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Grover Cleveland Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 743 Google reviews · Running trail in Essex Fells, New Jersey · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Grover Cleveland 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.
What runners say about Grover Cleveland Park
“You can enjoy a relaxing two-mile walk around the scenic park loop, complete with a lovely pond, comfortable benches, and best of all, super clean restrooms and porta potties.”
“Beautiful wooded paths, nice pond for fishing and large fields for outdoor activities.”
“Despite the amount of large trees, shade is sparse in the afternoon except for the area for ages 2-5.”
“2nd Review: This quiet, serene park is on the way to my Mom's house so I take a loop around on my way there or on the way home.”
Nice park with short walking trails. The pond is great with birds, fish and turtles. The playground is nice and bathrooms are well maintained.
We enjoyed this park on a super hot day this summer. Social distancing was very easy. The trails are large, paved, and have ample benches to rest. There are also several garbage cans available (something I have not seen much during COVID times). We spent a significant amount of time at the playground.
Beautifully designed park by the same men who designed Central Park (as well as the other 20 parks in Essex County). My family and I regularly enjoy walks through here. The Katsura trees are our favorite due to their form and the smell of cotton candy they release when their leaves are wet.
Very nice park with playground and nice little stream. And afternoon walk would be amazing here.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful wooded paths, nice pond for fishing and large fields for outdoor activities.”
“2nd Review: This quiet, serene park is on the way to my Mom's house so I take a loop around on my way there or on the way home.”
“Despite the amount of large trees, shade is sparse in the afternoon except for the area for ages 2-5.”
“You can enjoy a relaxing two-mile walk around the scenic park loop, complete with a lovely pond, comfortable benches, and best of all, super clean restrooms and porta potties.”
“Grover Cleveland Park is a nice park with paved and lighted trails.”
“You can enjoy a relaxing two-mile walk around the scenic park loop, complete with a lovely pond, comfortable benches, and best of all, super clean restrooms and porta potties.”
“There is also a restroom next to the playground as well as a drinking fountain (with a bottle filler), both were open and operational the day we went.”
“Grover Cleveland Park is a nice park with paved and lighted trails.”
Plan your run at Grover Cleveland 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, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteessexcountyparks.org
- Phone+1 973-268-3500
- Social Instagram
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 |
Running trails near Essex Fells
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Verona Park
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