HomeMinnesotaInver Grove Heights › South Valley Park

South Valley Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 235 Google reviews · Running trail in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from South Valley 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.

ShadedHillyRestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

Kid-focused recreation area, including a playground and disc golf course.

What runners say about South Valley Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (235 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Beautiful park, awesome play ground with fun swings, climbing wall, neat spin thingies and wonderful walking paths.”

I have driven by this park many times but today was the first time that I went to explore it. It seems in the last year or two that they've added a great playground area and a big nice picnic shelter. That is what caught my eye from 70th Street.

★★★★★ — Daniel , Aug 2024

I really like South valley park. I rented the shelter for my sons first birthday and it was a great idea. Reasonably priced and the shelter was nice and big. The playground there is great for little kids that can walk or climb and even the bigger kids.

★★★★★ — Michael , Oct 2019

Beautiful park, awesome play ground with fun swings, climbing wall, neat spin thingies and wonderful walking paths. Currently there are goats in the woods to go see.

★★★★★ — Phil , Jun 2025

A nice little park with playground, covered picnic area for gatherings, a big open field for sports, a sledding hill and a lot of nice hiking trails (paved and unpaved). Really likely to see some deer in here if you hike the trails in the woods. Has a skating rink in the winter as well.

★★★★★ — Todd , Dec 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 235 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.

⛰️ Hills / elevation 9 mentions

“A nice little park with playground, covered picnic area for gatherings, a big open field for sports, a sledding hill and a lot of nice hiking trails (paved and unpaved).”

More trails like this →

🚻 Restrooms 7 mentions

“Along with the cool playground, they have clean bathrooms, water fountains and picnic tables.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“Plenty of parking and shelter for rental with picnic tables and fire pit.”

More trails like this →

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“The only negative was there is no shade so it's easy to overheat on a hot day.”

More trails like this →

🚰 Water fountains

“Along with the cool playground, they have clean bathrooms, water fountains and picnic tables.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at South Valley Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • 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 trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Websiteci.inver-grove-heights.mn.us
  • Phone(651) 450-2585

Hours

Monday 6 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–10 PM
Thursday 6 AM–10 PM
Friday 6 AM–10 PM
Saturday 6 AM–10 PM
Sunday 6 AM–10 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 South Valley Park

2810 70th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Get directions

Running trails near Inver Grove Heights

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

Lions Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 200 reviews

Inver Grove Heights, MN

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Park with a fishing pier, a walking path and a dock.

under a mile away

Salem Hills Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 180 reviews

Inver Grove Heights, MN

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring trails for mountain biking, as well as a playground and tennis courts.

1.8 miles away

Vista Pines Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 22 reviews

Inver Grove Heights, MN

2.6 miles away

Marianna Ranch Trails Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 7 reviews

Inver Grove Heights, MN

2.9 miles away

Wildflower Levee Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 27 reviews

South St Paul, MN

3.3 miles away

Grandview Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 52 reviews

South St Paul, MN

PavedScenic

Well-maintained park featuring a playground, benches and an overlook of the Mississippi River as well as paved walking trails.

3.3 miles away

All running trails in Inver Grove Heights, MN →

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.