Home › Massachusetts › Springfield › Van Horn Park
Van Horn Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 808 Google reviews · Running trail in Springfield, Massachusetts · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Van Horn 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.
Recreation space with a large pond & forests, plus baseball fields, tennis courts & a playground.
What runners say about Van Horn Park
“Nice park so clean and peaceful, my first time being there I wasn’t able to find the lake but loved it just the same.”
“For being in a not so great area of Springfield this park is BEAUTIFUL.”
“Nice park so clean and peaceful, my first time being there I wasn’t able to find the lake but loved it just the same.”
“Super dog friendly and a great place to de-stress from the everyday.”
Really awesome paved trail. Love walking with my dog here. Even on warm days there's a lot of shade on the trail so I can still walk the pup. It sounds like you're in a bird sanctuary! Really beautiful. Unfortunately, my pictures do not do it justice. It was a very misty and gray day when I last went.
Beautiful park! Relaxing views, swing & slides for the children, walking trails & police stays around monitoring around.
I love taking my dog on a walk here on the trails however I wish they would open the gate at some of the entrances so you could go in and park cause I’m not really familiar with where to park to get into just the trails without crossing over on a side street and parking there otherwise I like the fact that it’s not…
This park is perfect if you’re looking for somewhere to take your kids, have family gatherings, or even just walk. There’s an outdoor “gym”, splash pad, playground, big field, and benches. There is various trails to walk, which is perfect for what I was looking for!
Trail conditions & character
“For being in a not so great area of Springfield this park is BEAUTIFUL.”
“Basketball courts, tennis courts, Full outdoor workout area, a huge playground, and a ton of space to walk dogs.”
“Nice park so clean and peaceful, my first time being there I wasn’t able to find the lake but loved it just the same.”
“I didn’t need to pay for parking or entry, which is amazing.”
Plan your run at Van Horn 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
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitespringfield-ma.gov
- Phone+1 413-787-6059
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–7 pm |
Running trails near Springfield
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Dana Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 157 reviews
Local park with baseball diamonds, playgrounds, splash pad and other kid-friendly features, plus a basketball court.
Szot Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 932 reviews
Green space with a play area, spray ground, pool & trails, plus courts/fields for several sports.
Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway - West Springfield
3.9 ★★★★☆ 10 reviews
Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway
4.4 ★★★★☆ 270 reviews
Mainly set along the river, this linear park offers 3.7 mi. of paved paths for walking & biking.
Emerson Wight Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 143 reviews
Neighborhood park geared towards families. Features include 2 basketball courts, a playground and a sprinkler pad.