Laurel Hill County Park

Beautiful scenery and a nice open trail with fun smaller side trails.

I walk to and around the park from my house all of the time. The trails you see on the posted maps are basically pretty well maintained dirt roads although parts of these trails have lots of tree roots so they are no fun with a bike without shocks. These major trails are used quite a bit by walkers (many with dogs) and bikers as you would expect given the park's location in the center of a major suburb. If you can find it, there is a much less used 2 mile long rustic trail in the north east part of the park. If you see faded black diamond marks on the trees, you know you are the right path. Bring plenty of bug spray in the summer, especially if you are walking the rustic trail.

Laurel Hill County Park is tucked away at the back of the Park West Sports Complex. The trails are shaded with tree canopies. The paths were recently cleared and roots shaved down to provide an even and clear walking surface. While walking we saw a barred owl, woodpecker, and bald eagle. We went the day after a heavy rain and the trails were a bit muddy. I recommend sneakers or shoes good for mud if you go after a rain. On a non-rain day, all footwear is acceptable. It was little tricky to find as Google takes you to the 41 entrance that leads to a chained gate. Eventually we found the correct entrance on Park West Blvd. Once in the lot, you drive all the way to the farthest baseball fields with plentiful parking. Tip: take a photo of the trail maps as you can get turned around at the forks in the trails.

I have been running these trails for over 4 years and typical run them 3 -4 times per week. Trails are well kept and area is always free of trash. There are easy trails all the way to very technical (black diamond trail if you can find it)

Peaceful Park but Needs a Few Improvements The park is wonderful—very secluded and feels like a true escape from the city noise. It’s a great spot to unwind! However, there are a couple of issues. Bugs are abundant (understandable for a forested area), but some treatment could help manage them. Also, there are no trash cans, which is inconvenient, especially for the many dog walkers who have nowhere to dispose of waste bags. Overall, a lovely spot that could benefit from a few small improvements!