Home › California › Benicia › Lake Herman Recreation Area
Lake Herman Recreation Area
4.4 ★★★★☆ 254 Google reviews · Running trail in Benicia, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lake Herman Recreation Area'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.
Lake with a beach that people visit for fishing and picnics, plus a trailhead to Benicia Community Park.
What runners say about Lake Herman Recreation Area
“There are gorgeous displays of wildflowers (blue bonnets, poppies, purple owl clover, and some other unfortunately invasive albeit pretty ones).”
“Dogs on leash, but Benicia is very dog friendly and I've seen old, calm dogs off leash when the park isn't crowded.”
“Dogs on leash, but Benicia is very dog friendly and I've seen old, calm dogs off leash when the park isn't crowded.”
This place is dog friendly! The one downside is the small parking lot, but if you park in benicia community park, it’s a short walk over to lake herman where they connect. There are gorgeous displays of wildflowers (blue bonnets, poppies, purple owl clover, and some other unfortunately invasive albeit pretty ones).
It's a nice and beautiful park, good for hiking or just walking around. There are some nice fishing spots, but be aware of ticks; there are sooo many of them. Don't let your dogs run into the bushes and bring ticks into your house. We also saw a snake crawling in the bushes.
Nice, calm place to walk or run with or without family and pets, and the best part theirs a trail to walk to Benicia Community Park people come to fish walk run and have picnics around this part.❤🐦🐦🐶🐛🐝🐜🐞🐌🌸🍃🌾🌻🌻🐾🐾🐩🐩 If you like quitness and peace come in summers mornings.
A great place to take a walk. The first time I went there I saw a bobcat on one of the back hills to be careful. Then you got the roving band of turkeys and the occasional snake. Great for fishing, but watch out for ticks I saw some and they are pretty bad this year.
Trail conditions & character
“Dogs on leash, but Benicia is very dog friendly and I've seen old, calm dogs off leash when the park isn't crowded.”
“There are gorgeous displays of wildflowers (blue bonnets, poppies, purple owl clover, and some other unfortunately invasive albeit pretty ones).”
“Even though a small concrete area was put in to level the table, there are sharp thorns growing near the entrance and it is mostly hilly with little shade.”
“Even though a small concrete area was put in to level the table, there are sharp thorns growing near the entrance and it is mostly hilly with little shade.”
“The one downside is the small parking lot, but if you park in benicia community park, it’s a short walk over to lake herman where they connect.”
“People fishing 🎣 Just a very quiet relaxed atmosphere there.”
“A paved or gravel path takes you partially around the lake and directly to Benicia Community Park.”
“Even though a small concrete area was put in to level the table, there are sharp thorns growing near the entrance and it is mostly hilly with little shade.”
Plan your run at Lake Herman Recreation Area
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.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteci.benicia.ca.us
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7:30 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7:30 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 7:30 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 7:30 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7:30 am–8 pm |
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