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Southwestway Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,291 Google reviews · Running trail in Indianapolis, Indiana · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Southwestway 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.
Large wooded park with designated trails for mountain biking, hiking & horseback riding.
What runners say about Southwestway Park
“A gorgeous 67 degrees w blue skies and sunshine warrant a walk outside even if it's only for a couple of hours!”
“The trails are worn, but not well marked, so you will need a hiking app on your phone to find your way around.”
I really like visiting Southwestway Park for mountain biking but there are trails for all types of users. Trails are pretty well marked and range from horse only to shared use to bike only.
For hiking and trails on the southside of Indy, it doesn't get much better than Southwestway. Trails are hilly and great for running, bikers seem to love it here, met some awesome people many times along the way. Fun to see horses and plenty of wildlife here.
Doesn’t look like much from the parking area but we had a great walk through the woods. I really enjoyed the beautiful spring flowers all along the path and the songs of birds and frogs. I’m looking forward to going often. The paths are rustic and up and down hills but it was a beautiful day and a great experience.
Great for your lowkey hike. The area surrounding the park is nothing special and the actual park area which includes a playground, baseball fields and other parking areas is run down. There is also a big recycling dumpster on the property. OTHERWISE, the dirt/gravel trail system was great.
Trail conditions & character
“Trails are hilly and great for running, bikers seem to love it here, met some awesome people many times along the way.”
“The area surrounding the park is nothing special and the actual park area which includes a playground, baseball fields and other parking areas is run down.”
“A gorgeous 67 degrees w blue skies and sunshine warrant a walk outside even if it's only for a couple of hours!”
“Gets muddy closer to river after a lot of rain.”
“The trails are worn, but not well marked, so you will need a hiking app on your phone to find your way around.”
Plan your run at Southwestway Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- 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, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websiteparks.indy.gov
- Phone(317) 327-7275
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Running trails near Indianapolis
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Glenns Valley Nature Park
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Northwest Park Annex
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Independence Park
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Kid-friendly and clean park for kids of all ages via swings and slides.
Echo Hollow Nature Park
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210 acres of woodlands with a fishing pond, picnic area, hiking trails & wildlife viewing.
Northwest Park
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Quiet park with playgrounds and walking trails for dogs and children.
