HomeNew JerseyLinden › John Russell Wheeler Park

John Russell Wheeler Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,163 Google reviews · Running trail in Linden, New Jersey · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from John Russell Wheeler 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.

RestroomsTrailhead parking

This community park includes a pool, playground, skate park, snack bar, sports fields & picnic area.

What runners say about John Russell Wheeler Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,163 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 12 mentions

“The park is clean and they have staff on the ground supervising as the children play.”

Love the simplicity of a Waterpark on a hot sunny day. 2$/kid for residents 4$/kid non residents. 6$/adult non residents. Very clean. Bathrooms great. Well staffed. Not enough shade 😊😲

★★★★☆ — Sally , Aug 2021

Great hidden gem. It’s perfect to take the kids on a hot day! They had a blast. Everything was clean and the staff out front were pretty good. They would walk around to make sure the kids weren’t too rowdy. There are large gazebo with picnic tables. The bathroom/changing rooms are clean and cared for.

★★★★☆ — Aixa , Aug 2021

Great park with a fairly large children's jungle gym, a full-sized soccer feld with stadium lighting, a skate park (the only one that I know of in the area) and lots of paved trails for walking.

★★★★★ — D.A. , Nov 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,163 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Parking is limited and police patrol the lot and issue tickets.”

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🚻 Restrooms 3 mentions

“The bathroom/changing rooms are clean and cared for.”

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Plan your run at John Russell Wheeler 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.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitelinden-nj.gov
  • Phone(908) 862-0977
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 11 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–6 PM
Thursday 11 AM–6 PM
Friday 11 AM–6 PM
Saturday 11 AM–6 PM
Sunday 11 AM–6 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 John Russell Wheeler Park

US-1, Linden, NJ 07036

Get directions

Running trails near Linden

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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Rahway River Park

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Park with a wide range of athletic & recreational facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool.

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Joseph Medwick Park

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This park offers scenic river vistas plus ball fields, tennis courts, playgrounds & picnic groves.

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All running trails in Linden, NJ →

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.