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William H. Kain County Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,309 Google reviews · Running trail in York, Pennsylvania · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from William H. Kain County 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.
Scenic park featuring trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding, plus 2 lakes & kayak rentals.
What runners say about William H. Kain County Park
“Delightful small/medium lake and very well kept park with clean bathrooms.”
“If you don’t have a lot of time, take a hike 3A - It’s only about a 20 minute walk to a clearing/picnic area and it’s a great view and distraction if you’re on a long drive.”
Long walking trail that goes around two lakes. You can rent kayaks and paddle boats for the lake. There are tons of blueberry bushes along the trail. There are beautiful mushrooms growing along the trail too.
There’s some really nice trails here. The views are amazing. It’s become one of my favorite parks
As far as local parks, this is one of the better ones. It's quieter than lake Redman, and offers alot of trails to hike as well as fishing and kayaking. The park is also adjacent to Richard Nixon County park which is accessible via trails from Lake Williams.
A nice park, whether you are their to play, or have a family or work event and choose to rent one of the several available pavilions. Boat ramp for everything from inflatables to bassboats. Just enjoy nature? Well there are quite a few trails for hiking and riding. Plenty of wildlife around.
Trail conditions & character
“If you don’t have a lot of time, take a hike 3A - It’s only about a 20 minute walk to a clearing/picnic area and it’s a great view and distraction if you’re on a long drive.”
“There's a nice parking area right off water street with a boat launch, an area for fishing or family outings, public restrooms, and attached is the entrance to miles of trails.”
“There's a nice parking area right off water street with a boat launch, an area for fishing or family outings, public restrooms, and attached is the entrance to miles of trails.”
“Was wondering why water level is low, then read that they’re doing repairs.”
“I've only recently started exploring them, but so far I've found them to be dog friendly (on leash only) and varying levels of difficulty.”
“Not wheelchair accessible and I didn't see a map of the trails so we stuck to the main one around the lake.”
Plan your run at William H. Kain County Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- 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
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteyorkcountyparks.org
- Phone(717) 840-7440
- Social Instagram
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 York
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
York Reservoir Trailhead
5 ★★★★★ 6 reviews
Nixon Park Nature Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 372 reviews
Park featuring a nature center, museum and hiking trails plus birds and kid-friendly events.
York Township Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 550 reviews
Relaxed park featuring ball fields and a playground, plus walking trails.
Reservoir Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 39 reviews
Park with a gazebo, wooded area, and trails for walking, sledding, and dogs.
Mill Creek Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 153 reviews
Small, flat, dog-friendly reserve featuring a creek, picnic tables, and trails.