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Pleasure Beach Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 72 Google reviews · Running trail in Stratford, Connecticut · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Pleasure Beach 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.

BoardwalkScenicRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Accessed by water taxi, this remote beach has a boardwalk, info depot, showers & picnic facilities.

What runners say about Pleasure Beach Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (72 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Beautiful views, trail is mostly sand with a small amount of paved surface here and there.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Nice quiet place to walk on the beach, free water taxi to take you there.”

The place has a lot of potential to attract more visitors. However, the beach the sand and water will not be the main attraction no matter how much money the city pour into it. The beach quality is just not there. The pavilion was empty, not even open.

★★★★☆ — Bepin , Apr 2021

Beautiful! Tons if potential. Saw so many cool shells and plants I had never seen before. There's a gorgeous boardwalk with signs showing the history of pleasure beach as you walk in. It's far to the beach which is good to see a lot of nature on the way! you can always take a cart there or back.

★★★★★ — Amy , Jun 2015

Beautiful views, trail is mostly sand with a small amount of paved surface here and there.

★★★★☆ — Jim , Apr 2018

Free parking, short boat ride to island, long walk from dock to beach, history kiosks along walkway, pavillion with bathrooms and food stand (burgers, dogs, soda, water and such) at beach, narrow and stoney beach, not crowded.

★★★★★ — Ieateggs , Jul 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 72 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 4 mentions

“Beautiful views, trail is mostly sand with a small amount of paved surface here and there.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Federal funding has currently made this beach, parking, water taxi, and tram rides all free!”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Nice quiet place to walk on the beach, free water taxi to take you there.”

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🪵 Boardwalk 3 mentions

“There's a gorgeous boardwalk with signs showing the history of pleasure beach as you walk in.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Showers bathrooms and snack bar.”

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Plan your run at Pleasure Beach Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • 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
  • Websitebridgeportct.gov
  • Phone(203) 576-7233
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 10 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–6 PM
Thursday 10 AM–6 PM
Friday 10 AM–6 PM
Saturday 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday 10 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 Pleasure Beach Park

Stratford, Connecticut

Get directions

Running trails near Stratford

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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All running trails in Stratford, 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.