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Purgatory Park, Minnetonka Township

4.6 ★★★★★ 443 Google reviews · Running trail in Minnetonka, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Purgatory Park, Minnetonka Township'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.

MixedScenicDog-friendlyHilly

This 155-acre nature park along Purgatory Creek features paved trails, a picnic shelter & more.

What runners say about Purgatory Park, Minnetonka Township

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (443 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 maintained road/path for leashed dogs, and many trails through forty acres for unleashed dogs.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 11 mentions

“Amazing and beautiful park, nearly all dog owners are respectful and leash there dogs on paths - There are bad apples in every group ever!”

Great place to bring your well behaved dogs. While off leash dogs are allowed in certain areas of the park (be sure to check guidelines if you plan on letting your dog off leash), the park is not a fenced in. If you are looking to do walking or running, there is a well maintained outer loop trail.

★★★★★ — Zoë , May 2023

A gem of a refuge for wildlife and Urban occupants. Clean maintained road/path for leashed dogs, and many trails through forty acres for unleashed dogs. Please make the effort to bag your canines feces.

★★★★★ — Kirk , Jan 2019

Gorgeous park with lots of great paths both the maintained ones and the ones through the brush. Obviously the park is not enclosed so don't take your dog off leash unless you have great recall and voice control of them.

★★★★☆ — Chelsey , Oct 2023

I had no idea I lived so close to this beautiful place! It’s huge! And so many different trails. It’s a great place for an afternoon walk with the family, or picnic, or photo session (I’m definitely coming back with my professional camera one day). Come and enjoy this beautiful park!

★★★★★ — Noah , Apr 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 443 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 30 mentions

“Other than that , this park is good for hiking , walking , animal watching , forest exploring Also if you have a dog , your dog can Make good friend here!”

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🏞️ Scenic views 13 mentions

“Amazing and beautiful park, nearly all dog owners are respectful and leash there dogs on paths - There are bad apples in every group ever!”

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🛣️ Paved surface 5 mentions

“Some paths are narrow offshoots while main paths are either paved, sandy, or firm ground.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 3 mentions

“We went in late winter after a thaw cycle and most of the paths were either still frozen or muddy soft.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“Trails were really well maintained, and views from the top of the hill were gorgeous.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

“Great park for a walk or bike ride on paved and smooth gravel trail around the perimeter.”

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Plan your run at Purgatory Park, Minnetonka Township

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • 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.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteminnetonkamn.gov
  • Phone(952) 939-8203

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 Purgatory Park, Minnetonka Township

17315 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345

Get directions

Running trails near Minnetonka

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

Boulder Creek

4.5 ★★★★★ 27 reviews

Minnetonka, MN

under a mile away

Covington Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 41 reviews

Minnetonka, MN

1.0 miles away

Edenbrook Conservation Area

5 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

Eden Prairie, MN

Boardwalk

1.3 miles away

Birch Island Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 58 reviews

Eden Prairie, MN

Park with a playground, picnic tables, and trails, as well as clean portable toilets.

1.6 miles away

North Lotus Lake Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 53 reviews

Chanhassen, MN

LoopPavedScenic

1.7 miles away

Wilson Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 34 reviews

Minnetonka, MN

Play areas for kids, plus tennis and basketball courts at this park.

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Minnetonka, 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.