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Knapp Recreation Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 82 Google reviews · Running trail in Akron, Ohio · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Knapp Recreation Area'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.

Open 24hShadedScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parkingMile markersQuiet

Small lakeside park with picnic tables and trails for hiking and dog-walking, plus a shelter.

What runners say about Knapp Recreation Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (82 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“From the moment we arrived, I was impressed by the clean and well-maintained pavilion.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“The surrounding landscape at Knapp Recreation Area is simply stunning.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“Bit of a hidden gem, this small park offers well marked trails, a lake view, and an open shelter with picnic table.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 7 mentions

“Usually quiet, great for a quick stroll in the woods and and to feel away from it all for a bit when you don't have time to get away from it all”

This is just a small neighborhood park maintained by the ODNR with a few trails through a nice wooded area. A trail goes down to the East side of East Reservoir Lake where the Akron Yacht Club has their dock area in Portage Lakes.

★★★★★ — Roger , Jun 2017

This is a small nature area. Parking space for about ten cars. There are a couple of picnic tables in a shelter. There is a porta potty on site. There are rustic hiking trails through the woods. I primarily use it to portage my kayak through the woods to the edge of the lake near Sandy beach marina. It's a great (?

★★★★☆ — Cheung , Nov 2015

Secluded and serene park with quiet trails. There is a nice lazy stream that is a nice option for dogs to play in without having to worry about abandoned fish hooks.

★★★★★ — Melissa , Sep 2022

Really beautiful and natural park. Beware of the shattered glass at the beginning and end of the trail near the parking lot, dogs or children could injure themselves if unsupervised. But once you get out onto the trail there is less danger of glass, just keep an eye out.

★★★★☆ — Dominic , Sep 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 82 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 12 mentions

“There is a bench there to relax and enjoy the view of the Lake and whatever waterfowl or wildlife might venture in.”

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🚻 Restrooms 8 mentions

“A trail goes down to the East side of East Reservoir Lake where the Akron Yacht Club has their dock area in Portage Lakes.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“Beware of the shattered glass at the beginning and end of the trail near the parking lot, dogs or children could injure themselves if unsupervised.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 7 mentions

“Beware of the shattered glass at the beginning and end of the trail near the parking lot, dogs or children could injure themselves if unsupervised.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 7 mentions

“Usually quiet, great for a quick stroll in the woods and and to feel away from it all for a bit when you don't have time to get away from it all”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“This is just a small neighborhood park maintained by the ODNR with a few trails through a nice wooded area.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“Bit of a hidden gem, this small park offers well marked trails, a lake view, and an open shelter with picnic table.”

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Plan your run at Knapp Recreation Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • 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 — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitem.facebook.com

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Knapp Recreation Area

Knapp Dr, Akron, OH 44319

Get directions

Running trails near Akron

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Portage Lakes State Park Beach

4.5 ★★★★★ 546 reviews

New Franklin, OH

ScenicDog-friendly

Family-friendly beach and swimming spot, along with picnic tables and a playground.

2.1 miles away

Portage Lakes State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 4,319 reviews

Akron, OH

PavedScenicDog-friendly

A magnet for boaters, this park features 8 lakes as well as camping spots & picnic shelters.

2.3 miles away

Towpath Trailhead at Manchester Rd

4.5 ★★★★★ 190 reviews

Akron, OH

Crushed gravelScenic

Flat trail that traces the former Ohio & Erie Canal and is popular for hiking, fishing and biking.

3.2 miles away

Central Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 598 reviews

Uniontown, OH

8-acre park featuring a walking trail, ponds, an amphitheater, a playground, a splash pad & more.

3.5 miles away

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail - Wilbeth Road Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 330 reviews

Akron, OH

MixedDog-friendly

Flat trail along the canal that takes hikers, bikers and runners to Summit Lake.

3.9 miles away

Haley’s Run Trail

3.3 ★★★☆☆ 9 reviews

Akron, OH

4.4 miles away

All running trails in Akron, OH →

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.