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Long Leaf Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,499 Google reviews · Running trail in Wilmington, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- 1.5 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Long Leaf 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.
Wooded park with lighted baseball fields & tennis courts, ample picnic shelters & a 1.5 mile trail.
What runners say about Long Leaf Park
“Love it here — a short (30ish min) scenic walking area with beautiful fountains, bridges, and landscapes.”
“There were plenty of shaded areas w picnic tables.”
“Though its serene nature and tall trees are in my opinion the focal point, it has a lot of other great qualities.”
“This place is the best park for dogs and walking.”
Great area. The park has 6 pavilions, tennis courts, 4 ball fields, a few basketball courts, a volleyball area, plenty of trees to set up a hammock and a water park area. Two different trails (inner and outer). A lot of area for picnics as well.
Love it here — a short (30ish min) scenic walking area with beautiful fountains, bridges, and landscapes. I try to take a quick walk here whenever I get to Wilmington because it is so scenic and peaceful! So much parking and easy to navigate. GREAT spot for a picnic or to bring kids for the play areas!
This park is delightful. We visited while on vacation. We found it serendipitously. There are sidewalks but you can walk anywhere across the expansive areas. There is plenty of room for people to relax, read and rest. The dog park was well laid out with separate fenced areas for large and small dogs.
Such a beautiful, exciting, and lovely park for events, walking, sports, and special activities. It's large and very expansive, and you can hike and see various animals and birds. They have a great miniature American ninja warrior course as well.
Trail conditions & character
“You can find two dog parks (one for big dogs and the other for smaller dogs), restrooms and plenty of dog waste stations.”
“Love it here — a short (30ish min) scenic walking area with beautiful fountains, bridges, and landscapes.”
“There were plenty of shaded areas w picnic tables.”
“You can find two dog parks (one for big dogs and the other for smaller dogs), restrooms and plenty of dog waste stations.”
“Lots of paved walking areas(some near the road so there is traffic noise) Mostly quiet.”
“Though its serene nature and tall trees are in my opinion the focal point, it has a lot of other great qualities.”
Plan your run at Long Leaf Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- Distance1.5 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- 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 — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteparks.nhcgov.com
- Phone(910) 798-7275
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–10 PM |
Running trails near Wilmington
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Long Leaf Nature Trail
4.4 ★★★★☆ 11 reviews
Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 85 reviews
Nature preserve featuring forest and pond on the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus.
Empie Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 770 reviews
Park with 19 tennis courts & a clubhouse, plus basketball courts, a playground & a ball field.
Anne McCrary Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 189 reviews
Park featuring picnic areas and kid-friendly hiking trails, as well as turtles.
Wade Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 323 reviews
Public park with trails & a boardwalk through wetland areas, plus a playground & picnic tables.
