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Shaded Running Trails in Iowa
Iowa has 48 trails with shade and tree cover in this directory, across 26 cities and towns — West Des Moines, Davenport, Ames, Ankeny and 22 more. Tree cover for summer miles, when an exposed path turns into a heat trap.
Every one in Iowa
Use the filters to narrow these by surface, loop, distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and parking.
Gray's Lake Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,410 reviews
167-acre park featuring a 1.9-mi. lighted walking path around a lake with small boat rentals.
Eagle Point Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,028 reviews
Park with bluffs overlooking the river, plus a historic lodge & castle turret open for stair climbs.
Ewing Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 863 reviews
Spacious park with playgrounds, an 18-hole disc golf course, a pond & a lilac arboretum.
Walnut Woods State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 804 reviews
260-acre nature reserve with trails, camping, river boating & fishing & a 1930s lodge for rentals.
Brown's Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 551 reviews
Wildlife preserve filled with oak & hickory trees as well as trails for hiking & geocaching.
Centennial Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 399 reviews
Spread-out park featuring playgrounds, boulder fields and festivals, plus a trail-lined pond.
Penn Meadows Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 307 reviews
Recreational park featuring a baseball field, children's playground & baseball-themed splash pad.
Sertoma Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 295 reviews
Park featuring a playground, a pavilion, BBQ grills, a disc-golf course & restrooms.
Duck Creek Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 286 reviews
Park with shaded picnic areas & BBQ grills, plus sports fields, a playground & nearby golf course.
Haines Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 266 reviews
Laid-back outdoor space known for its picnics amid trees and slides, plus tennis and basketball courts.
Junge Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 264 reviews
City park offering a playground, volleyball/basketball courts, a picnic shelter & baseball fields.
Cedar Valley Nature Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 235 reviews
Flat trail on a former railroad bed for biking, walking and jogging.
Grimes Farm and Conservation Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 231 reviews
Nature, bike and hiking trails lead through a prairie and wooded landscape, as well as an observation tower.
Lindsay Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 229 reviews
Grassy park with a playground, a baseball/softball diamond & views of the Mississippi River.
Wabash Trace Nature Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 206 reviews
Route for walking, biking and running with a crushed-limestone surface and several bridges.
Cherokee Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 190 reviews
Tranquil park with a gravel trail running along a creek, and picnic tables.
Dewey Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 173 reviews
Kid-friendly park featuring a playground, trails and open space.
Forest Grove Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 165 reviews
Clean open-air space where families can picnic and kids can romp at the playground.
Lakeview Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 162 reviews
Calm, natural lakeside park with trails for walking and bike riding, plus picnic spots and swings.
Peony Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 157 reviews
Kid-friendly green space featuring a basketball court and tennis court, plus a playground.
Jaycee Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 147 reviews
Neighborhood park with play structures, a baseball batting cage, and courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball.
Cedar Bend County Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 135 reviews
Wooded park with a campground and a canoe launch, plus trails for hiking and walking.
Emma McCarthy Lee Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 128 reviews
Park featuring tennis courts and soccer fields, as well as a volleyball area.
Ashawa Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 136 reviews
Park for all ages, featuring slides, swings, a sandbox and a basketball court.
Lininger Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 128 reviews
Clean play area featuring swings and slides for kids of all ages, as well as a large field for soccer games.
Lowe Park Irish Dr Entrance
4.8 ★★★★★ 99 reviews
Park featuring modern playground equipment, picnic areas, a baseball field, and hiking trails.
Hydro Electric Park
4.1 ★★★★☆ 115 reviews
Park offering a basketball court, volleyball, playground, and picnic facilities, plus fishing.
Schuetzen Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 101 reviews
Wooded park featuring trails for hiking, trail running and walking.
Greenbelt Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 96 reviews
Scenic trail traversing woods, creeks and bridges, along with a playground.
McCord Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 92 reviews
Park featuring playgrounds for big and small kids plus soccer fields and a basketball court.
North Hill Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 83 reviews
Riverside open space featuring playground equipment and swing sets plus picnic tables, benches and shade.
Sunrise Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 80 reviews
Clean playground with swings plus soccer fields at a grassy neighborhood park.
Jackaline Baldwin Dunlap Park and Arboretum
4.7 ★★★★★ 71 reviews
Serene area featuring trees, benches and picnic spots, plus hidden statues.
Strasser Woods State Preserve
4.4 ★★★★☆ 68 reviews
City-area nature preserve offering hiking and walking trails through woods, with a creek.
Rocklyn Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 67 reviews
Small, residential-area park featuring a playground, a grill and picnic tables.
Stuart Smith Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 61 reviews
Park with a bike trail and picnic tables offering walking paths that are suitable for children.
Sac & Fox Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 51 reviews
Hiking spot featuring forested paths with an option for walking or biking.
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