Home › Iowa › Des Moines › Strasser Woods State Preserve
Strasser Woods State Preserve
4.4 ★★★★☆ 68 Google reviews · Running trail in Des Moines, Iowa · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- 1 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Strasser Woods State Preserve'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.
City-area nature preserve offering hiking and walking trails through woods, with a creek.
What runners say about Strasser Woods State Preserve
Great place to snow shoe from! Small preserve with some hills and then easy access to 4 mile creek
Nice spot in the city to go back to nature for a short hike. We use it to help the kids adjust to hiking with a weighted pack. Good for Mom and Dad after a lazy winter as well.
Such a short path(less than a mile) but what a work out for this old lady
This place was a pleasant surprise. 40 acres within the city of Des Moines. I arrived by way of University and kept driving north. Small parking area. Very nice trail in the woods. I saw many deer that day. It was warm that day I visited but the shade from the trees in the woods there felt very cool and comfortable.
Trail conditions & character
“Only downsides are the mosquitos in season, not the best maintained trail (which could be a good thing for some hikers) and the limited parking could be an issue.”
“It was warm that day I visited but the shade from the trees in the woods there felt very cool and comfortable.”
“But there must be some new visitors or nearby residents with dogs the size of horses who leave giant turds💩 ALL OVER the trail.”
Plan your run at Strasser Woods State Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- Distance1 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitepolkcountyiowa.gov
- Phone(515) 432-2235
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Des Moines
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Copper Creek Lake Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 652 reviews
Large park with a lake for fishing & boating, a playground, a picnic/grill pavilion & forest trails.
Sargent Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 185 reviews
Family-friendly park offering a playground, splash pad and climbing structures.
Brook Run Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 84 reviews
Small, clean, family-friendly park offering various playground bits and swings along with picnic tables to have a meal.
Doanes Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 125 reviews
Ample open space featuring baseball, tennis, soccer and basketball courts, plus a playground.
Sunrise Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 80 reviews
Clean playground with swings plus soccer fields at a grassy neighborhood park.
Carl Voss Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 14 reviews