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James C Nelson Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 562 Google reviews · Running trail in Sterling Heights, Michigan · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from James C Nelson 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.
Easygoing local park with recreational amenities including a nature trail & volleyball pit.
What runners say about James C Nelson Park
“A quiet clean airy park with adequate playground for kids and a nice pathway for walking or jogging.”
“What I thought was a large plain green space with a playground reveals beautiful forested trails, accessed by a wooden bridge that crosses a stream.”
“Playground, little garden place, trails, good shade, bathroom, all of that.”
Great park. Well kept, from the shaded trails to the playground. Love that it has a volleyball court. The grass is well kept up with which makes the field look gorgeous. Pictures don’t do justice! Clean pavilion, garbage cans available throughout the park. Area with certain trees along with a butterfly garden.
An easy to find, large family friendly park located right on a busy well travelled road. Seems so run of the mill. But was I wrong. What I thought was a large plain green space with a playground reveals beautiful forested trails, accessed by a wooden bridge that crosses a stream.
A lovely trail with lots of trees, large fields, a butterfly conservatory, a community garden, a volleyball court, a good amount of parking and other cool features. It’s a great trail to traverse alone, with your SO, as family or with your pet!
Nice walking trail, well shaded trail. Pavilion with restrooms. A couple of play scapes for the kids.
Trail conditions & character
“What I thought was a large plain green space with a playground reveals beautiful forested trails, accessed by a wooden bridge that crosses a stream.”
“Playground, little garden place, trails, good shade, bathroom, all of that.”
“Playground, little garden place, trails, good shade, bathroom, all of that.”
“A lovely trail with lots of trees, large fields, a butterfly conservatory, a community garden, a volleyball court, a good amount of parking and other cool features.”
Plan your run at James C Nelson 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
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitesterling-heights.net
- Phone+1 586-446-2700
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–10 pm |
Running trails near Sterling Heights
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Redwood Park
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Ambassador Park
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Civic Center Park Madison Heights
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Red Oaks Nature Center
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38-acre natural habitat with trail systems, seasonal displays in a log cabin & family programs.
Robinwood Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 295 reviews
A mix of wooded & open space, this park offers a walking path, volleyball court & play equipment.