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Eel River Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 17 Google reviews · Running trail in Plymouth, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface: Boardwalk
Distance: 2.5 mi
Shape: Not reported
Shade: Not reported
Access: Posted hours

Confirmed from Eel River 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.

Eel River Preserve — running trail in Plymouth, MA, photo 1

Eel River Preserve — running trail in Plymouth, MA, photo 2

Eel River Preserve — running trail in Plymouth, MA, photo 3

Eel River Preserve — running trail in Plymouth, MA, photo 4

Eel River Preserve — running trail in Plymouth, MA, photo 5

Boardwalk2.5 miScenicTrailhead parking

What runners say about Eel River Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (17 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful place but you definitely need bug spray”

From the parking lot, it doesn't look like it's going to be very eventful. But, like the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. The Eel Preserve was absolutely beautiful!! With every step, you get filled with sweet peace!!

★★★★★ — Asachai , Apr 2022

Serene walking path. Feels almost like your in the middle of nowhere. Limited parking 6-8 cars. Benches along the path make good rest stop. No water, garbage cans, or toilets so carry in — carry out please.

★★★★★ — Gregory , Feb 2021

Beautiful spot. Easy walk, mostlyflat, open and sunny. Thank you Open Space Comm and Community Preservation Act.

★★★★★ — Liz , Jan 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 17 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 4 mentions 
“Beautiful place but you definitely need bug spray”
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 🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions 
“From the parking lot, it doesn't look like it's going to be very eventful.”
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 🪵 Boardwalk  
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Plan your run at Eel River Preserve

The practical stuff

AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
Distance2.5 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
Websiteplymouth-ma.gov
Social Instagram

Hours

Monday	7:30 am–4 pm
Tuesday	7:30 am–6:30 pm
Wednesday	7:30 am–4 pm
Thursday	7:30 am–4 pm
Friday	7:30 am–12 pm
Saturday	Closed
Sunday	Closed

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 Eel River Preserve

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Get directions

Running trails near Plymouth

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All running trails in Plymouth, MA →

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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.