HomeMichiganGrand Rapids › Highland Park

Highland Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 296 Google reviews · Running trail in Grand Rapids, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Highland 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.

Dog-friendlyHilly

City park, also known as Highland Park, featuring playgrounds, a rock wall, soccer and football fields, and nature trails.

What runners say about Highland Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (296 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Super beautiful area with lots to do, it's unfortunately right by the highway and that can be a bit noisy.”

Great place to play some disc golf. Also a nice place to play when you're little. My grandmother lived on top of the hill back in the '70s and we used to play there all the time. It is one of the best places in the area to recreate. Lots of available activities. Plenty of areas for picnicking.

★★★★☆ — Michael , Oct 2024

A unique park with lots of space. There is a rock wall small enough for kids to enjoy, but challenging enough that I see professional rock climbers come with talcum powder and practice. There are some minor trails to explore.

★★★★★ — Aaron , Jul 2024

I love this park. They've got a wonderful little pollinator garden, a great playground, a splash pad, and a new boulder wall. I like to come here to sit at a picnic table or under a tree to read. They also have some short walking paths and some great sledding hills!

★★★★★ — Hm , Sep 2022

This is a great park. I enjoy walking here. Restrooms could use improving. Splash pad for the kids and nice play area. The splash pad was working when I was there earlier in the day. I tried to add a few photos but couldn't get them to upload them. There is a sign saying they are making improvements.

★★★★☆ — Rebecca , Jul 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 296 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.

⛰️ Hills / elevation 4 mentions

“and it is quite the hike thru the woods up and down the hills but over all it is fun and challenging.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Great place to take your dog out just got a good ol family day!”

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Plan your run at Highland Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitegrandrapidsmi.gov
  • Phone+1 616-456-3696

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 Highland Park

700 College Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Get directions

Running trails near Grand Rapids

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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Ball Perkins Park

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Huff Park

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City park with a playground & ball field, plus a wetlands boardwalk trail with interpretive signs.

2.3 miles away

All running trails in Grand Rapids, 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.