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Fred G. Bond Metro Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,504 Google reviews · Running trail in Cary, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Fred G. Bond Metro 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.
Sprawling lakeside park with an amphitheater, trails, athletic fields, a rope course & playground.
What runners say about Fred G. Bond Metro Park
“Very clean park with great trails to walk on calmly and I even believe that they have seasonal pedal-boating at their lake!”
“The loop around the lake is beautiful and offers a nice mix of scenery, from smooth paved sections to wooden boardwalks and more natural, wooded trails.”
“There’s two separate playground areas (little kids and big kids), it’s shaded nicely during most of the day, and within walking distance of the playground you can get to the lake!”
“Peaceful to watch the herons, ducks and other wildlife here.”
A great park for all. Liked walking on trails. There are many great paved and unpaved trails for walking and biking. The lake trail is of 2 miles. During rain unpaved trails get muddy however at some places park has small wooden bridges to walk on.
It's big!! The actual park for kids to play is a short drive in the park. You'll pass fields, parking lots and trails. There is a senior center. The whole park is so clean and nice. It's a great place for events, there is a baseball field and events center .
A mid-large sized park with plenty of running/biking trails and a lake with easy access for rafting (which can also be rented at the boathouse). The lake trail is nice (a 2 mile loop that goes through around the lake and through some hilly, knobbly terrain).
We had a lovely morning kayaking. The lake is quite small, but there is an abundance of wildlife for viewing. The rental prices are reasonable ($8/hr for a kayak), staff is friendly, and there is an abundance of parking, not to mention the surrounding trails if you are up for a walk. I will definitely be back.
Trail conditions & character
“There’s two separate playground areas (little kids and big kids), it’s shaded nicely during most of the day, and within walking distance of the playground you can get to the lake!”
“The rental prices are reasonable ($8/hr for a kayak), staff is friendly, and there is an abundance of parking, not to mention the surrounding trails if you are up for a walk.”
“Peaceful to watch the herons, ducks and other wildlife here.”
“The loop around the lake is beautiful and offers a nice mix of scenery, from smooth paved sections to wooden boardwalks and more natural, wooded trails.”
“Bathrooms were also super clean, but the soap dispensers didn’t work :((”
“Dog friendly, with wooded paths off the main paved walkway.”
“The loop around the lake is beautiful and offers a nice mix of scenery, from smooth paved sections to wooden boardwalks and more natural, wooded trails.”
“Parking for easy access to trails is available at the community center and the boathouse (which also has a nice boardwalk + picnicking area)”
“Plenty of parking in multiple spots around the park and the water fountains usually work too”
Plan your run at Fred G. Bond Metro Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- 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, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitecarync.gov
- Phone+1 919-462-3970
Hours
| Monday | 7:30 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 7:30 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 7:30 am–9 pm |
| Saturday | 7:30 am–9 pm |
| Sunday | 7:30 am–9 pm |
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