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Lake Lynn Loop
4.8 ★★★★★ 110 Google reviews · Running trail in Raleigh, North Carolina · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Lake Lynn Loop'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.
Wooded park with a paved path circling the lake, plus a playground.
What runners say about Lake Lynn Loop
“lake Lynn is a beautiful Lake with a clearly marked path that provides a great walk for families.”
“Lake Lynn is one of my favorite places to run in the Raleigh.”
Really cool park! Good size paved loop with some surprisingly scenic views. Lots of wildlife, and good for fishing or kayaking!
lake Lynn is a beautiful Lake with a clearly marked path that provides a great walk for families. And beginning hikers. It's only 1.2 miles. Unfortunately, you can see all of the condos through the woods.
Not too crowded and two parking lots make finding a spot pretty easy. Half of the trail is shaded, which is a plus when it is sunny out. Not very difficult, but a good distance for a walk.
This lake has a paved trail that runs around the entire lake, 3.1 miles. It also has extensive wooden walkway/bridges that cross over portions of the lake. I have never observed so many turtles in a lake. Small turtles the size of your fist and large turtles the diameter of a basketball.
Trail conditions & character
“lake Lynn is a beautiful Lake with a clearly marked path that provides a great walk for families.”
“It's a mix of concrete and boardwalk, which makes it fun for toddlers but the boardwalk are too bumpy for infants in their strollers.”
“It's a mix of concrete and boardwalk, which makes it fun for toddlers but the boardwalk are too bumpy for infants in their strollers.”
“The loop around the lake is approx 2 miles and not terribly hilly.”
“Half of the trail is shaded, which is a plus when it is sunny out.”
“No open bathrooms except when the community center is open, which is short hours on weekends and especially Sunday.”
“I don’t recommend it for biking because it can be crowded and with dogs it just is already too full to have bikes zooming by.”
“It is beautiful and serene, especially in the early hours of the day.”
“Not too crowded and two parking lots make finding a spot pretty easy.”
Plan your run at Lake Lynn Loop
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteraleighnc.gov
- 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.
Brookhaven Nature Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 185 reviews
26-acre preserve featuring a forest trail with a footbridge over a stream, plus picnic tables.
Shelley Lake Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,775 reviews
2 miles of wooded trails with work-out stations along a scenic lake, plus open fields & a playground
Umstead Sycamore Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 97 reviews
Park featuring winding, tree-filled trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Sal's Branch Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 256 reviews
Hiking area with a 2.5-mile trail past a lake that's suitable for families.