Mason City, IA Running Trails and Maps

66 Reviews

Looking for the best Running trails around Mason City?

Find the top rated running trails in Mason City, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
22 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Franklin Grove Heritage Trail

3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Cinder

Three Rivers Trail

39.9 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

27 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Waverly Rail Trail

7.6 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Blazing Star State Trail

6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Harry Cook Nature Trail

2 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Rolling Prairie Trail

21 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Shooting Star State Trail

24.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

4 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Hanson Trail

3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Prairie Land Trail

10 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

High Line Trail (IA)

2.7 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Hynes Spur Trail

1.8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

NIACC Trail

2.2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Path of Progress

3.3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Gravel

Riverside Trail (IA)

1.2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Todd Park Bike Trail

2.4 mi
State: MN
Asphalt
Accordion

Wildwood Trail (Austin)

1.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Winnebago Trail

3.7 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Franklin Grove Heritage Trail rests on top of an abandoned Rock Island railroad corridor that runs through the heart of the small Iowan city of Belmond. The trail connects the residential section...
IA 3 mi Asphalt, Cinder
Part of the Rolling Prairie Trail, the Shell Rock River Trail (also known as the Butler County Nature Trail) connects the eastern edge of Clarksville with the community of Shell Rock. The trail runs...
IA 5.9 mi Asphalt
The Three Rivers Trail runs for nearly 40 miles from the small community of Rolfe—named after the early English settler who married Pocahontas—to just west of Eagle Grove. The mostly rural trail is...
IA 39.9 mi Crushed Stone
The Wapsi–Great Western Line Trail is a 27-mile pathway on the former Chicago Great Western Railroad. The trail passes through a plethora of backdrops, including wide, rolling landscapes, Iowa...
IA 27 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Waverly Rail Trail offers a pleasant, small town–meets-rural experience as it travels for 7.6 miles from downtown Waverly to its eastern endpoint north of Denver. It is also part of the Rolling...
IA 7.6 mi Asphalt
The Blazing Star State Trail is located in Albert Lea, near Minnesota’s southern border. The town is known as “The Land Between the Lakes,” and the trail begins on the northern shore of one of the...
MN 6 mi Asphalt
The Harry Cook Nature Trail runs for 2 miles from the edge of the small city of Osage, Iowa to the city's public Spring Park. The trail, which opened in the early 1990s, occupies the bed of an...
IA 2 mi Crushed Stone
When complete, the Rolling Prairie Tri-County Trail System will connect several communities and two state parks as it travels through quintessential northeastern Iowa prairie. The railroad on which...
IA 21 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Shooting Star State Trail, which is over 24 miles long, is an 8-foot-wide asphalt path from Nicolville (east) to Le Roy (west). It follows an unused railroad bed on Milwaukee Road, which once...
MN 24.3 mi Asphalt
The Cedar River Greenbelt Trail snakes along the west side of the river between Osage and Mitchell. The limestone trail is suitable for walking, jogging, biking and horseback riding. The trail is open...
IA 4 mi Crushed Stone
The best place to begin the Trolley Trail is in Mason City in Ray Rorick Skate Park, located adjacent to the 81-acre Lester Milligan Park, which has two fishing and swimming ponds, hiking and biking...
IA 7.5 mi Asphalt
The Hanson Trail is a paved, off-road alternative to State Route 9 in Forest City, Iowa. The trail parallels the road for its entire length through fertile farmland. Forest City and the Winnebago...
IA 3 mi Asphalt
The Prairie Land Trail is envisioned to someday stretch 21 miles across Cerro Gordo county, from Mersevey to Mason City, connecting with Mason City's own network of trails. At present, 10 miles of...
IA 10 mi Crushed Stone
The Charley Western Recreational Trailway provides a useful off-road route around the outer limits of Charles City. Built on the site of the former Charles City Western Railway, the trail runs along...
IA 4 mi Asphalt
When finished, the High Line Trail will stretch 8 miles across Mason City, IA and connect to other local trail routes. In 2023, the trail's first 3 miles opened from 12th St. NE to 19th St. SE. The...
IA 2.7 mi Asphalt
The Hynes Spur Trail links the heart of Forest City, Iowa, with its municipal airport to the south. The short paved trail passes through Pammel Park and adjacent to the Bear Creek Golf Course, with...
IA 1.8 mi Asphalt
The NIACC Trail in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, connects the campus of North Iowa Area Community College with the edge of downtown Mason City. The trail provides a convenient and safe alternative to...
IA 2.2 mi Asphalt
Sheffield's Path of Progress is a railroad-turned-multiuse-trail. The trail sits on the former Union Pacific right-of-way. The trail surface switches from asphalt in the northern half, to gravel for...
IA 3.3 mi Asphalt, Gravel
Charles City's Riverside Trail runs for a little over a mile along the banks of the Cedar River, providing gorgeous views and recreational opportunities, as well as access to several city...
IA 1.2 mi Asphalt
The Todd Park Bike Trail makes use of an old railroad grade to connect recreational destinations in Austin. The paved trail links Todd Park to Mill Pond on the Cedar River. The trail traverses Todd...
MN 2.4 mi Asphalt
Accordion
Located in the low-lying woodlands in along Wolf Creek, this trail picks up across 11th Street from Todd Park and its paved bike trail. The trail winds through the riparian forests on lands once owned...
MN 1.2 mi Asphalt
The Winnebago Trail provides the residents of Mason City with a safe, off-road link to nature, winding 3.7 miles from East Park and through residential areas to the Lime Creek Nature Center as it...
IA 3.7 mi Crushed Stone

