HomeNevadaSparks › Van Meter Park

Van Meter Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 134 Google reviews · Running trail in Sparks, Nevada · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Van Meter 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.

ShadedLit at nightDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parking

Small, family-friendly park featuring playground equipment, a basketball court and picnic tables.

What runners say about Van Meter Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (134 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“I love this little park, well maintained, lovely big trees for shade, paved path for walking.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“I love this little park, well maintained, lovely big trees for shade, paved path for walking.”

Love this park and how big it is. I only wish that it had a small enclosed area to let our dogs run.

★★★★★ — Ambrosia , Oct 2025

I love this little park, well maintained, lovely big trees for shade, paved path for walking. And if you lap it four times, you walked just a bit more than a mile.

★★★★★ — Debra , Sep 2020

It's a cute little park. It wasn't too crowded when I took my kids last weekend. I try to switch up the parks so they don't get bored. If your the type of parent that likes to be active while your kids play on the playground this is a nice place.

★★★★☆ — China , Jun 2022

This is a nice park. Walking distance to home. Basketball court. Large grassed area,lots of big shade trees. Covered picnic tables. Several benches around the park for watching your kids play on the jungle gyms, swings and slides. Small exercise course. Plastic bags available for dog droppings.

★★★★★ — Kristi , Apr 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 134 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.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“I love this little park, well maintained, lovely big trees for shade, paved path for walking.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“This is a great park to have a picnic, I often come here with my dog and a blanket and play fetch.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

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💡 Lit for night running

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at Van Meter 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitecityofsparks.us
  • Phone+1 775-353-2376
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 am–10 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 Meter Park

1300 O'Callaghan Dr, Sparks, NV 89434

Get directions

Running trails near Sparks

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

Longford Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 222 reviews

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ShadedLitDog-friendly

Relaxed spot for barbecues or picnics, this neighborhood park also features basketball courts and a playground.

under a mile away

Pah Rah Mountain Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 686 reviews

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ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Family-friendly park featuring several playgrounds, a basketball court and tennis courts.

1.1 miles away

Poulakidas Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 188 reviews

Sparks, NV

ShadedLitDog-friendly

Park with a playground and a handball court as well as grassy areas and picnic tables.

1.6 miles away

Wedekind Regional Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 79 reviews

Sparks, NV

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Local park with trails suitable for families and dogs.

2.1 miles away

Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway

4.3 ★★★★☆ 17 reviews

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Paved

2.6 miles away

Cottonwood Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 449 reviews

Sparks, NV

Dog-friendly

Long, riverfront park with picnic tables and a playground, plus bike and running trails.

2.6 miles away

All running trails in Sparks, NV →

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.