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Nicholson-Ford Nature Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 5 Google reviews · Running trail in Marshalltown, Iowa · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Nicholson-Ford Nature Area'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.

Nicholson-Ford Nature Area — running trail in Marshalltown, IA, photo 1
Paved

What runners say about Nicholson-Ford Nature Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (5 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

A nice little out of the way park to go for a walk in the Marshalltown area.

★★★★★ — User , Jan 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 5 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.

🛣️ Paved surface

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Nicholson-Ford Nature Area

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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websitemarshalltown-ia.gov
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 AM–11:30 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–11:30 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–11:30 PM
Thursday 6 AM–11:30 PM
Friday 6 AM–11:30 PM
Saturday 6 AM–11:30 PM
Sunday 6 AM–11:30 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 Nicholson-Ford Nature Area

Marshalltown, Iowa

Get directions

Running trails near Marshalltown

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

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Darwin L. Judge Park.

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All running trails in Marshalltown, IA →

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.