Running trails in Waupun, WI
Waupun has 7 trails in the directory — 1 paved, 2 boardwalk, 2 loops that return to the trailhead, 1 with a stated distance, and 2 open 24 hours. 3 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 604 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Egret Hiking Trail and Boardwalk Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 213 reviews
Hiking area with trails, a floating boardwalk, and picnic tables, plus marsh views.
Shaler Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 135 reviews
Fishing is available at this city park with a memorial and picnic tables.
Marsh Haven Nature Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 90 reviews
Hikeable area housing artifacts, live animals and education exhibits, plus a gift shop.
Waupun Dog Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 77 reviews
Dog run featuring benches and picnic tables in a fenced-in space, as well as agility pieces.
Redhead Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 69 reviews
Popular area for walking and for hiking.
Waupun Park Maple Forest State Natural Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 14 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Waupun
- Match the surface to your legs. Waupun gives you a choice: 2 boardwalk and 1 paved. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More boardwalk trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 2 trails here are loops, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Waupun is Egret Hiking Trail and Boardwalk Trailhead at 6 mi. 1 trail is long enough for a 5-mile-plus run without repeating yourself.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 2 trails in Waupun are open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 3 of the 7 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 1 has trailhead parking, 1 has restrooms, and 1 has a water fountain in Waupun. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 1 that runners describe as quiet, 2 dog-friendly, and 1 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Waupun trails by type
Running trails near Waupun
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.