Home › North Carolina › Charlotte › James Boyce Park
James Boyce Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 316 Google reviews · Running trail in Charlotte, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from James Boyce 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.
Sizable park with a playground & fields for softball & soccer, plus wooded trails & picnic areas.
What runners say about James Boyce Park
“Big playground, spacious sheltered picnic area, clean restrooms, well taken care of the soccer field and more.”
“Beautiful place for hiking and jogging any time of the year.”
“Great trails for biking, running, or a walk in the woods.”
A great little park behind Charlotte Prep and Charlotte Christian schools on Sardis Road. This park connects to McAlpine Greenway but you don’t even have to go on the Greenway for a long walk or run.
In the last few months, I have been to the mountains of North Carolina several times. Specifically I have hiked around Stone Mountain North Carolina and South Mountain. They were great hikes, but I also wanted a local option.
Great park for dogs & little ones! They have swings and slides for children of all ages. They have trails for runners, bikers or just for a small walk! Great places for your dog to run around on a leash! Awesome park close to the city to get fresh air.
McAlpine Greenway connects with trails to explore for miles and plenty of open meadow space or woods! It's kind of busy dog-a-rama on weekends and they really love it here. We saw eight or nine does with young as close as could be. My Phoebe went nuts but I held on!
Trail conditions & character
“There’s a designated area for events with BBQ facilities, a kids’ playground, and it’s pet-friendly.”
“Big playground, spacious sheltered picnic area, clean restrooms, well taken care of the soccer field and more.”
“Only issue I saw was parking, but everybody was able to find a spot just had to be patient.”
“Beautiful place for hiking and jogging any time of the year.”
Plan your run at James Boyce 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitemecknc.gov
- Phone(704) 643-5725
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–6 PM |
Running trails near Charlotte
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
McAlpine Creek Greenway Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 154 reviews
Popular paved greenway with a pond, picnic area, restrooms, and dog park, plus wildlife sightings.
McAlpine Creek Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,270 reviews
114-acre county park with a lake & fishing pier, soccer fields, hiking & bike trails, & a dog park.
Campbell Creek Greenway Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 78 reviews
Wooded, wheelchair-accessible trail with a babbling stream that's great for hiking, running and biking.
Matthews-Sardis Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 167 reviews
Small, shaded neighborhood park featuring play equipment, picnic tables and swings.
Irvins Creek Greenway
4.7 ★★★★★ 9 reviews