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McDowell Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 38 Google reviews · Running trail in Petaluma, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from McDowell 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.

McDowell Park — running trail in Petaluma, CA, photo 1
McDowell Park — running trail in Petaluma, CA, photo 2
McDowell Park — running trail in Petaluma, CA, photo 3
McDowell Park — running trail in Petaluma, CA, photo 4
Dog-friendlyWater

What runners say about McDowell Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (38 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Great open field to run your dog. No benches unfortunately. Has a large playground for your kids.

★★★★★ — Casey , Jul 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 38 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.

🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Great open field to run your dog.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at McDowell 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 trailheadwater — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Hours

Monday 7 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–9 PM
Thursday 7 AM–9 PM
Friday 7:30 AM–10 PM
Saturday 7 AM–9 PM
Sunday 7 AM–9 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 McDowell Park

Petaluma, California

Get directions

Running trails near Petaluma

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

Prince Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 218 reviews

Petaluma, CA

ShadedDog-friendly

Community park covering 22+ acres, with lit sports fields, a snack bar & an area for dogs.

1.1 miles away

Wiseman Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 150 reviews

Petaluma, CA

ShadedDog-friendly

1.2 miles away

Deer Creek Village Dog Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 239 reviews

Petaluma, CA

Natural surfaceShadedDog-friendly

Park with benches, fenced areas and water bowls, plus a grassy area for pups.

1.2 miles away

Petaluma River Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 22 reviews

Petaluma, CA

Dog-friendly

1.2 miles away

Petaluma Marsh

4.3 ★★★★☆ 12 reviews

Petaluma, CA

Dog-friendly

1.3 miles away

Shollenberger Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 551 reviews

Petaluma, CA

2 miLoopMixedShaded

This park with 165 acres of wetlands offers paths for walking & cycling, plus a fishing pier.

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Petaluma, CA →

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.