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Riverfront Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 334 Google reviews · Running trail in Lawrence, Kansas · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Riverfront 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.

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADAFlat & fastRestroomsTrailhead parking

Clean park featuring disc golf and river views, plus trails for hiking and biking.

What runners say about Riverfront Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (334 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Nice walking park with multiple well kept trails along the river.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“It seems like a great place to take your dog off leash and walk around, but be prepared to bring bug spray in the summer because the mosquitoes are pretty bad.”

Riverfront Park is a pretty cool place to chill out for a while, have a picnic, get some photography done or just go for a hike. There’s a golf area over there if you’re into that, but it’s just a good area in northern Lawrence to just escape.

★★★★★ — Brandon , Apr 2024

I hit up all the dog park in LFK me and my boy Rufus and I love this one for secluded. Morning walks to sit and drink and cup of coffee and have a smoke in the morning and jusy sit and enjoy nature

★★★★★ — Steven , Mar 2018

Good beginner mountain biking here. Trail is nice. View is good. Usually enough people that u feel safe but not so many it's crowded at all.

★★★★☆ — Mike , Dec 2017

Great place to take the pups off leash. Not nearly as large as the mutt run at Clinton Lake. Lots of poison ivy!

★★★★☆ — Michael , Sep 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 334 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 11 mentions

“It seems like a great place to take your dog off leash and walk around, but be prepared to bring bug spray in the summer because the mosquitoes are pretty bad.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“Good views and trails just a short drive from mass street.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“I think they have a porta potty for a bathroom, and I think there's a place to sit and eat.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“The water level was high.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack

“One of my favorite spots in town when I am wanting to get back to my roots and enjoy nature.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

“There’s plenty of parking there and you can definitely have some alone time while still being in the outskirts of a college town.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Riverfront Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • 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 trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitelawrenceks.org
  • Phone(785) 832-3450
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–8 PM
Thursday 8 AM–8 PM
Friday 8 AM–8 PM
Saturday 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday 10 AM–4 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 Riverfront Park

1594 N 3rd St, Lawrence, KS 66044

Get directions

Running trails near Lawrence

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

Lawrence Loop Trail

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Burcham Park

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City park with a playground, trail & view of the Kansas River plus a preserved cottonwood forest.

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Lawrence River Trails

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9 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Popular cycling and hiking spot, with river views (and boat ramps).

2.2 miles away

Lawrence Riverfront Park MB Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 60 reviews

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LoopNatural surfaceDog-friendly

Park with trails for walking and biking.

2.3 miles away

Burroughs Creek Park

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Clean park featuring a kids' playground, a splash pad and a trail.

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Roth Trailhead

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PavedScenicDog-friendly

Public hiking area providing kid-friendly trails, birding opportunities, and a restroom.

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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.