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Westville Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 517 Google reviews · Running trail in Sturbridge, Massachusetts · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Loop distance
- 1 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Westville Recreation Area'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.
Year-round spot for outdoor activities, featuring hiking trails, picnic areas with grills & a lake.
What runners say about Westville Recreation Area
“There's poo bag station, so be sure to clean up after your pets!”
“Have been visiting this place for years, nice walking trails, great place to have a picnic, fly a kite, beautiful views, worth the trip!”
“Lots of shade for these warm summer days.”
This place is a gem, never disappoints. About six miles total of trails, more if you count the connectors to the northeast.
In every season, Westville is a delightful walk under the sky and trees. Its extra-wide trails, the gurgle of the river, and the songs of birds make it a great place to visit.
This place has terrific trails for walking and biking. Mostly flat, gravel trails. Has an entrance at the Pine Lake RV Resort. It’s about 6 miles if you do the entire trail but only about 4 miles is a loop. Also has parking and a picnic area. Kept in great shape. We love to visit here.
Nice walking trails and views of the water. We parked up by the dam and walked across the bridge and along the walking path if you keep going you will reach a picnic area with tables and pavilions.
Trail conditions & character
“Have been visiting this place for years, nice walking trails, great place to have a picnic, fly a kite, beautiful views, worth the trip!”
“Parking is easy, and one can walk the Westville Dam loop or upstream to a couple of small bridges and places to sit with one's toes in the water.”
“Parking is easy, and one can walk the Westville Dam loop or upstream to a couple of small bridges and places to sit with one's toes in the water.”
“It has covered pavilions for parties, picnic tables, and nearby grills for burgers and hot dog picnics.”
“On a hot day you can find some big rocks in the water and dangle your feet in the water to cool off :) Nice picnic areas and wide, mostly flat trails for walking.”
“This first part of the loop is wide gravel, gentle incline and decline.”
“After you walk the rise up past the dam, the eastern (Southbridge) side of the loop trail back to the parking area is wooded, hilly and more like a hiking trail.”
“This first part of the loop is wide gravel, gentle incline and decline.”
Plan your run at Westville Recreation Area
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- Loop distance1 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiterecreation.gov
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Sturbridge
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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