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William C. Sterling State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 5,081 Google reviews · Running trail in Monroe, Michigan · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from William C. Sterling State 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.
Lake Erie's only state park offers 1 mile of lakeshore with campsites plus wildlife walks & hiking.
What runners say about William C. Sterling State Park
“The beach is sooo beautiful and the park is well maintained but, before you go, make sure your tabs are not expired and you have a recreational passport.”
“The beach is sooo beautiful and the park is well maintained but, before you go, make sure your tabs are not expired and you have a recreational passport.”
“The frozen lake at Sterling State Park delivers a serene, almost cinematic winter landscape — quiet, expansive, and deeply calming.”
We absolutely love it here!! The beach area has mostly grass and a small sandy shore (not far to walk!) and the trees along the beach help provide a lot of shade! There are also grills and tables for public use. Along with a playground, sheltered bathrooms, and vending machines.
Such a great park with wide open spaces, trails, beach access, fishing spots, and a playground for young kids. Sites were spacious, nice fire pits and picnic tables. Some sites are waterfront with great views and a perfect area for sunrise. Cabins are available too.
Good for family outing, there are several trails for hiking and biking, park includes campgrounds and access to beach and boat docks. Park is well maintained and there are clean bathrooms. This is a 4 rating as the cost for entry is 11 dollars, if you are planning to visit multiple times then get the annual pass.
I really wanted to show my brother at least one of the Great Lakes for his bday. Lake Erie is the closest to us. We grabbed some food and went to the closest park with a beach. When we showed up we were stunned to see how big the park was. Lots and lots of parking!
Trail conditions & character
“The beach is sooo beautiful and the park is well maintained but, before you go, make sure your tabs are not expired and you have a recreational passport.”
“The campsites are huge, the campground, beach and bathrooms are all clean.”
“The frozen lake at Sterling State Park delivers a serene, almost cinematic winter landscape — quiet, expansive, and deeply calming.”
Plan your run at William C. Sterling State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- 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, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitemichigandnr.com
- Phone+1 734-289-2715
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–10 pm |
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