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Waldo's Rock Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 214 Google reviews · Running trail in Marion, Iowa · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Waldo's Rock 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.
Park featuring a glacial boulder, plus a manmade pond and paved bike trail.
What runners say about Waldo's Rock Park
““Beautiful and peaceful walking path with a stunning, massive rock that’s perfect for photos, all set beside a lovely lake.”
““Beautiful and peaceful walking path with a stunning, massive rock that’s perfect for photos, all set beside a lovely lake.”
This little park and pond are a hidden gem. To clarify, it is located a little off the beaten path and the entrance is difficult to discern when driving along the road. Once there you park in a relatively small parking lot (always been spots open) which has an outhouse on the perimeter.
“Beautiful and peaceful walking path with a stunning, massive rock that’s perfect for photos, all set beside a lovely lake. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great spot to take a walk!” —Chloe
Great park at the end of the paved portion of the Grant Wood trail. I always park at the Can shed and run my dogs here and back. It is a good distance for them when it's hot and slopes are very mild when they are pulling with their harnesses.
Simply park with a big rock. Benches, windmill, frogs, bike parking, restored grassland, sunfish in a man made pond, sitting area, big rock, and grilling station. Access to the Grant Wood Trail system. Basic and simple.
Trail conditions & character
““Beautiful and peaceful walking path with a stunning, massive rock that’s perfect for photos, all set beside a lovely lake.”
““Beautiful and peaceful walking path with a stunning, massive rock that’s perfect for photos, all set beside a lovely lake.”
“Great park at the end of the paved portion of the Grant Wood trail.”
“Benches, windmill, frogs, bike parking, restored grassland, sunfish in a man made pond, sitting area, big rock, and grilling station.”
Plan your run at Waldo's Rock Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitewaldos-rock-park.edan.io
- Phone+1 319-447-3580
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 |
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