Recent Trail Reviews

Three Rivers Trail

Nice trail

September, 2023 by shap

We started out in Humboldt on Hwy 3 and rode east to Thor. This is a well maintained crushed stone trail. There were no wash outs or wash boarding.
Many areas have tree canopy over the trail. A very easy and pleasant ride.

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

beautiful Iowa Prairie

August, 2023 by knnodtvedt

We rode this trail today and it was gorgeous! The wildflowers and the fresh air is just what I needed!

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

Mostly pleasant

July, 2023 by timbee205_tl

The part from Riceville (lake Hendricks park) is very nice, smooth & scenic. Not hard to find your way thru McIntyre, just follow the signs. The last section puts you on a gravel road for about a mile, then more new pavement but you're really subject to the wind (probably why all the wind turbines are nearby). Someday they plan to punch thru to a MN trail.

Going south from Riceville is pretty much boring, flat, open riding with many right angle turns (follows section/property lines?) Once you're back on the trail half ways to Elma it's pretty nice again. Elma has a cute RR depot as trailhead.

Nice ride but start at Riceville and go north to MN border and if you can start in Elma & go north until you get to all the straight-aways (and very windy). The scenery is pleasant either way you go.

Accordion

Waverly Rail Trail

waverly to readlyn

October, 2022 by pdchawk

13.6 miles from waverly to readlyn. It’s very shady on the western part of the trail and not so much the closer you get to readlyn. Good hard surfaced trail that has great towns and parks and amenities on both ends.

Rolling Prairie Trail

Bristow to shell rock

October, 2022 by pdchawk

The trail is complete from clarskville to Bristow. A nice hard surfaced trail ( blacktop and concrete). 22.5 miles from Bristow to shell rock ( there is a portion of it just west of Clarksville that is on the highway for about a mile but there is a bike lane). The trail segment around the Hampton area is crushed limestone and is not very nice.

Prairie Land Trail

descent but nothing special

October, 2022 by pdchawk

The trail starts south of mason city and goes to Thornton (15 miles each way) . It’s crushed limestone with very little shade and no benches to stop and rest. It’s basically a continuous trail through farm fields. It’s the only long distance trail in the mason city area so it’s better than nothing.

Trolley Trail (Clear Lake/Mason City)

don’t travel to ride this “trail”

October, 2022 by pdchawk

Basically this is just a sidewalk next to a busy highway that connects mason city to clear lake. There isn’t much shade or much for scenery.

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

CAUTION!!!

September, 2022 by andreaevel

If biking mountain bikes required! Extremely rugged trails! Steep, rocky, and wet. Risk takers only! Take your life into your own hands! Hiking might be a safer option!

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

beautiful but rugged

July, 2022 by wollenburg.nellie

The trail is beautiful but something to note this is for a moderate rider. A lot of the trail has rugged terrain with an abundance of rocks. Luckily our youngest was not with for this ride or we would of had to turn around. I highly suggest parking at the restaurant Old County Seat to begin your ride. That way when you circle back you can stop for some food or just grab a drink. PS - I highly recommend their Bloody Mary’s or the 1919 Root Beer!!

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

hiking

July, 2022 by alachapelle24

This trail has it all. From hiking to horseback riding. Fun trail with some great views alone the river. Has some pretty big rocks to walk through on part so had to be careful with that. Overall great trail!

Harry Cook Nature Trail

hiking/walking

July, 2022 by alachapelle24

This trail is great for small hikes/walks when you’re in a time crunch or just wanting to get out of the house for a couple hours! Follows the cedar river for a while and not far from town either.

Blazing Star State Trail

great trail

July, 2022 by javierheilda

What a great trail. We loved it. Ride it in July 2022. Temps were great and lake and trees make this trail amazing. It’s a must if your in the area. We from Texas and was in town for work and couldn’t miss the opportunity to ride this trail.

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