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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.

MixedScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

274-acre park with a sizable lake, several hiking trails & wildlife like deer & waterfowl.

What runners say about Asylum Lake Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,005 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 13 mentions

“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“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…

★★★★★ — J.V. , Aug 2022

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.

★★★★★ — Dillon , Aug 2023

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!

★★★★★ — Baby , Apr 2023

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.

★★★★★ — Maheswari , Aug 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,005 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 15 mentions

“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 6 mentions

“Even though it's close to done major roads and the highway, once you're out of the parking lots it's completely separated.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“I spent some time walking here today and it is absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“Otherwise, you'll fun into come concrete paths, I assume they belonged to the old asylum.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 3 mentions

“Would definitely not recommend going all the way around the pond because the trail is almost non existent and very muddy and rocky.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 2 mentions

“Be on the lookout for people who think that leash laws don't apply to them.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

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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

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Asylum Lake Preserve

3836 S Drake Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Get directions

Running trails near Kalamazoo

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Kleinstuck Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 110 reviews

Kalamazoo, MI

LoopScenicDog-friendly

Serene, trail-lined nature preserve with wetlands, birds, deer, and other wildlife.

1.6 miles away

Harbors West Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 110 reviews

Portage, MI

PavedLitDog-friendly

Laid-back park featuring basketball courts, hockey rinks, play structures and baseball fields.

1.6 miles away

Kleinstuck Preserve & Nature Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 168 reviews

Kalamazoo, MI

LoopCrushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

Managed by Western Michigan University, this nature preserve offers wetlands & events.

2.0 miles away

Fruitbelt Trail

3 ★★★☆☆ 2 reviews

Kalamazoo, MI

2.2 miCrushed gravel

2.2 miles away

Flesher Field

4.6 ★★★★★ 648 reviews

Kalamazoo, MI

ScenicDog-friendly

Park with picnic areas, a playground, and a baseball field plus frequent hot air balloon launches.

2.3 miles away

Al Sabo Land Bridge

4.9 ★★★★★ 16 reviews

Kalamazoo, MI

Scenic

3.0 miles away

All running trails in Kalamazoo, MI →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.