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Garbutt Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 250 Google reviews · Running trail in Ferndale, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
8 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Garbutt 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.

Paved8 miDog-friendlyRestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

Versatile, kid-friendly park with a playground, swings and picnic tables amid shady trees.

What runners say about Garbutt Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (250 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 8 mentions

“So nice peaceful, Clean & my dog loves it there she gets plenty of play time & I enjoy walking around the trail/ track good exercise for me👍”

Lovely, spacious park just off 8 Mile. Has a playground, grills, picnic tables, restrooms, and a paved asphalt area for bike riding, skating, or hopscotch. Dog groups meet there on some weekdays, but there's no permanent, fenced-in dog run on the premises.

★★★★★ — Madeline , Sep 2024

I love this park, and so does my daughter. She names the parks by their color and she always chooses the blue park over all others. We love that there is open space to fly a kite or run around, along with a safe place to learn how to ride a bike. The park is great, and lots of fun for her and my older son.

★★★★★ — Innovative , Sep 2019

Well there are no basketball hoops You have a lot of land space to run, or play football of the like. Jungle gym area and definitely the best resource ever...SWINGS! WHO Doesn't LOVE SWINGS??!!! It's a place that you can let your guard down and actually feel SAFE...

★★★★★ — Dewitt , Mar 2019

My daughter and I like to meet at this Park some mournings to go walking. It's midway between us. Very nice scenery as we walk and talk.

★★★★★ — Tara , May 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 250 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 8 mentions

“Only downside: Parking is only available across the street from the park, in front of residential houses.”

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🚻 Restrooms 6 mentions

“Has a playground, grills, picnic tables, restrooms, and a paved asphalt area for bike riding, skating, or hopscotch.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“So nice peaceful, Clean & my dog loves it there she gets plenty of play time & I enjoy walking around the trail/ track good exercise for me👍”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 3 mentions

“Lovely, spacious park just off 8 Mile.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Has a playground, grills, picnic tables, restrooms, and a paved asphalt area for bike riding, skating, or hopscotch.”

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🚰 Water fountains 2 mentions

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Plan your run at Garbutt Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • Distance8 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Phone(248) 544-6767

Hours

Monday 8 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–10 PM
Thursday 8 AM–10 PM
Friday 8 AM–10 PM
Saturday 8 AM–10 PM
Sunday 8 AM–10 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 Garbutt Park

200 Gardendale St, Ferndale, MI 48220

Get directions

Running trails near Ferndale

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

Martin Road Park

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Harding Park

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Scenic

Spacious park filled with trees plus baseball fields, basketball hoops & swing sets.

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Best Park

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Schoolyard-adjacent park with swings, slides and picnic tables for relaxing or running around.

2.0 miles away

Palmer Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 2,313 reviews

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Scenic

Public park with hiking & biking trails, tennis courts, a historical fountain & 18-hole golf course.

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Green Acres Park

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Hazel Park, MI

Wooded park, the site of many festivals, with grassy areas, picnic pavilions & volleyball courts.

2.1 miles away

Hudson Park

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2.4 miles away

All running trails in Ferndale, MI →

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.