HomeNorth CarolinaLeland › Founders Park

Founders Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 169 Google reviews · Running trail in Leland, North Carolina · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Founders 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.

Lit at nightRestroomsTrailhead parking

Open-air area featuring playgrounds, walking trails, and disc golf.

What runners say about Founders Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (169 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

The Leland Lights are really something special. The set up is done great for families to walk through and up to and a small playground is nearby to play at after. The best part, it's free for the community to enjoy, something that you don't see enough of that really helps make this special for this time of the year.

★★★★★ — James , Dec 2021

The Christmas lights here are so nice, in the past we’ve gone to Airlie and had to pay but Founders park in Leland is a great FREE activity. This is a walk through not drive through & the path is nicely paved so the stroller didn’t have any issues.

★★★★★ — Aimee , Dec 2025

Great place for walking, lots of trees. Parking, Frisbee golf, and doggy bags for💩. No bathrooms.

★★★★★ — Charla , Sep 2020

Great walking path, disc golf, swings for the kids and even served as an early voting site.

★★★★★ — G , Nov 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 169 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.

💡 Lit for night running 8 mentions

“The Christmas display is absolutely beautiful, and with the season just around the corner, the Leland in lights display has become a tradition started three years ago.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

“Parking, Frisbee golf, and doggy bags for💩.”

More trails like this →

🚻 Restrooms 3 mentions

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Founders 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • 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 trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitetownofleland.com
  • Phone+1 910-371-0148
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 am–9 pm
Tuesday 7 am–9 pm
Wednesday 7 am–9 pm
Thursday 7 am–9 pm
Friday 7 am–9 pm
Saturday 7 am–9 pm
Sunday 7 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 Founders Park

113 Town Hall Dr, Leland, NC 28451

Get directions

Running trails near Leland

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

Cypress Cove Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 44 reviews

Leland, NC

Crushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

under a mile away

Westgate Nature Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 204 reviews

Leland, NC

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Wooded park featuring playgrounds and information about animals and trees.

2.1 miles away

Leland Community Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 157 reviews

Leland, NC

Paved

Park with a playground and picnic tables, plus a baseball field.

2.5 miles away

Meadow Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 43 reviews

Leland, NC

Dog-friendly

Private park for residents of the Brunswick Forest community featuring a dog area, playgrounds and nature trails.

3.3 miles away

Northwest District Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 424 reviews

Leland, NC

Natural surface

Outdoor venue offering a playground and athletic facilities, including baseball fields, tennis courts, and a basketball court.

3.5 miles away

Annsdale Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 17 reviews

Leland, NC

3.8 miles away

All running trails in Leland, NC →

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.