Home › California › Lakeside › El Monte County Park
El Monte County Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 467 Google reviews · Running trail in Lakeside, California · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from El Monte 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.
County park offering a playground, trails, and facilities for ball games, picnicking, and horseshoes.
What runners say about El Monte County Park
“We came here as part of a group of painters, and the park was in great condition-- clean and tidy, including the bathrooms.”
“El Monte County Park is located in Lakeside, it is now one of our favorites because of its calm and beautiful atmosphere.”
“Went to a fanstastic wedding setting here, under the shade trees, in the back of the park.”
Beautiful park, be mindful of the lack of cell service! You can reserve spaces for all sorts of events. The park office also has sporting equipment you can borrow.
This is such a beautiful park. I would highly recommend you check it out. Very kid friendly. It cost $3.00 to park but a beautiful backdrop. Also located near Lake Jennings and the El Capitan Resivor. You also get alot of wild Turkey that run around that area. Lots of play places. Plenty of parking aswell.
El Monte Park is a nice place to hike! Its also an amazing place to do a nice trail ride with horses! My horse and I love trail riding up there!
El Monte County Park is located in Lakeside, it is now one of our favorites because of its calm and beautiful atmosphere. The park is nestled in the country and has some of the most wonderful oak trees you can imagine. The park has plenty of ample grass area , three fun playgrounds, and trails.
Trail conditions & character
“El Monte County Park is located in Lakeside, it is now one of our favorites because of its calm and beautiful atmosphere.”
“There are three playgrounds, a baseball field, a field that can be rented out for your scout troop to camp in, lots of picnic tables, decent bathrooms, and amazing views!”
“$3 parking fee but those fees clearly go towards maintaining the grounds.”
“Went to a fanstastic wedding setting here, under the shade trees, in the back of the park.”
Plan your run at El Monte 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitesdparks.org
- Phone(619) 443-1474
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 9:30 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM–7 PM |
Running trails near Lakeside
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
El Capitan County Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 114 reviews
Nature preserve offering hiking trails with views that vary in difficulty.
El Cajon Mountain / El Capitan Preserve Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 34 reviews
San Diego River Park Trail, El Monte Valley
4.7 ★★★★★ 7 reviews
Crestridge Ecological Reserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 124 reviews
Preserved space with trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding, plus abundant wildlife.
