HomeCaliforniaChula Vista › Gayle L. McCandliss Park

Gayle L. McCandliss Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 77 Google reviews · Running trail in Chula Vista, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Gayle L. McCandliss 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.

ScenicHillyTrailhead parking

Park with a canyon and playground, plus picnic tables and views.

What runners say about Gayle L. McCandliss Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (77 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Milwaukee North to the edge of the canyon and be prepared for a beautiful sunset view”

Beautiful- this place is well-maintained, plenty of space, good fields with shady areas and 2 gazebos, couple of b-courts, skateboarding rink for those inclined and an awesome indoor recreation center with plenty of hall space to spare.

★★★★★ — Nick , Apr 2018

I love this park it's great to take my son he loves walking up that hill there's a lot of plants trees in plenty of things to do when you bring your kid to this park I would advise anyone who has children to take them here.

★★★★★ — Lavonta , Jan 2024

This very small park features a children's play area; a grill; table and bench seating; a short, grassy hill; and a nice view of Downtown, San Diego. And some interesting trails that I have fun walking my dog through.

★★★★☆ — Stephen , Sep 2013

Nice little quaint park off J Street. Very small and limited parking, but worth the visit if hosting events or just coming for a walk with others.

★★★★★ — Daniel , Oct 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 77 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 12 mentions

“This very small park features a children's play area; a grill; table and bench seating; a short, grassy hill; and a nice view of Downtown, San Diego.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“downsides are that the parking is probably not enough to accommodate everything at once and that the renting prices are fairly high per hour.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“go over the hill and there's a small forrested area to hang out in as well as a partially gravel walkway that loops around to the main trail and street.”

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Plan your run at Gayle L. McCandliss Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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 — reported by runners

Hours

Monday 7 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–10 PM
Thursday 7 AM–10 PM
Friday 7 AM–10 PM
Saturday 7 AM–10 PM
Sunday 7 AM–10 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Gayle L. McCandliss Park

415 E J St, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Get directions

Running trails near Chula Vista

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Hilltop Park Trailhead

4.2 ★★★★☆ 25 reviews

Chula Vista, CA

under a mile away

Hilltop Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 540 reviews

Chula Vista, CA

ShadedDog-friendly

A jumbo playground & open green lawn cover this cozy park, which also offers BBQ grills & gazebos.

1.1 miles away

Explorer Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 144 reviews

Chula Vista, CA

Scenic

Kid-friendly park featuring 2 playgrounds, plus a basketball court and a walking path.

1.3 miles away

Rice Canyon Demonstration Gardens

4.7 ★★★★★ 107 reviews

Chula Vista, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring trails and picnic areas.

2.2 miles away

Rohr Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 3,017 reviews

Bonita, CA

Dog-friendly

Green space with a playground & fields plus a walking trail, model train rides & an equestrian ring.

2.3 miles away

Horizon Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 233 reviews

Chula Vista, CA

Pet-friendly green space featuring a baseball field, basketball court and playgrounds.

2.3 miles away

All running trails in Chula Vista, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.