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Emerson Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 454 Google reviews · Running trail in Midland, Michigan · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Emerson 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.
Well-equipped park with a softball stadium & fields, an inline skating rink & beach volleyball.
What runners say about Emerson Park
“It is well maintained and just off the Peir Marquette rail trail and about a mile away from the beautiful Tridge.”
“Beautiful views of the water and the flowers smelled so nice in the air☺️ not the type of hike I'd take a date on but it was fun”
“The trees give wonderful shade, it is right next to the Tittabawasee river, the railtrail, ball fields.”
Emerson Park is a delightful staple of Midland. The entire stretch of park that runs along the river from the Currie Bridge to down near the Bradley House is one of the best spots in town.
Been going here since I was a little girl. I will be 55 this year. We still go! It's still a beautiful park even after all these years. My daughter in law now uses it to host our grandsons birthday in August. Plenty of playground equipment for the kiddos to play on. Tons of space for kiddos to run and play.
Loved the walk, my buddy and I had a blast going down the trail, we went about 1-2 miles in. It's definitely a higher difficulty hike in terms of safety, lots of landslides on the path, but we saw a beaver which made it so worth it!
My mother's maiden name is Emerson. From the Bay City/Midland area. Not sure if there is a connection but, love the park. Wonderful pavilions. Plenty of parking. The path along the river linking with the Rail Trail make it a very pretty loop to walk. Plus, Dahlia Hill is right across the street.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful views of the water and the flowers smelled so nice in the air☺️ not the type of hike I'd take a date on but it was fun”
“Very large for a park has 4 pavilions and 1 main restroom area.”
“The trees give wonderful shade, it is right next to the Tittabawasee river, the railtrail, ball fields.”
Plan your run at Emerson Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Websitecityofmidlandmi.gov
- Phone+1 989-837-6930
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–11 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–11 pm |
Running trails near Midland
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Chippewassee Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 88 reviews
Sprawling, 35-acre park known for its grassy expanses, children's play area & picnic shelters.
Midland Tridge Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 47 reviews
The Tridge (Midland)
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,965 reviews
Unique 3-way bridge where 2 rivers meet, plus a dog park, playgrounds and hiking trails.
Midland Rail Trail
5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews
