HomeMichiganLansing › Hawk Island Park

Hawk Island Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 3,065 Google reviews · Running trail in Lansing, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Hawk Island 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.

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADAHillyRestroomsWater

100-acre, all-seasons park with a vehicle entrance fee features swimming, trails & snowboarding.

What runners say about Hawk Island Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (3,065 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Restroom area seemed clean and there was lots of happy kids running around the playground and splash pad areas… Busy but not overcrowded”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Beautiful views all around, highly recommend!”

Very pretty spot, not a long walk around the lake, they have a beautiful spot with wildflowers in the median when you drive in, I wish more parks would make dedicated areas for local pollinators! The bees were loving it :)

★★★★★ — Nicholas , Aug 2025

Very open, beautiful park. My kids love the playground, but beware, it's easy for them to escape towards the water! The beach has been added to and has a decent amount of nice quality sand.

★★★★★ — Melissa , Jul 2024

Good exercise walking around the lake for the dog and I both with plenty of resting benches and picnic areas…. Restroom area seemed clean and there was lots of happy kids running around the playground and splash pad areas… Busy but not overcrowded

★★★★★ — William , May 2024

I love walking around Hawk Island. The trails are usually clean. Lots of children in the summer. Barbecue areas with picnic benches. Tons of wildlife. We saw 3 does.

★★★★☆ — Linda , Jul 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 3,065 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“Beautiful views all around, highly recommend!”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 7 mentions

“Good exercise walking around the lake for the dog and I both with plenty of resting benches and picnic areas….”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“They have a nice wide paved trail as well as some solid dirt trails.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“5-mile paved trail around it leading to other wooded trails.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“The magic carpet took us up the hill so we didn't have to walk.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Restroom area seemed clean and there was lots of happy kids running around the playground and splash pad areas… Busy but not overcrowded”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

“Great for hiking and on lake sights with their large handicap accessible dock.”

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🚰 Water fountains

“Overall good facilities, the water pressure, and taste, of the drinking fountains are pretty bad but other than that, all good!”

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Plan your run at Hawk Island 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
  • At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitepk.ingham.org
  • Phone(517) 676-2233
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–8 PM
Thursday 8 AM–8 PM
Friday 8 AM–8 PM
Saturday 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday 8 AM–8 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 Hawk Island Park

1601 E Cavanaugh Rd, Lansing, MI 48910

Get directions

Running trails near Lansing

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

Scott Woods Park

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PavedScenicDog-friendly

Natural park area featuring nature trails, a lake for kayaking, deer & other forest animals.

under a mile away

Maguire Park

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BoardwalkShadedScenic

Wooded park with gym equipment, picnic and bike-fix areas for an easy trail walk.

under a mile away

Fenner Nature Center

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134-acre environmental education site with a visitor center, hands-on exhibits & self-guided trails.

1.4 miles away

Crego Park

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MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

200-acre wooded park featuring river access for fishing, kayaking & canoeing plus linkage to trails.

1.9 miles away

Clippert St Trailhead - Lansing River Trail

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Red Cedar Pkwy Trailhead - Lansing River Trail

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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.