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Root River Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 202 Google reviews · Running trail in Rochester, Minnesota · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 2 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Root River 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.
Park featuring picnic areas with grills and fire pits, a skate park, and scenic trails.
What runners say about Root River Park
“This park has well maintained trails with beautiful scenery, great areas along the river for picnics, and lots of wildlife and flowers.”
“This park has well maintained trails with beautiful scenery, great areas along the river for picnics, and lots of wildlife and flowers.”
This is a beautiful, very well maintained park. Trails go down to the river and cliffs which is all pretty cool.
It's like a mini White Water State Park! It has a 2 mile trail going down to a trout stream with amazing cliffs and several scenic overlooks on the way down. There are several picnic tables with a couple fire pits and a grill and a handicap accessible porta-potty. I was so excited to see the grills!
Beautiful field of wildflowers. However, no dogs allowed! I didn't know & brought mine for some hiking.
This park has well maintained trails with beautiful scenery, great areas along the river for picnics, and lots of wildlife and flowers. The loop is ~2 miles and brings you back to the small parking lot. It was not very busy at all when my wife and I went.
Trail conditions & character
“This park has well maintained trails with beautiful scenery, great areas along the river for picnics, and lots of wildlife and flowers.”
“Two mile loop was gorgeous and we loved the phone to recall memories of those who have passed.”
“The sign at the parking lot appears to be outdated, so don’t be alarmed.”
“There are several picnic tables with a couple fire pits and a grill and a handicap accessible porta-potty.”
Plan your run at Root River 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
- Loop distance2 mi back to where you parked
- 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.
- Websiteolmstedcounty.gov
- Phone(507) 328-7070
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–10 PM |
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