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Idlewild Road Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 757 Google reviews · Running trail in Matthews, North Carolina · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Idlewild Road 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.

ShadedScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsQuiet

1.5 miles of groomed trails lure locals to this roomy park known for its play equipment & shelters.

What runners say about Idlewild Road Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (757 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“It was nice and clean 👍🙃 Saw a person on the Disc Golf course area.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful landscape and a challenging Disc golf course named Scrapyard!”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“Nice quiet park, with lots of trees if your trying to stay shaded on a hot day!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“If you like being more isolated when you walk/jog then this is a good quiet area.”

I found a trail at this park on AllTrails and it looked nice so we decided to check it out. The beginning of the trail was really nice. It goes through a wooded area and down to the river. Then the trail suddenly becomes a disc golf course.

★★★★☆ — Jacqueline , Mar 2022

Absolutely awesome park on a very hot humid day! Heavily shaded on the play ground and the walking trail. We didn't use them but the softball field was nice and neat and ready for play.....also the sitting area around the ball field was shaded also.

★★★★☆ — Notretireing , Jul 2019

A great local park. It's kept up fairly well and relatively clean. considering how much traffic that it gets, I'm not disappointed with it's upkeep and grateful for all of the work that's been done over the years.

★★★★☆ — Aaron , Feb 2019

This is my favorite park around my area. It has plenty of swings, monkey bars, slides, small spinning chairs, a merry go round, and even a seesaw! There are plenty of trees for good shade. My son loves this park. There are even places to walk trails, and bathrooms as well.

★★★★★ — Allen , Aug 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 757 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.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 8 mentions

“Nice quiet park, with lots of trees if your trying to stay shaded on a hot day!”

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🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“Beautiful landscape and a challenging Disc golf course named Scrapyard!”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 5 mentions

“I wanted to take my dog for a walk in the wooded trails.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“If you like being more isolated when you walk/jog then this is a good quiet area.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Nice restroom facilities and lots o f playground equipment for kids to play on.”

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Plan your run at Idlewild Road Park

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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitemecknc.gov
  • Phone+1 704-336-8840

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 Idlewild Road Park

10512 Idlewild Rd, Matthews, NC 28105

Get directions

Running trails near Matthews

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

Irvins Creek Greenway

4.7 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Matthews, NC

under a mile away

Campbell Creek Greenway Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 78 reviews

Matthews, NC

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Wooded, wheelchair-accessible trail with a babbling stream that's great for hiking, running and biking.

1.9 miles away

McAlpine Creek Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 2,270 reviews

Charlotte, NC

PavedScenicDog-friendly

114-acre county park with a lake & fishing pier, soccer fields, hiking & bike trails, & a dog park.

2.2 miles away

Windsor Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 128 reviews

Matthews, NC

Shaded

Popular park featuring playgrounds, trails and a creek.

2.3 miles away

McAlpine Creek Greenway Connector

4.7 ★★★★★ 37 reviews

Charlotte, NC

Scenic

2.5 miles away

Purser-Hulsey Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 218 reviews

Matthews, NC

LoopNatural surfaceShadedDog-friendly

Hiking and biking trails featuring an enchanted forest area, plus a dog run.

2.7 miles away

All running trails in Matthews, NC →

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.