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Shoaff Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,255 Google reviews · Running trail in Fort Wayne, Indiana · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Shoaff 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.

MixedLoopShadedScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsWaterQuiet

Vast green space featuring a golf course with cart rentals, disc golf courses and playgrounds.

What runners say about Shoaff Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,255 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“The park is very clean and well maintained and also features a splash pad.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Interesting and beautiful in the middle of the city.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“The tree-lined areas, walking trails, open fields, river views, picnic spaces, and recreational options make it one of the most complete parks in the city.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“Benches are throughout the park for a peaceful zen experience with nature or taking breaks from the adventuring.”

I love this park! It makes me keep coming back. A good place to picnic, take a long walk, and a nice playground for kids.

★★★★★ — Vanessa , Sep 2022

Shoaff park offers a large green space in the heart of the city. There is a loop walking trail that takes you though the woods, along the river, baseball diamonds, and a golf course. The park is very clean and well maintained and also features a splash pad. This is a great place to take kids or your dog for a walk.

★★★★★ — Cody , Jul 2022

Great park! We love the hiking trails... They follow the river and through the woods. Interesting and beautiful in the middle of the city... We played the disc golf course today and we were really impressed! Had a great time with challenging holes and also "pro holes" through the woods (if you're that good⭐)!

★★★★★ — Kristin , Apr 2022

Lovely trails & beautiful scenery! Busy place with lots of dogs, (all on leashes). My doggo loves it there! So many squirrels to bark at & birds to chase. 🐾🥰🐾

★★★★★ — Angela , Mar 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,255 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“The tree-lined areas, walking trails, open fields, river views, picnic spaces, and recreational options make it one of the most complete parks in the city.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“Benches are throughout the park for a peaceful zen experience with nature or taking breaks from the adventuring.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“The tree-lined areas, walking trails, open fields, river views, picnic spaces, and recreational options make it one of the most complete parks in the city.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“We got out at the concrete steps just after the warning bouys.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“This is a great place to take kids or your dog for a walk.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“Well maintained trail , not muddy .”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“There is a loop walking trail that takes you though the woods, along the river, baseball diamonds, and a golf course.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“😄 They have a splash pad, drinking fountain, covered picnic area, and bathrooms (I believe they're the flushable kind).”

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🚰 Water fountains

“😄 They have a splash pad, drinking fountain, covered picnic area, and bathrooms (I believe they're the flushable kind).”

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Plan your run at Shoaff Park

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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitefortwayneparks.org
  • Phone+1 260-427-6000

Hours

Monday 6 am–11 pm
Tuesday 6 am–11 pm
Wednesday 6 am–11 pm
Thursday 6 am–11 pm
Friday 6 am–11 pm
Saturday 6 am–11 pm
Sunday 6 am–11 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 Shoaff Park

6401 St Joe Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46835

Get directions

Running trails near Fort Wayne

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

Beckett's Run Trail Head

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under a mile away

Becket's Run Trail Head

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Mengerson Nature Reserve - ACRES Land Trust

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Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

1.9 miles away

Pufferbelly Trail Head

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Pufferbelly Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 70 reviews

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PavedScenic

Paved hiking trail for biking, jogging and walking, plus playgrounds and a park.

3.7 miles away

Salomon Farm Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 446 reviews

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Scenic

Donated by the Salomon family, this working farm teaches about working conditions in the 1930s.

3.9 miles away

All running trails in Fort Wayne, IN →

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.