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Thornwald Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 209 Google reviews · Running trail in Carlisle, Pennsylvania · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Thornwald 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.
32-acre park featuring a 1910 mansion & walking trail that loops through a forested area.
What runners say about Thornwald Park
“While the city of Carlisle has many beautiful parks, the thirty plus acre Thornwald Park is the largest and most forested.”
A great park easily accessible in Carlisle. There aren't any playgrounds, but the trails are great for walks and the open fields are good for games and picnics (there are picnic tables, too).
We visited this little park for a quick picnic in the area en route to a final destination. I understand there is an amphitheater as well here, we did not get that far as it was a quick stop. We drove through a residential area to get there, parking lot was easy to find.
While the city of Carlisle has many beautiful parks, the thirty plus acre Thornwald Park is the largest and most forested. Featuring over a mile of unpaved heavily forested walking trails, wide open fields and even a performance stage it's a location worth visiting.
Not a park with swings, slides, or sandbox. However it has a nice walking trail, beautiful tree, flowers and a gazebo for taking pictures there are also weddings that take place there, and also thornwald park is nice for picnics with your loved ones.
Trail conditions & character
“While the city of Carlisle has many beautiful parks, the thirty plus acre Thornwald Park is the largest and most forested.”
“We drove through a residential area to get there, parking lot was easy to find.”
“The location is dog friendly as there are paths your dog can comfortably walk on.”
Plan your run at Thornwald Park
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- 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.
- 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 — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitegreatercarlisleproject.dickinson.edu
- Phone(717) 249-4422
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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