HomeIowaWest Des Moines › Wild Rose Park

Wild Rose Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 130 Google reviews · Running trail in West Des Moines, Iowa · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Wild Rose 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.

PavedStroller / ADARestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

Kid-friendly park featuring a basketball court and playground.

What runners say about Wild Rose Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (130 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 7 mentions

“The eating area was clean and the play equipment was in great condition.”

Great Park! This park checks all the boxes. Swings (2 regular & 2 bucket) monkey bars, slides, rope climbers, tunnels, sand pit, shelter, SHADE, benches, picnic tables, restrooms, walking path, basketball court, open fields, and good parking lot.

★★★★★ — Britney , Jul 2022

In parks serene, where nature's grace, Trees whisper secrets, in their embrace. Children laugh, beneath the sun's gentle arc, In these green havens, where dreams embark. This is a perfect park in the sense that it has something for everyone. Do the kids big and small needs different spaces? Do you need a sand pit?

★★★★★ — Abdiel , Apr 2024

Wild Rose was a welcomed reprieve for our road-weary and hungry little travelers. The eating area was clean and the play equipment was in great condition. We bumped into a group of volunteers who were doing a park clean up and the park maintenance worker was friendly as he unlocked restrooms for us.

★★★★★ — Ryan , May 2021

Great park with an area for 5 and older kids and also a toddler playset. The park was very clean and well manicured. The bathrooms were clean and well stocked. There is a drinking fountain as well. We enjoyed walking the paved path that goes around the park. There is also a covered picnic area.

★★★★★ — Sugar , Jun 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 130 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.

🚻 Restrooms 10 mentions

“We bumped into a group of volunteers who were doing a park clean up and the park maintenance worker was friendly as he unlocked restrooms for us.”

More trails like this →

🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“We enjoyed walking the paved path that goes around the park.”

More trails like this →

🚰 Water fountains

“There is a drinking fountain as well.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

More trails like this →

Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Wild Rose 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, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitewdm.iowa.gov
  • Phone+1 515-222-3444

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 Wild Rose Park

6801 Cody Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50266

Get directions

Running trails near West Des Moines

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

Peony Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 157 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

PavedShadedDog-friendly

Kid-friendly green space featuring a basketball court and tennis court, plus a playground.

under a mile away

Willow Springs Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 170 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

Paved

Public park offering picnic tables, a playground, a trail, and basketball and tennis courts.

1.0 miles away

Jaycee Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 147 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

PavedShadedDog-friendly

Neighborhood park with play structures, a baseball batting cage, and courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball.

1.1 miles away

Huston Ridge Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 43 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

Shaded

1.4 miles away

Crossroads Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 106 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

City park with tennis courts, a walking trail, a skateboard park, and a playground.

1.5 miles away

Jordan Creek Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 7 reviews

West Des Moines, IA

1.6 miles away

All running trails in West Des Moines, 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.