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McClean Outdoor Education Preserve

5 ★★★★★ 4 Google reviews · Running trail in West Suffield, Connecticut · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from McClean Outdoor Education Preserve'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.

Natural surfaceLoopTrailhead parking

What runners say about McClean Outdoor Education Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (4 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

To access the preserve, park your vehicle across the street in the Suffield High School parking lot. There is a striped crosswalk on Sheldon Street to mark the entrance. GPS coordinates are 41°58'44.0"N 72°41'34.6"W. A dirt path leads down to the first clearing, which contains a shed and shelter.

★★★★★ — Bob , Oct 2023

Perfect 1 mile nature trail - very thoughtfully crafted to make sure you can get across the muddy sections with bridges or wooden walk ways.

★★★★★ — Nicole , Nov 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 4 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.

🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 3 mentions

“Perfect 1 mile nature trail - very thoughtfully crafted to make sure you can get across the muddy sections with bridges or wooden walk ways.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“At the start of the blue loop trail, we saw an additional building, which appeared to be an observation tower.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

“To access the preserve, park your vehicle across the street in the Suffield High School parking lot.”

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Plan your run at McClean Outdoor Education Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • 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 — reported by runners
  • Websitesuffieldlandconservancy.org

Hours

Monday 7 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–6 PM
Thursday 7 AM–6 PM
Friday 7 AM–6 PM
Saturday 7 AM–6 PM
Sunday 7 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 McClean Outdoor Education Preserve

1081 Sheldon St, West Suffield, CT 06093

Get directions

Running trails near West Suffield

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

Stony Brook Park

4 ★★★★☆ 47 reviews

Suffield, CT

LoopNatural surface

Park with kid-friendly hiking trails and a river.

1.4 miles away

Nicholson Nature Preserve

4 ★★★★☆ 3 reviews

West Suffield, CT

Loop

1.9 miles away

Sunrise Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 149 reviews

West Suffield, CT

ScenicDog-friendly

Lake featuring trails, playground and picnic tables, plus swimming, fishing and kayaking.

2.0 miles away

Alcorn Wildlife Preserves

4 ★★★★☆ 7 reviews

West Suffield, CT

2.6 miles away

Newgate Pond Trail

3.5 ★★★★☆ 2 reviews

East Granby, CT

3.2 miles away

Doreen's Nature Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 3 reviews

East Granby, CT

3.2 miles away

All running trails in West Suffield, CT →

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.