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Soper's Mill

4.5 ★★★★★ 45 Google reviews · Running trail in Ames, Iowa · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Soper's Mill'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.

Dog-friendlyTrailhead parkingQuiet

What runners say about Soper's Mill

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (45 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Nice place very quiet there.”

Fun place to go hiking if you can find it. There really isn't a parking area for the hiking area but I think most people fish here and hike off the rest stop on the 35. The suspension bridge was out so it was a good thing we came from the south and just did a little loop.

★★★★☆ — Melissa , Aug 2017

Awesome hike that ranges from a mile to more, depending on how you meander the path, also a river to the side for kayaking. Very shaded path and pretty easy trail. Recommended for everyone!

★★★★★ — Spikeyduy , Jul 2020

Nice little park. Walking path. Planning on kayaking this year on the creek

★★★★☆ — De , Dec 2021

Parking Very limited but it's a great spot to hike, view river, and appreciate nature.

★★★★★ — Brittney , May 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 45 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“There really isn't a parking area for the hiking area but I think most people fish here and hike off the rest stop on the 35.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Nice place very quiet there.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly

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Plan your run at Soper's Mill

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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 — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitemycountyparks.com
  • Phone+1 515-232-2516

Hours

Monday 5 am–10:30 pm
Tuesday 5 am–10:30 pm
Wednesday 5 am–10:30 pm
Thursday 5 am–10:30 pm
Friday 5 am–10:30 pm
Saturday 5 am–10:30 pm
Sunday 5 am–10:30 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 Soper's Mill

56501 170th St, Ames, IA 50010

Get directions

Running trails near Ames

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

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Ada Hayden Heritage Park

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ScenicDog-friendly

Park with a fishing lake, hiking & biking trails, picnic shelter & wetlands for bird-watching.

3.4 miles away

Izaak Walton League Park

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Inis Grove Park

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Large recreation area with basketball & tennis courts, picnic pavilions, playgrounds & trails.

4.5 miles away

North River Valley Park

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Scenic

Public park offering rental picnic pavilions, BBQ grills, horseshoes pits & sand volleyball courts.

4.9 miles away

All running trails in Ames, IA →

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.