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Hansen Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 59 Google reviews · Running trail in North Haven, Connecticut · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Hansen 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.
Hiking area featuring 3 trails of varying difficulty, plus picnic tables.
What runners say about Hansen Park
“It is clear the trails are well kept bc they had cleared the paths that were blocked recently by felled trees in the hurricane winds.”
“Great little trail run, rarely crowded, pretty clean, not overwhelming or difficult.”
“Nice, short, easy to navigate trails.”
“There is a small river/ stream as well, my dog loves it, it’s not too deep.”
If you Google directions it will send you to the back of a field, not the entrance. Go to the south side off Patten road and you will find the entrance easily. The trails are marked very well. I went on a rainy Sunday w my dog and we were the only ones there.
North Havens best little secret.💜💙💚💛 It has woods to hike on trails. & a clean pond for dogs to drink/ swim in. And it also offers a huge, open grassy meadow if you choose to get some sun & let your dogs run free in complete serene openness. It's very lovely there...
I don't remember this park being here while growing up in North Haven (70-80s), but then again, I wasn't as much into hiking back then. While in the area visiting family, I decided to grab some local geocaches. There are two in this park. Both were along the blue trail, so that's the only one I experienced while here.
Great place for hiking and trail running! The Red trail is relatively flat and mostly dirt while the blue trail is steeper and has some rocky terrain.
Trail conditions & character
“There is a small river/ stream as well, my dog loves it, it’s not too deep.”
“It was a steep climb at first (coming from Patten), but once it leveled out, it was a great view down either side of the trail.”
“It was a steep climb at first (coming from Patten), but once it leveled out, it was a great view down either side of the trail.”
“The Red trail is relatively flat and mostly dirt while the blue trail is steeper and has some rocky terrain.”
“It was a nice 30 min loop, we went out the yellow and back on the blue.”
“The Red trail is relatively flat and mostly dirt while the blue trail is steeper and has some rocky terrain.”
Plan your run at Hansen Park
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- 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.
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitenorthhaven-ct.gov
- Social Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near North Haven
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