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Ben Hawes Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 262 Google reviews · Running trail in Owensboro, Kentucky · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Ben Hawes Park'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.

ShadedScenicRestroomsWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

Park featuring a playground, picnic tables, a basketball court, and a golf course.

What runners say about Ben Hawes Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (262 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Nice park, quiet, playground well maintained, shelters are great for shade I the hot months, bathrooms are clean, overall, its a good place to sit and chill!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“It was a beautiful fall day and the course was in very good shape.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Nice park, quiet, playground well maintained, shelters are great for shade I the hot months, bathrooms are clean, overall, its a good place to sit and chill!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Nice park, quiet, playground well maintained, shelters are great for shade I the hot months, bathrooms are clean, overall, its a good place to sit and chill!”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Its always family friendly with an open forested feel, lots of rolling hills.”

Love this place! Its always family friendly with an open forested feel, lots of rolling hills. It's got a big parking lot which I've helped teach nieces and nephews to drive in.

★★★★★ — Kat , Mar 2021

Need to update playground equipment for kids and the basketball goals. They have put in more road ways that took away from the park. When I was little that was the it park but now hardly anyone goes out there. I used to love the hiking trail on school Field Trips. That was one of the main attractions.

★★★★☆ — Midwest , Aug 2020

Really nice park. It is a little far from the rest of Owensboro, so it feels secluded and quiet. The playground is awesome, but may be too big and advanced for smaller kids. There is plenty of space to run and play.

★★★★★ — Thomas , May 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 262 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“It's got a big parking lot which I've helped teach nieces and nephews to drive in.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“It was a beautiful fall day and the course was in very good shape.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“Nice park, quiet, playground well maintained, shelters are great for shade I the hot months, bathrooms are clean, overall, its a good place to sit and chill!”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Nice park, quiet, playground well maintained, shelters are great for shade I the hot months, bathrooms are clean, overall, its a good place to sit and chill!”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Nice park, quiet, playground well maintained, shelters are great for shade I the hot months, bathrooms are clean, overall, its a good place to sit and chill!”

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🚰 Water fountains

“Could use more drinking fountains besides the shelter”

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Plan your run at Ben Hawes Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Websiteowensboroparks.org
  • Phone(270) 687-7134

Hours

Monday 5 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 5 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 5 AM–10 PM
Thursday 5 AM–10 PM
Friday 5 AM–10 PM
Saturday 5 AM–10 PM
Sunday 5 AM–10 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 Ben Hawes Park

400 Booth Field Rd, Owensboro, KY 42301

Get directions

Running trails near Owensboro

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

Rudy Mines Mountain Bike Trails At Ben Hawes Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 119 reviews

Owensboro, KY

LoopMixed

7.5 mi. of easy to intermediate mountain-bike trails in a 298-acre park.

1.2 miles away

Joe Ford Nature Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 99 reviews

Owensboro, KY

Scenic

Picturesque parkland offering wooded trails, a playground, picnic areas & sports facilities.

1.9 miles away

Jack C. Fisher Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 369 reviews

Owensboro, KY

PavedShadedDog-friendly

Relaxed area featuring walking trails, a playground and a playground for kids, fishing ponds and various sports fields.

2.6 miles away

Russell Shifley Park

4 ★★★★☆ 122 reviews

Owensboro, KY

Shaded

Park with a baseball field, soccer complex, and picnic tables, plus wildlife.

3.5 miles away

Owensboro Moreland Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 578 reviews

Owensboro, KY

Lit

Outdoor activity area with 12 lighted tennis courts & 2 baseball fields, plus a pavilion & trail.

3.9 miles away

Moneta Sleet Jr. Park

4 ★★★★☆ 46 reviews

Owensboro, KY

Founded in 1976, this 1.21-acre park includes picnic facilities, a playground & basketball court.

4.0 miles away

All running trails in Owensboro, KY →

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.