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Matoska Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 527 Google reviews · Running trail in White Bear Lake, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Matoska 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.

ScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Park with a picnic area, trails, beach, and boat launch, plus views of White Bear Lake.

What runners say about Matoska Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (527 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Very clean and friendly especially when I am an out of towner.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Love this park so scenic, the road you get to it from, Lake Avenue, is a one way road so you have to come in north of the park, I usually take 7th.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“It's quiet, many trees, and typically has a nice breeze off the lake.”

Love this park so scenic, the road you get to it from, Lake Avenue, is a one way road so you have to come in north of the park, I usually take 7th. Then follow lake ace to the entrance. It has a nice bathroom, boat launch (think there is a membership required for that).

★★★★★ — Heidi , Aug 2018

Matoska Park overlooks White Bear Lake and wetlands with cattails. It also has a boat launch, an architectural restroom facility with flush toilets, and a new iteration of a gazebo originally built in 1883. There is also a stone bridge connecting Matoska to Manitou, a private island.

★★★★☆ — Sandra , May 2022

Nice walking, biking trail along the lake lead to downtown White Bear lake. Has restroom but No playground.

★★★★☆ — Vanna , Apr 2026

A very nice and beautiful trail to do some walking. The path follows part of White bear lake shoreline. Very picturesque and the neighborhood has some nice houses to gawk at. Facilities like restrooms are clean (not out houses).

★★★★★ — John , Jun 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 527 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

“Love this park so scenic, the road you get to it from, Lake Avenue, is a one way road so you have to come in north of the park, I usually take 7th.”

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🚻 Restrooms 6 mentions

“It also has a boat launch, an architectural restroom facility with flush toilets, and a new iteration of a gazebo originally built in 1883.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 5 mentions

“Park features picnic tables, benches, a gazebo, access to a dog park and a walking/biking trail along the lake.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“It's quiet, many trees, and typically has a nice breeze off the lake.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“On a nice day it's hard to find parking, with a trailer or without.”

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Plan your run at Matoska 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.
  • 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.
  • Phone(651) 747-3650

Hours

Monday 7 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–10 PM
Thursday 7 AM–10 PM
Friday 7 AM–10 PM
Saturday 7 AM–10 PM
Sunday 7 AM–10 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 Matoska Park

2345 5th St, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Get directions

Running trails near White Bear Lake

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

White Bear Lake County Park

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PavedScenic

Playful place featuring a beach, playground, and boat launch.

under a mile away

1.8 miles away

Stellmacher Park

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2.2 miles away

Rotary Nature Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 131 reviews

White Bear Lake, MN

BoardwalkScenic

Park offering trails and a boardwalk across a marsh, plus picnic tables.

2.2 miles away

Tamarack Nature Center

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,371 reviews

White Bear Township, MN

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Large preserve with hiking & cross-country skiing trails, plus a play area & orienteering course.

2.2 miles away

Polar Lakes Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 224 reviews

White Bear Lake, MN

Kid-friendly playground featuring swings, slides, a soccer field and a baseball field.

2.5 miles away

All running trails in White Bear Lake, 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.