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Lake Wilson
4.7 ★★★★★ 832 Google reviews · Running trail in Elm City, North Carolina · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Lake Wilson'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.
Scenic outdoor area with playgrounds and a disc golf course, plus several miles of trails and a wooden bridge.
What runners say about Lake Wilson
“It's a nice well maintained park just outside of town, a great walking trail, tall trees and nice bridge over the lake, seems very family friendly, lots of fishing going on,”
“This is probably the most relaxing and beautiful place in Wilson, if you get a chance to go take a walk, sit, get out on the water or fish here take it.”
“Quiet and well-kept park, ideal for outdoor activities for all members of the family.”
“So yeah, kayak, bike, walk, fish, sit (benches everywhere), dog walk, exercise the kids, and also, there's disc golf.”
Quiet and well-kept park, ideal for outdoor activities for all members of the family. Also fine if you go with strollers or dogs on a leash. Good for hiking or jogging along the trails, fishing, kayaking (it has a dedicated kayak launcher) and playing frisbee golf.
Lake Wilson is beautiful. Nice long trail that goes all the way around the lake. I'm a birdwatcher and there is a nice variety of birds to see. Great place for walking, running, biking, fishing, and boating.
This is probably the most relaxing and beautiful place in Wilson, if you get a chance to go take a walk, sit, get out on the water or fish here take it. Both the park and the restrooms are kept very clean.
It's a nice well maintained park just outside of town, a great walking trail, tall trees and nice bridge over the lake, seems very family friendly, lots of fishing going on,
Trail conditions & character
“This is probably the most relaxing and beautiful place in Wilson, if you get a chance to go take a walk, sit, get out on the water or fish here take it.”
“The recent improvements in more parking space makes it a lot easier to load and unload the family, hiking/biking gear, and boating vessels.”
“The new bathrooms are nice enough for park bathrooms.”
“So yeah, kayak, bike, walk, fish, sit (benches everywhere), dog walk, exercise the kids, and also, there's disc golf.”
“This pleasant oasis features a 2-mile loop trail around the lake, kayak and boat launch, fishing, and disc golf course.”
“1 miles of dirt/gravel path around the lake.”
“Perfect walking trails that are flat and easy to hike or use motorized wheelchair.”
“Perfect walking trails that are flat and easy to hike or use motorized wheelchair.”
“Quiet and well-kept park, ideal for outdoor activities for all members of the family.”
Plan your run at Lake Wilson
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- 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 — 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.
- Websitewilsonnc.org
- Phone(252) 399-2261
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Elm City
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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Lane Park
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