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Oakdale Nature Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 455 Google reviews · Running trail in Oakdale, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Oakdale Nature Preserve'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.

PavedLoopScenicDog-friendlyWater

Scenic, wooded park featuring trails for walking & biking, plus courts for tennis & basketball.

What runners say about Oakdale Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (455 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Clean bathrooms, beautiful kids room with books to read little ones and animals related learning exhibits and touchable objects.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Clean bathrooms, beautiful kids room with books to read little ones and animals related learning exhibits and touchable objects.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Artists of all ages, and mixed media, have displayed their work here.”

The vernal pools were beautiful under a soft spring sky. Deer roamed peacefully all over the park and the fungi were abundant. My only disappointment is that the paved paths are too worn for a scooter visit this summer with the kids.

★★★★★ — Nick , Jun 2025

Very clean and cool place to walk and hike. Waterviews and even a small park too for the kiddos. Flowers and lots of greenery as well. Not too long of a hike either. Many different routes to take too. Workout stations around too.

★★★★★ — Shane , Jun 2024

Two easy paved loops with unpaved trails off the southern loop. Lots of wildlife. If you are a birder bring binoculars; lots of waterfowl and woodland birds.

★★★★★ — Carrie , Nov 2021

Very nice long trails for you to walk. The bridge down the middle dividing the pond is very nice looking. A lot of short pads as well so you can make any sort of length loop that you want. Parking is easy. The building is open, even right now during the Coronavirus time.

★★★★★ — Charles , Aug 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 455 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 8 mentions

“Long trails, nature-friendly art, exercise equipment, lots of animals and a great mixture of paved trails and rougher paths”

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🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“Clean bathrooms, beautiful kids room with books to read little ones and animals related learning exhibits and touchable objects.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“there are also exercise areas arpund the trails and some boxes with extra bags for walking your dog.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“A lot of short pads as well so you can make any sort of length loop that you want.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at Oakdale Nature Preserve

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.
  • At the trailheadwater — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteci.oakdale.mn.us
  • Phone(651) 747-3860
  • Social Instagram

Hours

Monday 6 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–10 PM
Thursday 6 AM–10 PM
Friday 6 AM–10 PM
Saturday 6 AM–10 PM
Sunday 6 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 Oakdale Nature Preserve

4444 Hadley Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

Get directions

Running trails near Oakdale

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

Goose Pond Park

3.9 ★★★★☆ 43 reviews

Oakdale, MN

under a mile away

Northdale Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 72 reviews

Oakdale, MN

Park featuring soccer and baseball fields plus a playground and picnic tables.

under a mile away

Oakfield Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 46 reviews

Oakdale, MN

under a mile away

Prairie Trails Park

3.5 ★★★★☆ 2 reviews

Oakdale, MN

under a mile away

Southwood Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 79 reviews

North St Paul, MN

Modest nature park featuring trails for hiking.

1.1 miles away

Bethke Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 12 reviews

Oakdale, MN

1.8 miles away

All running trails in Oakdale, 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.