Home › Missouri › Springfield › Valley Water Mill Park
Valley Water Mill Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 926 Google reviews · Running trail in Springfield, Missouri · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Valley Water Mill 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.
Wooded area featuring a lake and trails for hiking and fishing, plus a public restroom.
What runners say about Valley Water Mill Park
“You can stay on the paved path or you can go on the trails which do have hills as well as roots and rocks on the ground but is it a beautiful hike.”
“It’s peaceful, beautiful, and close enough to home that I can go whenever I need a break from life for a bit.”
Plenty of room here to spread out and get away from the crowds. There's some sidewalk for all ages, but most of the trails are uneven with endless rock and root tripping hazards, along with numerous elevation changes. Not to be discouraging, but just be aware.
This is a nice little Springfield Park that you can walk around view wildlife. A small lake that is fed they drained if about 10 years ago. Still it's not one of the easiest places to fish at but my grandsons have caught somewhere.
Very beautiful; paved & unpaved trails, with plenty of water access to a pond & a creek. Very nice scenery with picnic tables for a nice family setting. Great place to take your dog for a wonderful walk & a cool dip in the creek!!! Nice walking bridge & this area usually has a nice breeze blowing.
Very nice park with an education center and several shaded (and sunny) trails around a man-made lake. Apparently, McCracken Mill formerly stood at the far end of the pond. There are also accessible fishing piers and shore-level fishing access points.
Trail conditions & character
“You can stay on the paved path or you can go on the trails which do have hills as well as roots and rocks on the ground but is it a beautiful hike.”
“It’s peaceful, beautiful, and close enough to home that I can go whenever I need a break from life for a bit.”
“I’ve always appreciated that at some point they took down the “no dogs — even on a leash” sign.”
“You can stay on the paved path or you can go on the trails which do have hills as well as roots and rocks on the ground but is it a beautiful hike.”
“Very nice park with an education center and several shaded (and sunny) trails around a man-made lake.”
“There's some sidewalk for all ages, but most of the trails are uneven with endless rock and root tripping hazards, along with numerous elevation changes.”
“There are also accessible fishing piers and shore-level fishing access points.”
“There's some sidewalk for all ages, but most of the trails are uneven with endless rock and root tripping hazards, along with numerous elevation changes.”
Plan your run at Valley Water Mill Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- 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 trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteparkboard.org
- Phone(417) 864-1049
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Springfield
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Doling Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 2,134 reviews
Relaxed, sprawling park offering picnic facilities, trails and an indoor pool as well as a cave.
Fulbright Spring Greenway Trail
4.2 ★★★★☆ 11 reviews
Lost Hill Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 645 reviews
Wooded park for walking, cycling and dog-walking, plus playgrounds, a creek, caves and picnic facilities.
David C. Murray Park Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 62 reviews
Kid-friendly park with creekside hikes as well as paved, wooded, riverside trails and meadows.
Sac River Mountain Bike Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 196 reviews
Park featuring various walking and biking trails.
Phelps Grove Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,637 reviews
Roomy park with mature trees, a picnic pavilion, tennis courts & playground equipment.