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Quiet, Uncrowded Trails in Iowa
Iowa has 67 trails with quiet, uncrowded running in this directory, across 30 cities and towns — Ames, Cedar Falls, Iowa City, Urbandale and 26 more. Room to run intervals without weaving through walkers and bikes.
Every one in Iowa
Use the filters to narrow these by surface, loop, distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and parking.
Ada Hayden Heritage Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,349 reviews
Park with a fishing lake, hiking & biking trails, picnic shelter & wetlands for bird-watching.
East Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,059 reviews
Community park with tennis and basketball courts, a playground, disc golf, and a bandshell.
George Wyth State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,043 reviews
Multiple lakes for boating, fishing & windsurfing plus multi-use woodland trails, campsites & more.
Lake Ahquabi State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 980 reviews
Spacious campground, boat rentals, fishing, sandy beach & trails featured in a 770-acre preserve.
Stone State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 852 reviews
Nature reserve with hiking/biking trails, fishing & boating, camping & cabins, nature center & more.
Yellow Banks Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 827 reviews
Large park providing scenic bluff views, camping, hiking, fishing & a Native American burial mound.
Indian Creek Nature Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 775 reviews
Nature preserve with scenic trails & educational events, plus a sustainable building with exhibits.
Walnut Woods State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 804 reviews
260-acre nature reserve with trails, camping, river boating & fishing & a 1930s lodge for rentals.
Riverside Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 632 reviews
Popular green space along the Mississippi River featuring boat docks, playgrounds, a fountain and more.
Greenwood - Ashworth Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 565 reviews
Public recreation area with playgrounds, a splash pad & picnic shelters, plus a pond & rose garden.
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
4.7 ★★★★★ 552 reviews
Grassland preserve, with walking trails and an auto tour seeing bison, elk and butterflies.
Brown's Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 551 reviews
Wildlife preserve filled with oak & hickory trees as well as trails for hiking & geocaching.
Hartman Reserve Nature Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 481 reviews
Sprawling outdoor preserve with paved & unpaved paths, scenic lakes & an interpretative center.
Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 485 reviews
Park with ponds and trails good for hiking, biking and kayaking.
Credit Island Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 455 reviews
Named as a Native American trading post, this island houses a public park with walking trails.
Hickory Hill Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 392 reviews
Scenic forested park featuring many walking & running paths, picnic tables & grills on 185 acres.
Big Woods Lake Recreation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 394 reviews
Lake with opportunities for disc golf, picnicking, and fishing, plus paved bike trails and a kid-friendly hike.
S.T. Morrison Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 384 reviews
Community park with an aquatic center, fishing pond, volleyball & tennis courts & playground.
Black Hawk Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 320 reviews
Rustic 1,490-acre green space with campgrounds & river access, plus a popular gun & archery range.
Moore Memorial Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 310 reviews
Large city park with big shelters with electrical outlets for private events, grills & a bike path.
Lake Keomah State Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 337 reviews
Relaxed, kid-friendly spot with camping, hiking trails and lake fishing, plus beaches.
North Ridge Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 321 reviews
Playground, trails, paved path, picnic tables, swings and fountains mark this serene park.
North River Valley Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 300 reviews
Public park offering rental picnic pavilions, BBQ grills, horseshoes pits & sand volleyball courts.
Chris Larsen City Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 281 reviews
Scenic park with playground structures and a splash pad, plus picnicking areas.
Haines Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 266 reviews
Laid-back outdoor space known for its picnics amid trees and slides, plus tennis and basketball courts.
Seminole Valley Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 254 reviews
This 409-acre park features a historic village & farm, a playground, a soccer field, trails & more.
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.
Waldo's Rock Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 214 reviews
Park featuring a glacial boulder, plus a manmade pond and paved bike trail.
Pearson Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 194 reviews
Family-friendly park with a walking loop, plus playground equipment and a basketball court.
Boyson Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 177 reviews
Wooded park with a trail alongside a creek to go walking and biking.
Lakeview Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 162 reviews
Calm, natural lakeside park with trails for walking and bike riding, plus picnic spots and swings.
Lookout Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 168 reviews
Modest grassy area overlooking the Cedar River with picnic shelters & a playground.
Sycamore Trails
4.7 ★★★★★ 151 reviews
Forested place with dirt trails for cycling and a paved path, as well as scenic spots.
Hope Martin Memorial Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 164 reviews
A large shelter with picnic tables & a water fountains sits in this park with a playground for kids.
Greenbelt Lake
4.5 ★★★★★ 154 reviews
Relaxing lake offering paved and dirt trails, fishing and kayaking.
Morgan Creek Arboretum
4.8 ★★★★★ 130 reviews
Tranquil area for learning about tree species along trails or at an arboretum.
Georgia Hanford Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 123 reviews
Scenic park with baseball fields, a playground and long walking paths, featuring numerous tree species.
Quail Cove Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 104 reviews
Park with a playground, basketball court, picnic areas, and a walking trail.
Washington Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 94 reviews
A bike trail surrounds this riverfront park with a ball field, open grassy areas & play equipment.
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
4.5 ★★★★★ 91 reviews
Country park offering a family-friendly campground, picnic sites, and opportunities for hiking and birdwatching.
Hollowview Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 78 reviews
Playground features a pirate ship and swings, and picnic tables dot the premises.
North Hill Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 83 reviews
Riverside open space featuring playground equipment and swing sets plus picnic tables, benches and shade.
Brook Run Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 84 reviews
Small, clean, family-friendly park offering various playground bits and swings along with picnic tables to have a meal.
Jackaline Baldwin Dunlap Park and Arboretum
4.7 ★★★★★ 71 reviews
Serene area featuring trees, benches and picnic spots, plus hidden statues.
Harvest Preserve
4.9 ★★★★★ 63 reviews
Private reserve for hiking and other outdoor recreation, showcasing sculptures.
Timmons Grove County Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 69 reviews
Family-friendly campground featuring picnic tables, barbecuing and river access.
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.
Pigeon Creek Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 55 reviews
Park offering kid-friendly hiking trails and a public restroom.
Otter Creek Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 51 reviews
Family-friendly space featuring prairie grass, a wood tower, a pond and trails for hiking and fishing, plus campsites.
Hickory Hill Park East Entrance
4.7 ★★★★★ 41 reviews
Cross Creek Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 38 reviews
Hunt Woods
4.2 ★★★★☆ 30 reviews
Prairie Park Fishery Trail/Sac and Fox Trail Fork
4.8 ★★★★★ 20 reviews
No trails match those filters.
By city
Every running trail in the town, not just the ones with quiet, uncrowded running.
- Ames
- Cedar Falls
- Iowa City
- Urbandale
- West Des Moines
- Cedar Rapids
- Des Moines
- Indianola
- Mason City
- Waterloo
- Bettendorf
- Burlington
- Coralville
- Davenport
- Marion
- Marshalltown
- Sioux City
- Altoona
- Ankeny
- Carlisle
- Hiawatha
- Johnston
- Keomah Village
- Maxwell
- Muscatine
- Palo
- Pleasant Hill
- Prairie City
- Spencer
- Waverly
See quiet, uncrowded trails across the whole country, or every running trail in Iowa. You can also browse the other features or start from surface.