HomeNew JerseyHillside › Elizabeth River Park

Elizabeth River Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 477 Google reviews · Running trail in Hillside, New Jersey · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Elizabeth River 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.

Crushed gravelScenicQuiet

This modest public park with many trees offers ball fields & children's play equipment.

What runners say about Elizabeth River Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (477 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Very quiet and clean area for relaxation and play ground for the kids.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“It's a beautiful area it has a small pond which includes a spring.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“They're deers, racoons, skunks, pretty birds, & it's very quiet in an isolated area.”

Good for excersice Trail was driving looks very good they did a good job making.

★★★★★ — Meh , Jul 2018

I love how a lot of people visit this site as well as local residents. It's a beautiful area and offers a Golf Course. It also offers beautiful playground for children. In addition, others jogged and run around the lake and the park.

★★★★★ — Norma , Jul 2020

The new walking track is fantastic. Many upgrade parts. Good family park.

★★★★★ — Tom , Apr 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 477 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 7 mentions

“It's a beautiful area it has a small pond which includes a spring.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“They're deers, racoons, skunks, pretty birds, & it's very quiet in an isolated area.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

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Plan your run at Elizabeth River Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • 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.

Hours

Monday 8 am–9 pm
Tuesday 8 am–9 pm
Wednesday 8 am–9 pm
Thursday 8 am–9 pm
Friday 8 am–9 pm
Saturday 8 am–9 pm
Sunday 8 am–9 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 Elizabeth River Park

165 Valley View Rd, Hillside, NJ 07205

Get directions

Running trails near Hillside

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

Conant Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 878 reviews

Hillside, NJ

ScenicDog-friendly

Pretty park, with picnic tables and BBQ grills, plus hiking paths through the woods.

under a mile away

Phil Rizzuto Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 875 reviews

Elizabeth, NJ

Dog-friendly

Football- and soccer friendly park featuring a playground and workout stations.

under a mile away

Kellogg Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 964 reviews

Elizabeth, NJ

Relaxed park offering a children's playground, a basketball court and a fountain for recreation.

1.8 miles away

Weequahic Lake Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Newark, NJ

2.0 miles away

Weequahic Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,838 reviews

Newark, NJ

PavedScenic

Kids-friendly 80-acre public park offering paved jogging trails, ball fields and courts, plus picnic spots and playgrounds.

2.1 miles away

Warinanco Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 7,371 reviews

Roselle, NJ

Scenic

Expansive park offering an ice-skating rink & lake activities plus multiple playing fields & trails.

2.1 miles away

All running trails in Hillside, 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.