Just a short 20-minute drive from Syracuse, Beaver Lake Park has plenty of trails for long and short distance runners. Trail sizes vary from 1/2 mile up to 3 miles. With about half a dozen to choose from, you can combine the trails to create one long run. The trails are not hilly, although the terrain varies from flat, dirt and wood-chip trails to wooden boardwalks. In the winter, the trails are not plowed, so running on them is impossible. However, any other time is just fine. The park sits next to Mud Lake, although there are plenty of beavers around, hence the name of the park. Besides beavers, there are many deer to be seen.
It costs $1 to park there (required). Canoe rentals are available (or bring your own). Also, no bikes are allowed on the trails.
From journal Running in Central New York