HomeMichiganWaterford Township › Hess-Hathaway Park

Hess-Hathaway Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 767 Google reviews · Running trail in Waterford Township, Michigan · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Hess-Hathaway 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.

BoardwalkRestroomsWater

Popular park with a playground, farm animals, trails & sports such as baseball & volleyball.

What runners say about Hess-Hathaway Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (767 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

“The staff are easy to work with and the park is great for children of all ages but I would like to comment on something else here at the park.”

Awesome park with animals and a fenced in playground. This is great for my 2 year old that likes to try to run off.

★★★★★ — Amanda , Mar 2022

Great park to take the kids to. The play scape, swings and sand lot are all gated in so you don't have to worry about your kids running off in opposite directions and going too far. There is a smaller pavilion in the play area and a large pavilion on the opposite side of the parking lot that sits on a small hill.

★★★★★ — Heather , May 2023

Great, Little Park and Waterford, Michigan really really loved it. Enjoyed it with family great place for kids to play around the kids play area, which is fenced plenty of playground to run around it. Picnic tables, water fountains, and nice little farm for the kids to enjoy. recommend a visit here.

★★★★★ — Debasis , Jul 2024

Very nice park. There's rows and rows of park benches and picnic tables, for family groups or couples. There's even a place to walk alongside the beach called the boardwalk. The beaches roped off oh, so no worries about going into lake traffic. There is an entry fee to enter this park. Or you can get a yearly pass.

★★★★★ — Bella , Jun 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 767 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.

🪵 Boardwalk

“There's even a place to walk alongside the beach called the boardwalk.”

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🚰 Water fountains

“Picnic tables, water fountains, and nice little farm for the kids to enjoy.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

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Plan your run at Hess-Hathaway Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • 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.
  • At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Websitewaterfordmi.gov
  • Phone(248) 674-5441

Hours

Monday 10 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–8 PM
Thursday 10 AM–8 PM
Friday 10 AM–8 PM
Saturday 10 AM–8 PM
Sunday 10 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 Hess-Hathaway Park

825 S Williams Lake Rd, Waterford Township, MI 48327

Get directions

Running trails near Waterford Township

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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Wise Woods Park

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Pontiac Lake Mountain Bike Trailhead

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Pontiac Lake Trail (MTB)

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Marshbank Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 877 reviews

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MixedScenicDog-friendly

Park with hiking trails, lake views, fishing, volleyball, and picnic areas.

3.2 miles away

All running trails in Waterford Township, MI →

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.