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Community Park North

4.6 ★★★★★ 216 Google reviews · Running trail in Princeton, New Jersey · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Community Park North'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.

PavedOpen 24hScenicRestroomsTrailhead parking

71-acre park with wooded walking trails, an amphitheater & a pond for fishing & skating.

What runners say about Community Park North

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (216 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 12 mentions

“Beautiful park with easy trails and a lot of interesting plants and trees and lovely, calming, clear streams.”

Beautiful even in winter! Had a nice walk through the area around the small lake the day I arrived here. It's nice that the walkways are soft forest ground and not concrete, too, perfect for runners!

★★★★★ — Jan , Mar 2025

Beautiful place with nice trails. Was there early morning to observe birds. Hoping to see fall colors here.

★★★★★ — Vinay , Oct 2020

Make sure to look at the map before starting your hike if you are not an avid hiker. We did not, we followed the All Trails app and got a lite lost. But the hike was beautiful, a little difficult at times, but SO worth it

★★★★★ — Galilea , Sep 2021

As I’m new in the area, my husband and I were looking for a scenic park but with a relaxing walk. This park came up several times on our search and we were sure what to expect. We got a little lost, but then just followed the main asphalt path in the middle of the park.

★★★★★ — Simran , Nov 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 216 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 14 mentions

“Beautiful park with easy trails and a lot of interesting plants and trees and lovely, calming, clear streams.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“It's nice that the walkways are soft forest ground and not concrete, too, perfect for runners!”

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🚻 Restrooms

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at Community Park North

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • 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 trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websiteprincetonnj.gov
  • Phone(609) 921-9480
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Community Park North

Mountain Avenue & Route 206, Mountain Ave, Princeton, NJ 08540

Get directions

Running trails near Princeton

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

Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 259 reviews

Princeton, NJ

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Nature preserve featuring several hiking trails in a picturesque setting with woodlands & a lake.

under a mile away

John Witherspoon Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 75 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Natural surface

under a mile away

Greenway Meadows Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 108 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Scenic

Park for soccer games, bird-watching and running, along with a playground and hills for sledding.

1.4 miles away

Woodfield Reservation

4.5 ★★★★★ 59 reviews

Princeton, NJ

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Nearly 100 acres of mature forest featuring trails & a variety of birds & other wildlife.

1.4 miles away

D&R Canal Trail Pedestrian Crossing

4.8 ★★★★★ 19 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Natural surfaceScenic

1.9 miles away

Herrontown Woods

4.5 ★★★★★ 151 reviews

Princeton, NJ

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

This 142-acre pine forest has walking trails & more than 30 species of trees, shrubs & flowers.

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Princeton, NJ →

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.