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Lake Johnson Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,021 Google reviews · Running trail in Raleigh, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 4.5 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lake Johnson 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.
Recreation area with 5.4 miles of trails around a lake, plus boat rentals, picnic areas & fishing.
What runners say about Lake Johnson Park
“The recreation facility has bathrooms that are moderately clean.”
“The scenery is beautiful, with plenty of trees surrounding the lake and lots of opportunities to spot wildlife along the shoreline.”
“The lake is calm, peaceful, and perfect for beginners or anyone looking to relax on the water.”
“It's also very dog-friendly - we even took our senior dog around the paved part of the lake in a doggy stroller when she had mobility issues.”
First time here. Nice, FREE park. Some parking, rocking chairs, and bathrooms. A walking trail surrounds the area, and a bridge over the water where people fish. Nice views. Quite a few people but didn't feel crowded. They have a dock and it looks like they rent kayaks at sone point. Will come back later in the year
One of the best parks in the city. There is a trail all around the lake, half is paved and half not.It is also possible to rent the sup and a boat. There are also activities organized for the community.
This is one of my favorite parks in Raleigh. There’s a ~4.5-mile loop circumnavigating the lake with ~1.5 miles are unpaved; this can be shortened by taking a bridge across part of the lake resulting in a 3-mile, all paved route. There are some hills along the south side of the lake, but the northern side is very flat.
Highly recommended. Has picnic areas and rentable room for events. Also has easy to moderate paved route suitable for walking, running, dog walking, cycling, or whatever else. The lake is beautiful and colors are amazing in the fall season. There is also possibility for fishing and kayaking.
Trail conditions & character
“The scenery is beautiful, with plenty of trees surrounding the lake and lots of opportunities to spot wildlife along the shoreline.”
“Parking in the main lot fills up fast, but the overflow lot (past the lake if you're heading toward Tryon) usually has spaces available.”
“Parking can be a challenge, and the bathrooms aren't fancy, but the lake and trails are beautiful.”
“It's also very dog-friendly - we even took our senior dog around the paved part of the lake in a doggy stroller when she had mobility issues.”
“The lake is calm, peaceful, and perfect for beginners or anyone looking to relax on the water.”
“It's also very dog-friendly - we even took our senior dog around the paved part of the lake in a doggy stroller when she had mobility issues.”
“The unpaved part of the loop actually includes some surprisingly difficult terrain though, so may not be dog or kid friendly.”
“There are some hills along the south side of the lake, but the northern side is very flat.”
“It's also very dog-friendly - we even took our senior dog around the paved part of the lake in a doggy stroller when she had mobility issues.”
“There’s also a water fountain (turned off during the winter).”
Plan your run at Lake Johnson 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
- Loop distance4.5 mi back to where you parked
- 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.
- Websiteraleighnc.gov
- Phone+1 919-996-3141
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Raleigh
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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