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Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 762 Google reviews · Running trail in La Quinta, California · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional 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.
Set at the feet of mountains, this park offers campsites, a swimming pool, fishing & hiking.
What runners say about Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park
“Lake cahuila had the excellent views, nice and quiet surroundings, very nice and helpful staff, very clean and safe park!”
“Beautiful beach, but you’re not allowed to swim or do boating stuff.”
“Lake cahuila had the excellent views, nice and quiet surroundings, very nice and helpful staff, very clean and safe park!”
Staff were great. One corral per site. 10x10 or 12x12 size. Sturdy. I had 2 horses my neighbor gladly allowed me to use hers. Water and electric at each site. Dump in same area. Bathrooms flush toilets and showers. One extra car included. When we needed to stay longer, we moved from 5 to 15. Liked 15 best.
A magical campground on the lake where you can stay for night o few days and if you like to fish that is the place , near Palm Springs and all the Couchella valley. Make sure to call them in advance to make your reservation and get your spot. A certain time the gate is close and not walk in.
A great trail connecting La Quinta to Lake Cahuilla, but definitely one for the early birds! I went on the Morrow Trail (also labeled as the La Quinta trail to the lake Cahuilla) and it was already getting quite hot. I didn't make it as far as I wanted, but I’ll be back for a sunrise hike next time.
Nice 2 Week stay with water and electric hookups. Black and Grey tanks are emptied by dump station. So using showers and bathrooms on site that are clean, allowing from not having to go dump every other day. The spaces are nice sized for great family camping gatherings and celebrations.
Trail conditions & character
“Lake cahuila had the excellent views, nice and quiet surroundings, very nice and helpful staff, very clean and safe park!”
“Lake cahuila had the excellent views, nice and quiet surroundings, very nice and helpful staff, very clean and safe park!”
“So using showers and bathrooms on site that are clean, allowing from not having to go dump every other day.”
“Narrow, rocky, recommend capable horses/riders.”
“It was cloudy and there was light rain, so I lucked out on a perfect time to check this out.”
Plan your run at Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- 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.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- 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
- Websiterivcoparks.org
- Phone(760) 564-4712
Running trails near La Quinta
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Cove Oasis Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 202 reviews
Desert with trails for walking and cycling winding around mountains and reservoirs, plus scenic overlooks.
Eisenhower Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 64 reviews
Small neighborhood park featuring a playground, plus a grassy area and mountain views.
