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Meadow Valley Park & Dog Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 182 Google reviews · Running trail in Washington, Illinois · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Meadow Valley Park & Dog 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 24hShadedDog-friendlyRestroomsWater

Park with swings, slides, picnic areas, water pumps and a playground, including a 'tall' one.

What runners say about Meadow Valley Park & Dog Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (182 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“The small and large dog areas are a large size and the trails to walk are clean with a lot of hills”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Very beautiful, quite area.”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“Dog park has large fenced area with seating and shade and separate use for large and small dogs.”

Use West entrance on Ernest Street (one block from Legion Rd) to use playground and dog park. Both sides of the park have nature trail access. Playground is nice equipment meant for 5-12 years old. Dog park has large fenced area with seating and shade and separate use for large and small dogs.

★★★★☆ — Lee , Jun 2022

The small and large dog areas are a large size and the trails to walk are clean with a lot of hills

★★★★☆ — Jake , Jun 2017

Great park, plenty of space for the dogs to run around. Plenty of shade too

★★★★★ — Joe , Jul 2023

I do morning walks/runs by this park. Very beautiful, quite area. I've seen a coyote and a turkey near there while running all within a few days. So the wildlife seems to feel comfortable and thriving in the area. They keep it well mowed and picked up.

★★★★★ — James , Jun 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 182 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 40 mentions

“Nice dog park and play ground and a few walking trails nothing to hard all under a mile great place to take the kids out on a hike”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“Dog park has large fenced area with seating and shade and separate use for large and small dogs.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“I used the portable bathroom (port-a-potty) once, was rather unpleasant but that is just how those work.”

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🚰 Water fountains

“There's a porta-potty and a water pump but no drinking fountain.”

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Plan your run at Meadow Valley Park & Dog 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
  • At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitewashingtonparkdistrict.com
  • Phone(309) 444-9413
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

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 Meadow Valley Park & Dog Park

601 Ernest St, Washington, IL 61571

Get directions

Running trails near Washington

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

George Doering Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 72 reviews

Washington, IL

10 miLoopPavedDog-friendly

Quiet park featuring a playground and a 4/10-mile loop, along with a picnic area.

1.7 miles away

Washington Recreational Trail - Cummings Lane

5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews

Washington, IL

1.7 miles away

Farmdale Reservoir

4.7 ★★★★★ 213 reviews

Washington, IL

Scenic

Wooded hiking trails along with mountain bike tracks and a small jumps course.

1.9 miles away

Harry Lahood Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 155 reviews

Washington, IL

Shaded

Spacey park featuring playground equipment, a splash pad, and a basketball court.

2.3 miles away

Farmdale overlook

4.4 ★★★★☆ 8 reviews

Washington, IL

2.3 miles away

Candlewood Trail

3.8 ★★★★☆ 8 reviews

Washington, IL

2.8 miles away

All running trails in Washington, IL →

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.