Home › Minnesota › Cottage Grove › Highlands Park
Highlands Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 279 Google reviews · Running trail in Cottage Grove, Minnesota · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Highlands 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.
Park with a baseball & soccer fields, 2 tennis courts, 3 basketball courts & an ice-skating rink.
What runners say about Highlands Park
“Good clean park with alot of different variations for outdoor activities.”
“Not a ton of shade, though, except for a grassy spot or on the picnic tables.”
Perfect for kids. It has a splash pad, covered seating, and a park down the path. They offer movie at night in the summer too.
It looks pleasant. Trails a splash pad across the street and benches around the pond.
I love how big the splash pad is, and I love that there are three different sections that are all next to each other. Of course, the big kids still come over to play in the more toddler friendly section, but I feel they do it less since there is plenty for the big kids to do in the other sections.
Great park with lots of open grass. There is a nice walking trail as well connecting to a nearby development. The playground is a ways away from the parking lot, which is really nice so you can really let the kids run without worrying about them accidentally heading towards cars.
Trail conditions & character
“Not a ton of shade, though, except for a grassy spot or on the picnic tables.”
“Highlands Park has large open spaces with paved paths, basketball courts, and a pond with a small paddleboat.”
Plan your run at Highlands 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Websitecottagegrovemn.gov
- Phone+1 651-459-1295
- Social Instagram
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–10:30 pm |
Running trails near Cottage Grove
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
West Draw Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 67 reviews
Bike park offering tracks with different ability levels, plus picnic areas and a playground.
Cottage Grove Bike Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 187 reviews
Recreational spot featuring a pump track, skills area, and jump lines for bikers.
Camel's Hump Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 45 reviews
City park offering a paved trail and benches, plus scenic views of a valley and river.
Hamlet Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 305 reviews
Large recreational area featuring ball fields, a skate park and a playground.