HomeMichiganWestland › Tonquish/Ellsworth Trailhead

Tonquish/Ellsworth Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 16 Google reviews · Running trail in Westland, Michigan · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Tonquish/Ellsworth Trailhead'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.

MixedTrailhead parking

What runners say about Tonquish/Ellsworth Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (16 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Hiking and MTB trail. Access the trail head near the Oak Grove Parking Lot on Ann Arbor trail West of Nankin Lake. The trail follows Tonquish creek into the Holliday Reserve. This trail has had repairs and new bridges added for crossing the creek. A boardwalk section near the East Trailhead is very nice.

★★★★☆ — Malcolm , Jun 2024

Beautiful nature trail, nice clear dirt path next to the river. Connects to other trails. Lots of wildlife and bird sounds.

★★★★★ — Patricia , Sep 2025

Short trail with not too much to see along the way. But it's not too difficult to navigate. It was extremely buggy when we visited. So bring bug spray.

★★★★☆ — Kathy , Sep 2025

Ellsworth Trail is a beautiful path through the woods. Ideally with children, since there is a lot of wildlife to discover.

★★★★★ — David , Oct 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 16 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 9 mentions

“Access the trail head near the Oak Grove Parking Lot on Ann Arbor trail West of Nankin Lake.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 3 mentions

“Beautiful nature trail, nice clear dirt path next to the river.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

“A boardwalk section near the East Trailhead is very nice.”

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Plan your run at Tonquish/Ellsworth Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • 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
  • Websitehnpa.org

Where to find Tonquish/Ellsworth Trailhead

Westland, Michigan

Get directions

Running trails near Westland

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

Holliday Nature Preserve

4.3 ★★★★☆ 111 reviews

Westland, MI

Natural surfaceShadedScenic

Nature reserve and park with 5 miles of pathways through the woods popular for hiking.

under a mile away

Oak Grove MTB Trailhead (East)

4.7 ★★★★★ 47 reviews

Westland, MI

Scenic

under a mile away

Nankin Mills Recreation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 656 reviews

Westland, MI

Scenic

Nature retreat featuring bike paths, picnic tables, and play areas, in addition to charcoal grills.

under a mile away

Nankin Lake Park Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 130 reviews

Livonia, MI

PavedScenic

Park with a lake providing opportunities for fishing, walking, kayaking, and biking, plus a waterfall.

under a mile away

Nankin Mills Nature Center

4.6 ★★★★★ 139 reviews

Westland, MI

Scenic

Free nature center featuring exhibits on the history of the area and its wildlife (including live turtles) or reptiles, plus trails.

under a mile away

Wayne County Parks

4.6 ★★★★★ 67 reviews

Westland, MI

Lit

Park offering picnic tables and trails for walking and biking.

under a mile away

All running trails in Westland, 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.