HomePennsylvaniaEphrata › Thomas P. Grater Community Park

Thomas P. Grater Community Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 393 Google reviews · Running trail in Ephrata, Pennsylvania · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Thomas P. Grater Community 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.

Dog-friendlyRestroomsWater

Park with a playground, baseball field, and tennis court, plus a pool, and trails.

What runners say about Thomas P. Grater Community Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (393 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Great park, clean, and well maintained!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“My kids loved the variety of things to play on at the playground and it was beautiful walking the path around the park!”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“Nice quiet place to walk my dog.”

This park is great for walking your dog or jogging lightly. The trail runs along a creek, which is choked full of water fowl most days

★★★★★ — Garrison , Aug 2023

It's got two age group appropriate playgrounds there. We had our 3.5yr old there with other various aged kids there. There's a river that runs along the back perimeter of the park. Not much to see in that part. A bunch of grassy and somewhat shady areas for kids to run around in. Feel safe.

★★★★★ — Jesse , Oct 2023

Nice park but it sits in the sun so it gets hot if you plan on going during the day. Equipment is cared for and it has the usual walking paths and a stream near by for fishing for pan fish. Has tennis courts as well and is next to the swimming pool of you need to take a dip after playing at the park.

★★★★☆ — Feng , Aug 2021

It's nice and quiet,creek is beautiful,dogs are welcome, walk/bike trail is nice and relaxing, baseball field is durable and built for heavy play, I suggest you bring your own water bottle because the water fountains are questionable im pretty sure birds use it as a bird bath,fishing is allowed.

★★★★★ — Teagan , Apr 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 393 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.

🐕 Dog-friendly 6 mentions

“The general scene is a bit dated (light posts, deteriorated wood deck, poor drainage of grounds), but overall a wide open space good for taking a walk or playing with dogs.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Bathrooms, swings, slides, benches, picnic tables, fun playground.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at Thomas P. Grater Community 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 trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteephrataboro.org
  • Phone+1 717-738-1167
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–9:30 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9:30 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9:30 pm
Thursday 6 am–9:30 pm
Friday 6 am–9:30 pm
Saturday 6 am–9:30 pm
Sunday 6 am–9:30 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 Thomas P. Grater Community Park

Cloister Ave, Ephrata, PA 17522

Get directions

Running trails near Ephrata

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

Ephrata Linear Park

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Ephrata, PA

8 miPavedShadedLit

Paved trail for walking, cycling and jogging, also popular for families.

under a mile away

Ephrata Linear Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 59 reviews

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Paved

under a mile away

Warwick-to-Ephrata Rail-Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 76 reviews

Ephrata, PA

PavedScenic

Multi-purpose trail with gentle slopes, for walking jogging, biking and running, plus restrooms and parking.

under a mile away

Heatherwood Bike Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 74 reviews

Ephrata, PA

Natural surface

Mountain biking park featuring a pump track and trails for beginners and intermediate-level riders.

under a mile away

Ephrata Township Community Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 724 reviews

Ephrata, PA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Relaxing park offering playground sets, ball fields and a pond, along with picnic sites and trails.

1.8 miles away

Denver Memorial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 527 reviews

Denver, PA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Sprawling community park, complete with playgrounds, trails and a disc golf course.

4.6 miles away

All running trails in Ephrata, PA →

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.