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William H. Houlton Conservation Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 78 Google reviews · Running trail in Elk River, Minnesota · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from William H. Houlton Conservation Area'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.
Ecological park with kid-friendly hikes, and trails through woods and along the Mississippi and Elk rivers.
What runners say about William H. Houlton Conservation Area
“A beautiful area to observe animals and take in the area between Elk and Mississippi rivers.”
“Peaceful nature setting with scenic hiking along the river.”
This is such an amazing hiking area so close to town. It feels like you're hours away from the city. It's quiet and the trails are beautiful. It's about 3 miles if you walk the whole circle, so make sure to bring some water.
Peaceful nature setting with scenic hiking along the river. Parking for 12 vehicles only. Portable toilet in the parking lot, no picnic area.
A beautiful area to observe animals and take in the area between Elk and Mississippi rivers. Rough trails so it probably isn't great for people not steady on their feet, or for small kids. We went in March and with snow melting soon, it will get mucky.
We came here accidentally after searching for a different nature walk I did 10 years ago in the area but couldn't remember what the park was called. I thought it might be this one and it wasn't BUT it turned out to be a great mistake! This hike was beautiful.
Trail conditions & character
“A beautiful area to observe animals and take in the area between Elk and Mississippi rivers.”
“I’m sure this is a nice park but dogs are not allowed except retrievers during waterfowl season.”
“Peaceful nature setting with scenic hiking along the river.”
Plan your run at William H. Houlton Conservation Area
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.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteelkrivermn.gov
- Phone+1 763-653-1150
Hours
| Monday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 5 am–10 pm |
Running trails near Elk River
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Wilson Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews
Hillside Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 230 reviews
Park featuring 6 miles of challenging mountain biking trails through an oak forest.
