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Spirit River Nature Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 84 Google reviews · Running trail in Cambridge, Minnesota · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Spirit River Nature Area'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.

PavedOpen 24hScenic

Park featuring trails, picnic tables, and opportunities for fishing and swimming.

What runners say about Spirit River Nature Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (84 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Beautiful unpaved trails suitable for hiking, mountain bikes, horses, even strollers :) trails cover a wide area along the rum river.”

Wonderful treasure! Made me completely forget I was right next to the highway. Beautifully secluded. Only suggestion I have is more detailed trail signage. If I didn't have some outdoors woman skills it could be easy to get confused!

★★★★☆ — Pothead , Aug 2015

Nice place to go for kids to play at small area park. Great spot to sit on a bench to read a book or tablet. Nice view of Rum River. Nice trail to walk.

★★★★☆ — Victoria , Oct 2018

Nice place to go for a swim when it's hot. Have gatherings and barbecue food. Bike trails and walking trails. Fishing also along the river.

★★★★★ — Sarah , Aug 2023

cute little path s leading to water. I found this place seeking someplace to paint. At first walking along the paths I thought Id never find the bank I was hoping to sit on to relax and find my creativity, but then I found a spot that was just right.

★★★★★ — Matea , Sep 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 84 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 11 mentions

“Beautiful unpaved trails suitable for hiking, mountain bikes, horses, even strollers :) trails cover a wide area along the rum river.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“I actually love that so many of the trails are wide grass/dirt trails instead of paved.”

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Plan your run at Spirit River Nature Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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.
  • Websiteci.cambridge.mn.us
  • Phone(763) 689-1800

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Spirit River Nature Area

1055 2nd Ave SW, Cambridge, MN 55008

Get directions

Running trails near Cambridge

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

Cambridge City Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 486 reviews

Cambridge, MN

Scenic

City space for disc golf, swimming and fishing, as well as playgrounds and picnic tables.

under a mile away

Wood Duck Preserve

3.6 ★★★★☆ 5 reviews

Cambridge, MN

under a mile away

Peterson Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 72 reviews

Cambridge, MN

Popular spot for baseball, walking and stargazing featuring a pond.

1.1 miles away

Becklin Homestead County Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 75 reviews

Cambridge, MN

Crushed gravelScenic

Tranquil park featuring a pavilion, picnic tables and a playground, along with river access and forest trails.

2.7 miles away

Cambridge-Isanti Bike/Walk Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 16 reviews

Isanti, MN

Lit

4.9 miles away

Springvale County Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 172 reviews

Cambridge, MN

MixedScenic

Woodsy park with paths, trails and an 18-hole disc golf course for frisbee enthusiasts.

5.8 miles away

All running trails in Cambridge, 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.