HomePennsylvaniaErie › Headwaters Park

Headwaters Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 337 Google reviews · Running trail in Erie, Pennsylvania · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
3 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Headwaters 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.

Mixed3 miScenicDog-friendlyMile markers

Wooded park featuring a pavilion, a picnic area and many marked bridges.

What runners say about Headwaters Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (337 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Clean and well marked with maps throughout.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Beautiful and well marked trails with lots of benches to rest or just take it all in”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“Beautiful and well marked trails with lots of benches to rest or just take it all in”

Easy winter hike for my older boys. Few people so my dogs got to roam freely.

★★★★★ — Ashley , Feb 2022

Absolutely love this area. Very woodsy but doesn't feel like you are going to get lost. We love taking our dogs to run around. Always have cute events throughout the area and decorations. They added so many cute updates. Love this place and the little bridge path

★★★★★ — Niky , May 2022

Beautiful area. Saw a few deer. Didn't walk more than a mile. Trails seem short, but this was my first visit. It was a bit muddy too. Kept us on trail. Might take a shot at XC skiing thru the area if it extends far enough. Any suggestions for XC? I'll take'm :)

★★★★★ — Jeremy , Dec 2020

Great place to go for a hike with your furry best friend and clear your mind.

★★★★★ — Leigh , Jul 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 337 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 5 mentions

“Beautiful and well marked trails with lots of benches to rest or just take it all in”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Few people so my dogs got to roam freely.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“Beautiful and well marked trails with lots of benches to rest or just take it all in”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 4 mentions

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🪵 Boardwalk

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Plan your run at Headwaters Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • Distance3 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteerieconservation.com
  • Phone+1 814-825-6403

Hours

Monday 6 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–9 pm
Saturday 6 am–9 pm
Sunday 6 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 Headwaters Park

1927 Wager Rd, Erie, PA 16509

Get directions

Running trails near Erie

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

Science Hill

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Wintergreen Gorge

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ScenicDog-friendly

Natural area, featuring scenic paths alongside waterfalls, creeks and cliffs.

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East Erie Nature Trail Park

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McClelland Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 455 reviews

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ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Public recreation area with woods & dirt walking paths, plus an enclosed area for dogs.

2.7 miles away

Rolling Ridge Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 115 reviews

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Small park with a playground and a clean basketball court, plus tennis courts.

3.4 miles away

Chautauqua Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 186 reviews

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ScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a picnic pavilion, hiking trails, a beach, and waterfall, plus hunting.

4.6 miles away

All running trails in Erie, PA →

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.