HomeMinnesotaSt Cloud › Hester Park

Hester Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 313 Google reviews · Running trail in St Cloud, Minnesota · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Hester 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.

Open 24hShadedScenicStroller / ADAHillyQuiet

Park featuring a playground and picnic tables, plus areas for walking and sledding.

What runners say about Hester Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (313 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Beautiful park in the middle of St.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“The trees also provide nice shade and there are a couple picnic tables as well.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“This is a great place I love to go fishing there the trails are great for walking very peaceful a lot of Wildlife.”

It's a great park..open..trees for shade..but for the life of me I can't figure out why park users have to park on the opposite side of 7th ave and then have to cross wish children..baby strollers etc. Why not rethink this crazy idea and let park users park on the park side...

★★★★☆ — Paul , Aug 2019

Nice little park for families. Basketball & tennis courts. Near walking path leading to Beaver Island walking trail. Along the Mississippi River with nice views. Quiet, safe neighborhood.

★★★★★ — Julianne , Sep 2021

Hester park is a favorite of mine with gentle rolling hills and storybook like stonework walkways and small bridge. It overlooks the Mississippi and offers a nice view.

★★★★☆ — Karen , Aug 2020

Great hills for sledding and we even did a little snow boarding! Plus they have stairs for getting back up the hill if you need it and benches at the top of the hill!

★★★★★ — Lilly , Jan 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 313 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 11 mentions

“Great river view, wading pool, walking trails, playground, and more”

More trails like this →

⛰️ Hills / elevation 9 mentions

“Hester park is a favorite of mine with gentle rolling hills and storybook like stonework walkways and small bridge.”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“This is a great place I love to go fishing there the trails are great for walking very peaceful a lot of Wildlife.”

More trails like this →

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“The trees also provide nice shade and there are a couple picnic tables as well.”

More trails like this →

Stroller / ADA accessible

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Hester Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteci.stcloud.mn.us
  • Phone+1 320-257-5959

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Hester Park

St Cloud, Minnesota

Get directions

Running trails near St Cloud

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

Wilson Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 549 reviews

St Cloud, MN

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Open park featuring a playground and a sand volleyball court, plus a dog park.

under a mile away

Northway Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 29 reviews

St Cloud, MN

1.1 miles away

Southside Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 181 reviews

Sauk Rapids, MN

PavedScenic

Small park along the Mississippi River offering 2 fishing piers & a paved trail with water views.

1.1 miles away

Lake George/Eastman Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,716 reviews

St Cloud, MN

Scenic

Clean park at the city's center featuring a lake, hiking paths and playgrounds.

1.2 miles away

Lions Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 4 reviews

Sauk Rapids, MN

1.2 miles away

Sauk River Regional Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 173 reviews

St Cloud, MN

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Park with dog-friendly hiking and biking trails, some of which offer views of the Sauk River.

1.7 miles away

All running trails in St Cloud, MN →

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.