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Charter Oak Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,155 Google reviews · Running trail in Manchester, Connecticut · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Charter Oak 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.
Wooded park featuring a playground with slides and a zip line, as well as tennis and basketball courts.
What runners say about Charter Oak Park
“Only got to visit for a soccer game but the space was super clean and the playground, trails, skate park, and other facilities looked really nice”
“huge, beautiful park full of walking paths and people enjoying the outdoors, lined on one side with a little brook and some cute mini waterfalls”
“There playground is great for kids of all ages.”
We had such a fun time exploring Charter Oak Park in Manchester, CT! If you’re looking for a spot to spend a chill afternoon with the kids, this place really hits the mark. The playground is amazing — super clean, colorful, and has a great mix of stuff for both little ones and older kids.
Charter Oak Park is such a beautiful and well-maintained community spot! There’s something for everyone — a great playground for kids, basketball and tennis courts, a skate park, and plenty of open green space for relaxing or picnicking.
This might be the best park in CT. They have something for everyone: zipline, climbing jungle gym, musical Zen garden, beautiful willows and walking/riding paths. The best part of all is the new biking/skate park. Fun for parents and kids.
I went there for the duck race that was happening! The duck race was a blast! Tons of fun, and my younger siblings really got a kick out of it too! The park also had a lot of other stuff to offer though, so we ended up hanging around for awhile after the race ended.
Trail conditions & character
“huge, beautiful park full of walking paths and people enjoying the outdoors, lined on one side with a little brook and some cute mini waterfalls”
“We love the wide paved trail network at Charter Oak - ideal for bikes and people with strollers.”
“Three portapotty should be avoided at all costs so plan accordingly.”
“It's super stroller-friendly and peaceful, with plenty of shady spots and open fields to run around in.”
Plan your run at Charter Oak Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- 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 trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitemanchesterct.gov
- Phone(860) 647-3084
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–8 PM |
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