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Asylum Lake Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,005 Google reviews · Running trail in Kalamazoo, Michigan · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Asylum Lake Preserve'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.
274-acre park with a sizable lake, several hiking trails & wildlife like deer & waterfowl.
What runners say about Asylum Lake Preserve
“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”
“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”
“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”
-Pets are allowed but leashed This is without a doubt a first-class nature preserve, with interconnected trails going throughout the entire area, wildlife within a stone's throw everywhere you go, mushrooms all over the place if you like forging, stunning scenery, two different porta-potties, and even benches…
Great park for walking on trails. Some are paved, some are grass, and some are dirt. We saw many deer in our walk! There are serval lakes along the paths too. We weren't brave enough to try the wild berries but there are plenty if you're up for it.
This place has a wide variety of things to see, green hills, wooded forests, two beautiful lakes! We saw 8 or 9 deer as well which was cool! Would definitely not recommend going all the way around the pond because the trail is almost non existent and very muddy and rocky. Other than that the other trails are beautiful!
Very nice trail for running or walking. Beautiful views! You have to park on the road. There are toilets and benches to sit and rest. Lots of deers and squirrels.
Trail conditions & character
“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”
“Even though it's close to done major roads and the highway, once you're out of the parking lots it's completely separated.”
“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”
“Otherwise, you'll fun into come concrete paths, I assume they belonged to the old asylum.”
“Would definitely not recommend going all the way around the pond because the trail is almost non existent and very muddy and rocky.”
“Be on the lookout for people who think that leash laws don't apply to them.”
Plan your run at Asylum Lake Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- 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, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitewmich.edu
- Phone(269) 387-8514
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–8 PM |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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