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Gary Pirkle Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,166 Google reviews · Running trail in Sugar Hill, Georgia · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Gary Pirkle 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.

PavedShadedLit at nightScenicRestrooms

This 67-acre park features a creek, a covered playground, paved trails, multipurpose fields & more.

What runners say about Gary Pirkle Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,166 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“Great park to play soccer, also they have a children park so you can have a great time with the family, restrooms clean and working well ✅”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“We took a walk through the trails and saw lots of beautiful wildlife including a little snake, turtle, crane, deer.”

Beautiful park to visit while staying on Lake Lanier Islands. We had our 4, 6 and 9 year old to entertain and this park did not disappoint. The playground is wonderful and we appreciate that it was covered. When the kids got tired of playing, they scootered on the flat smooth paths around the play fields.

★★★★★ — Julia , Jul 2021

They have a nice playground area here and it is completely covered. Which is nice for today since it has been rainy and everything here is actually dry. Plus, in the heat of the summer time I'll be able to bring my kids here and let them run around in the shade so they won't get quite so hot.

★★★★★ — Kim , Jan 2018

Great park for walking, running, soccer, football, and dog walking. Has pavilions for picnics and a playground too. Also has two sets of restrooms.

★★★★★ — David , Mar 2024

This is a lovely park with a very shaded playground. The playground has a lot to offer. First when you arrive you will walk across a little bridge overlooking a flowing creek then you will see the playground on your right and soccer fields on your left. There is a pavilion right past the playground with bathrooms.

★★★★★ — Meredith , Sep 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,166 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.

🚻 Restrooms 11 mentions

“Great park to play soccer, also they have a children park so you can have a great time with the family, restrooms clean and working well ✅”

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🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“First when you arrive you will walk across a little bridge overlooking a flowing creek then you will see the playground on your right and soccer fields on your left.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“When the kids got tired of playing, they scootered on the flat smooth paths around the play fields.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Plus, in the heat of the summer time I'll be able to bring my kids here and let them run around in the shade so they won't get quite so hot.”

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💡 Lit for night running

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Plan your run at Gary Pirkle 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
  • 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
  • Websitecityofsugarhill.com
  • Phone+1 770-831-7413
  • 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 Gary Pirkle Park

6195 Austin Garner Rd, Sugar Hill, GA 30518

Get directions

Running trails near Sugar Hill

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

Buford Dam Park

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Ridge Lake Park

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PVS Trail

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CRNRA--South Bowmans Island Unit

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25 miLoopCrushed gravelDog-friendly

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Bowmans Island Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 89 reviews

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LoopNatural surfaceShadedScenic

Hiking area offers shady trails with views of the water and wildlife, plus kid-friendly options.

1.9 miles away

Lower Overlook

4.7 ★★★★★ 877 reviews

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LoopScenic

Lake and river views, picnicking and lakeside hiking trails in a park, plus fishing.

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Sugar Hill, GA →

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.