tables and a restroom.

1.1 miles away

Racoon River Valley Trailhead

5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Waukee, IA

1.1 miles away

Waukee Triumph Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 271 reviews

Waukee, IA

ScenicDog-friendly

Sports fields and a pond for fishing accompany a sprawling playground with tall slides and a climbing area.

1.7 miles away

Stratford Crossing Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 16 reviews

Waukee, IA

2.0 miles away

Horizon's Ridge Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 81 reviews

Urbandale, IA

Scenic

Family-friendly, grassy park featuring picnic spots, playground equipment, swings, a disc golf course and hiking trails.

2.9 miles away

Walnut Creek Regional Park

3.9 ★★★★☆ 8 reviews

Urbandale, IA

3.5 miles away

All running trails in Waukee, 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.