HomeTexasDenison › Waterloo Park

Waterloo Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 984 Google reviews · Running trail in Denison, Texas · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Waterloo 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.

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendlyHillyRestrooms

Park offering hiking trails, picnic tables, a playground and a cave, plus lake views.

What runners say about Waterloo Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (984 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“It 2 hills that form this beautiful lush rolling hill that provides you with a secret flat picnic area neslted in the middle.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“It was very nice and shady, didn't have any problem with bugs or mosquitos (which is super weird for Texas!”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Dog friendly and easy trail, I am from Utah and chuckled at the "steep hill" sign!”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“There is a kid park and a dog park, walk behind the dog park and start the trail back there and you will be much closer to the cave!”

This place is beautiful! We loved hiking the many different trails! I will say it is difficult to know where the cave is exactly depending where you start your hike. We found a local that ended up taking us to it after hiking for an hour or so, so it all worked out.

★★★★☆ — Becca , Aug 2020

The Katy trial is nice but the trails and hills located across the paved trail near the lake is where it's at!! My husband and I call this place Little Ireland. It 2 hills that form this beautiful lush rolling hill that provides you with a secret flat picnic area neslted in the middle.

★★★★★ — Amber , Jan 2023

There are two sides to this park. On one side, you have the pond/lake with ducks, small playground, covered picnic area with several tables, canoe rentals (not often open), and a bathroom. Up the hill a little is a fountain with benches and uncovered picnic tables. If you love nature, a visit to this side is a MUST!

★★★★★ — Empress , Jun 2024

Love this place! WOW!! Bike trails, hiking trails, dog park, playgrounds, this place is fun for the entire family. Bring your own horse shoes, ping pong ball and paddles, corn hole bags, and foosball and take advantage of the free outdoor gaming area! The cave along the trail is a crowd favorite!

★★★★★ — Steve , Apr 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 984 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 11 mentions

“It 2 hills that form this beautiful lush rolling hill that provides you with a secret flat picnic area neslted in the middle.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 10 mentions

“Kayaks you can rent, hear the fishing is good, wooded side to keep out of the sun, lots of benches to sit and rest, even a perfect one at top of the hill for sunrises and sunsets.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 10 mentions

“There is a kid park and a dog park, walk behind the dog park and start the trail back there and you will be much closer to the cave!”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“Kayaks you can rent, hear the fishing is good, wooded side to keep out of the sun, lots of benches to sit and rest, even a perfect one at top of the hill for sunrises and sunsets.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“The Katy trial is nice but the trails and hills located across the paved trail near the lake is where it's at!”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“On one side, you have the pond/lake with ducks, small playground, covered picnic area with several tables, canoe rentals (not often open), and a bathroom.”

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Plan your run at Waterloo 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.
  • 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.
  • Websitedenisontx.gov
  • Phone+1 903-463-5116

Hours

Monday 5 am–11 pm
Tuesday 5 am–11 pm
Wednesday 5 am–11 pm
Thursday 5 am–11 pm
Friday 5 am–11 pm
Saturday 5 am–11 pm
Sunday 5 am–11 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 Waterloo Park

1000 Waterloo Lake Dr, Denison, TX 75020

Get directions

Running trails near Denison

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

Denison Katy Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 65 reviews

Denison, TX

1 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

Paved hiking and biking path with water fountains, benches, and a dog-friendly section.

under a mile away

Katy Trail parkrun

5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

Denison, TX

under a mile away

Texoma Health Foundation Park at Gateway Village

4.7 ★★★★★ 617 reviews

Denison, TX

Scenic

Family-friendly destination featuring baseball and soccer fields, volleyball courts and a water park area.

2.2 miles away

Eisenhower State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 3,058 reviews

Denison, TX

Natural surfaceShadedLitScenic

Scenic wooded areas & Lake Texoma are the setting for hiking, fishing, boating, camping & more.

4.7 miles away

Armadillo Hill Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 15 reviews

Denison, TX

4.9 miles away

Old Settlers Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 328 reviews

Sherman, TX

Dog-friendly

Along with 9 baseball/softball fields, this park has 2 basketball courts, a playground & a pavilion.

6.4 miles away

All running trails in Denison, TX →

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.