Home › Massachusetts › Northborough › Ellsworth McAfee Park
Ellsworth McAfee Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 477 Google reviews · Running trail in Northborough, Massachusetts · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Ellsworth McAfee 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.
Recreational green space with a playground and trails, plus a skate park.
What runners say about Ellsworth McAfee Park
“Ample parking, very clean and well maintained, plenty of park benches and picnic tables, and a good number of porta-potties if the need arises.”
“Beautiful park with outstanding sports facilities and a great place to have an outdoor get together.”
“It is sufficiently wide for kids on their bike or someone with their dog or a casual walker to share the joy of walking.”
The park is very beautiful and provides all the amenities that one can look for. It is a blessing to have a park like this in your neighborhood. It’s clean and well maintained throughout the year. People are friendly and you get to see people in different stages of their life sharing and enjoying the nature.
This local park is host to several sports fields, local entertainment with a park concert series, craft faire, farmers markets and even community movies. Features include a walking track, volleyball court, skate park, soccer, gazebo, redeemable pavilion newly reconstructed, and sufficient parking to handle events.
Great park for the town. Well maintained and always clean. It's also a great place host events, thanks to the open spaces and the gazebo areas. I think the no bikes rule is a shame though. If you've got young kids just starting out on two wheels, there's nowhere in town for them to go other than a parking lot.
This was our first visit and enjoyed all the different pieces of equipment to play on. The walk path was enjoyable with the painted doors and it circles around the soccer field. I appreciated the clean, portable toilets as my three year old is leery of using them.
Trail conditions & character
“It is sufficiently wide for kids on their bike or someone with their dog or a casual walker to share the joy of walking.”
“Beautiful park with outstanding sports facilities and a great place to have an outdoor get together.”
“The parking spaces are not too cramped like many lots theses days and surrounding fields, courts, and beach volleyball court were a great backdrop to the get together.”
“Ample parking, very clean and well maintained, plenty of park benches and picnic tables, and a good number of porta-potties if the need arises.”
Plan your run at Ellsworth McAfee Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- 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
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitenorthboroughrecreation.com
- Phone+1 508-393-5034
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Northborough
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Lake Chauncy Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 56 reviews
Sprawling, dog-friendly park with a lake featuring walking trails, picnic tables and benches.
Assabet Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 224 reviews
Park with a splash pad plus a playground featuring slides, swings and toys.
Carney Park Northborough
4.5 ★★★★★ 155 reviews
Dog-friendly area for hiking or leisurely walking as well as dog running space.
Watson Park
3.6 ★★★★☆ 8 reviews
Edmund Hill Woods
4.4 ★★★★☆ 58 reviews
Hiking area suitable for children with frequent mention of dogs and bug spray.