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Palmer Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 2,313 Google reviews · Running trail in Detroit, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Palmer 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.

ScenicStroller / ADATrailhead parkingQuiet

Public park with hiking & biking trails, tennis courts, a historical fountain & 18-hole golf course.

What runners say about Palmer Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (2,313 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“I had never heard of this place since I'm not from Michigan but I went the other day and they have restored it and it's BEAUTIFUL!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“The park and water areas were not crowded when we arrived.”

A very nice walking path with tall trees shading you! You can see the police horses on the path also. There’s a very nice playground as well !

★★★★★ — Alecia , Sep 2024

Lovely, extensive, well kept, multi-purpose park with an iconic community house, MoGo bikes, children’s playground, log cabin and apple tree field. Perfect for a bike ride, a health fair, art fair or just a walk or a 5K run in the park.

★★★★★ — M. , Nov 2023

This is a really nice park in Detroit. Park is currently under renovation for upgrades. I look forward to seeing this done. Picture I attached shows improvement plan. There is a playground for kids to climb all over. The pond has a walk way around it to stretch your legs.

★★★★☆ — Beth , Nov 2019

This park is SO GREAT! We had lunch at a nice covered log table/chairs, played by the splash pad, spent time at the playground, and walked to the start of a few trails. This looks like a great find for the summer and beyond. The park and water areas were not crowded when we arrived.

★★★★★ — Angela , Jun 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 2,313 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 8 mentions

“I had never heard of this place since I'm not from Michigan but I went the other day and they have restored it and it's BEAUTIFUL!”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 4 mentions

“The Michigan State Fair Bandshell has taken residence up on the north side, accessible to West Seven Mile Road, next to police station.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“There are also horses kept to the left of the parking area.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“The park and water areas were not crowded when we arrived.”

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Plan your run at Palmer 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 — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitepeopleforpalmerpark.org
  • Phone+1 313-757-2751
  • Social Instagram

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 am–10 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 Palmer Park

910 Merrill Plaisance St, Detroit, MI 48203

Get directions

Running trails near Detroit

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

Garbutt Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 250 reviews

Ferndale, MI

8 miPavedDog-friendly

Versatile, kid-friendly park with a playground, swings and picnic tables amid shady trees.

2.0 miles away

Martin Road Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 332 reviews

Ferndale, MI

Dog-friendly

Spacious site with basketball hoops, picnic pavilions, an in-line rink, sledding path & playground.

2.9 miles away

Shaw Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 509 reviews

Warren, MI

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

City park offering basic facilities for baseball & tennis, plus kids' climbing structures & swings.

3.0 miles away

Green Acres Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 353 reviews

Hazel Park, MI

Wooded park, the site of many festivals, with grassy areas, picnic pavilions & volleyball courts.

3.2 miles away

Pulaski Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 274 reviews

Hamtramck, MI

Neighborhood park featuring a playground, ice cream trucks in the summer and a splash pad.

3.3 miles away

Harding Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 418 reviews

Ferndale, MI

Scenic

Spacious park filled with trees plus baseball fields, basketball hoops & swing sets.

3.4 miles away

All running trails in Detroit, MI →

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.