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Jones Lake State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,254 Google reviews · Running trail in Elizabethtown, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Jones Lake State 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.
Featuring an expansive relict lake, this wooded park offers camping, fishing, hiking & swimming.
What runners say about Jones Lake State Park
“The facilities are well-maintained, with clean bathrooms and organized campsites that include spacious pads for RVs and picnic tables for outdoor dining.”
“The lake itself is stunning, creating a perfect backdrop for relaxation or activities like fishing and kayaking.”
“The park offers serene surroundings, featuring tall pine trees that provide a peaceful and shady atmosphere.”
Very enjoyable visit. I went trail running today and had a good time. The park is very clean and well kept. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The visitors center has some interesting exhibits which are well worth the time to check out. I would like to camp out in a month or two.
Another great NC State Park! We camped here for 3 nights. Campsites are large and spaced far apart for privacy. There are 20 campsites, 5 or 6 of which have full RV hookups. There is one bathhouse centrally located in the campground. There are about 7 or 8 miles of trails, including one that is ~5.
We love coming to this lake! It's always been clean and peaceful every time we’ve visited. There are plenty of picnic tables, and the kids always have a blast whether we’re hiking, fishing, or just relaxing by the water. They also have boat rentals and campsites if you want to make a whole weekend out of it.
Beautiful lake and trails. Bathhouse was clean and grounds were well maintained. Grilling, picnic tables and pavilions by the lake sure to be kept busy this summer. We camped at Site #15 mostly in the shade all day.
Trail conditions & character
“The park offers serene surroundings, featuring tall pine trees that provide a peaceful and shady atmosphere.”
“The facilities are well-maintained, with clean bathrooms and organized campsites that include spacious pads for RVs and picnic tables for outdoor dining.”
“Aerial views show that thousands of these ovals are perfectly parallel, precisely aligned along a northwest-to-southeast axis.”
“The park offers serene surroundings, featuring tall pine trees that provide a peaceful and shady atmosphere.”
“Don't wear light-colored swimwear if you don't want it stained from the tannins!”
Plan your run at Jones Lake State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- 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
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitencparks.gov
- Phone+1 910-588-4550
- Social Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–8 pm |
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