HomeCaliforniaCitrus Heights › Van Maren Park

Van Maren Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 220 Google reviews · Running trail in Citrus Heights, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Van Maren 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.

ScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsQuiet

Outdoor activity area with a playground, basketball court & picnic tables, plus a creek & trails.

What runners say about Van Maren Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (220 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“The park was clean with a few benches spread out so that guests could enjoy the natural beauty.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“The best part is the gorgeous wooden bridge that spans from the park to the garden area right behind Costco and Walmart.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“This is a nice, safe, quiet Park, with with a nice play area for kids including basketball, off to the side.”

This is a nice, safe, quiet Park, with with a nice play area for kids including basketball, off to the side. Nice trails and walking area to walk by yourselves or with your dog. No trouble. The best part is the gorgeous wooden bridge that spans from the park to the garden area right behind Costco and Walmart.

★★★★★ — Lori , Jul 2025

The Van Maren Park is beautiful. There were a few kids on their bikes, some on their skateboard and a few famlies were walking with their young children. The park was clean with a few benches spread out so that guests could enjoy the natural beauty.

★★★★★ — Barbara , Jan 2026

I love the nature trail that is next to the park, it isn't very long, but it's nice. The playground features a small structure for toddlers and a larger structure for older kids. There's also basketball hoopes, a big open field, and a shaded picnic table area.

★★★★☆ — Desiree , Sep 2018

This is one of our go-to parks. They have a playground for the smaller kids but no swings. They have a basketball court and trails that lead to residential areas. My kids enjoy walking on the bridge behind the park that leads to the Walmart on the other side.

★★★★★ — Sheng , May 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 220 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.

🐕 Dog-friendly 6 mentions

“Nice trails and walking area to walk by yourselves or with your dog.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“The best part is the gorgeous wooden bridge that spans from the park to the garden area right behind Costco and Walmart.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“This is a nice, safe, quiet Park, with with a nice play area for kids including basketball, off to the side.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“It's lacking any kind of bathrooms though which is a major let down.”

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Plan your run at Van Maren Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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 trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitesunriseparks.com
  • Phone+1 916-725-1585
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 am–7 pm
Tuesday 7 am–7 pm
Wednesday 7 am–7 pm
Thursday 7 am–7 pm
Friday 7 am–7 pm
Saturday 7 am–7 pm
Sunday 7 am–7 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 Van Maren Park

6601 Thalia Way, Citrus Heights, CA 95621

Get directions

Running trails near Citrus Heights

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

Stock Ranch Nature Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

Citrus Heights, CA

PavedDog-friendly

under a mile away

Stock Ranch Open Space

4.5 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

Citrus Heights, CA

Scenic

under a mile away

Crosswoods Community Park

3.9 ★★★★☆ 102 reviews

Citrus Heights, CA

Park featuring tennis courts, picnic tables, a playground, and a library.

under a mile away

Twin Creeks Park Site

4 ★★★★☆ 57 reviews

Citrus Heights, CA

Dog-friendly

Children will enjoy this park featuring a trail.

1.1 miles away

Brooktree Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 363 reviews

Citrus Heights, CA

PavedShadedDog-friendly

15-acre park with a playground, paved path & picnic tables, plus tennis courts & baseball fields.

1.2 miles away

Arcade Creek Park Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 698 reviews

Citrus Heights, CA

Shaded

Natural park on a creek with play & fitness equipment, trails & shaded picnic tables.

1.3 miles away

All running trails in Citrus Heights, CA →

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.