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Ruth Park Nature Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 30 Google reviews · Running trail in St. Louis, Missouri · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- 24 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Ruth Park Nature Trail'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.
What runners say about Ruth Park Nature Trail
“The trails are beautifully shaded (which is great when it's a hot Missouri day), with trails perfect for walking your dog or taking your little ones.”
“This is a quiet, almost secret park that I've been going to since I was little.”
Loved this trail! The most beautiful small forest feels like a getaway! The only thing is the construction at one point on the trail is an eye sore. Can't wait for them to finish.
Well-maintained, dirt and gravel path. Very shady. We enjoyed the short hike even though temperatures were over 90. (We used neighborhood street parking across from the trail.)
Trail is nice and shaded, so it's great even if it's a hot summer day. A few hills but not too harsh. I will go back for sure.
Riparian forest area featuring gravel and dirt trails with some great habitat restoration work completed by volunteers over the past several years. The battle is far from over, but there is now some excellent wildflower and wildlife viewing to be had along the way.
Trail conditions & character
“The trails are beautifully shaded (which is great when it's a hot Missouri day), with trails perfect for walking your dog or taking your little ones.”
“The trails are beautifully shaded (which is great when it's a hot Missouri day), with trails perfect for walking your dog or taking your little ones.”
“This is a quiet, almost secret park that I've been going to since I was little.”
“Shaded, quiet, paved trails and un-paved trails.”
“Riparian forest area featuring gravel and dirt trails with some great habitat restoration work completed by volunteers over the past several years.”
“(We used neighborhood street parking across from the trail.”
Plan your run at Ruth Park Nature Trail
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
- Distance24 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- 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.
- Websiteucitymo.org
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 | 8 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–8 pm |
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