HomeIowaCedar Falls › Washington Park

Washington Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 94 Google reviews · Running trail in Cedar Falls, Iowa · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Washington 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.

1 miScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsQuiet

A bike trail surrounds this riverfront park with a ball field, open grassy areas & play equipment.

What runners say about Washington Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (94 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Very nice place to walk dogs and enjoy the beautiful trees and lake.”

Lovely park created after flooding over the years reclaimed a 9 hole golf course back to a no hole golf coarse. Connected to trail system that can take you basically anywhere you want to go in CF LOO metro. 1 mile loop within park. 6 picnic shelters. River Access. Ball diamond. Playground and seasonal restrooms.

★★★★★ — D , Oct 2024

A nice Playground for kids and a trail going around the entire park. Its an amazing place for walking your dog(s). Bench's around the trails that overlook an amazing view of the lake. There are gazebos and picnic areas scattered around. Some bad graffiti on the trail tho.

★★★★☆ — Reviewer , Jun 2024

Nice park with plenty of open space, nice trails connected to the rest of the Cedar Valley trail system and even a couple of areas for picnics and playground equipment for the kids. Kind of a hidden place you wouldn’t know was there if just driving by.

★★★★★ — Tim , Aug 2023

A nice park in Cedar Falls, IA. It has a bike path around the boarder of the park that is about 1 mile long. Baseball fields, lots of open space to fly a kite, 1 playground, several picnic shelters. Only 1 bathroom facility.

★★★★☆ — Chris , Jul 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 94 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 10 mentions

“Bench's around the trails that overlook an amazing view of the lake.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Good place for picnic, walk your dogs, throw some balls or just simply taking a hike.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Very nice fairly quiet little park along the Cedar River not far from downtown Cedar Falls!”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Playground and seasonal restrooms.”

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Plan your run at Washington Park

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
  • 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.
  • Websitecedarfalls.com
  • Phone+1 319-273-8636
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–10:30 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10:30 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10:30 pm
Thursday 6 am–10:30 pm
Friday 6 am–10:30 pm
Saturday 6 am–10:30 pm
Sunday 6 am–10:30 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 Washington Park

598 E 9th St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

Get directions

Running trails near Cedar Falls

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

Gateway Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 179 reviews

Cedar Falls, IA

LitScenic

Expansive park boasting a lake for swimming and fishing, plus trails for walking and biking.

under a mile away

Pfeiffer Springs Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 271 reviews

Cedar Falls, IA

PavedLitScenicDog-friendly

Riverside park with ball fields & courts, a playground, sheltered picnic tables & walking paths.

under a mile away

Tourist Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 95 reviews

Cedar Falls, IA

This 10-acre recreation area on the Cedar River has an 18-hole disc golf course & a picnic shelter.

under a mile away

Lookout Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 168 reviews

Cedar Falls, IA

PavedScenic

Modest grassy area overlooking the Cedar River with picnic shelters & a playground.

under a mile away

Big Woods Lake Recreation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 394 reviews

Cedar Falls, IA

PavedScenic

Lake with opportunities for disc golf, picnicking, and fishing, plus paved bike trails and a kid-friendly hike.

1.2 miles away

Hartman Reserve Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 481 reviews

Cedar Falls, IA

PavedScenic

Sprawling outdoor preserve with paved & unpaved paths, scenic lakes & an interpretative center.

1.4 miles away

All running trails in Cedar Falls, IA →

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.