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Murray Reservoir
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,446 Google reviews · Running trail in La Mesa, California · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Loop distance
- 5.5 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Murray Reservoir'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.
Small boat rentals, fishing & many picnic areas, plus a walking & biking path along the reservoir.
What runners say about Murray Reservoir
“The view during golden hour was beautiful, and the peaceful atmosphere made for a relaxing experience.”
“Bring a sunhat, sunblock, and sunglasses because there isn't a huge amount of shade on the paved walking path, and not every bench has shade above it.”
“The view during golden hour was beautiful, and the peaceful atmosphere made for a relaxing experience.”
“My dog, Paws, don't walk the paved walk way.”
I rented a pedal boat at Lake Murray in the morning (9am). It was awesome! Serene, warm, sunny, no wind, and no one in the water. Lots of walkers, runners, families along the lake trail, though. $20 an hour for the pedal boat and the guys in the rental shack are awesome!
This is a nice park with baseball fields, grass to sit and relax on, benches to sit on near the lake, boats you can rent, and a paved walking trail around the lake here. It's a beautiful place. There are wheelchair accessible portable toilets here (porta-potties), but spaced out far around the lake.
Got out a little earlier today and it was a little cold for my liking (52) but it was still a great hike. The Ducks were more Active and sparrows flittering around. Great to get away from City sounds for a bit and decompress.
This is a lovely little lake. It's a great place for the whole family! People walk, bike, boat, fish, and hang out. There are kids, dogs, ducks, squirrels, and other wildlife. Groups meet here. There are free fly fishing casting lessons on Sunday mornings. The parking is free, and there is no entry fee.
Trail conditions & character
“The view during golden hour was beautiful, and the peaceful atmosphere made for a relaxing experience.”
“This is a nice park with baseball fields, grass to sit and relax on, benches to sit on near the lake, boats you can rent, and a paved walking trail around the lake here.”
“The view during golden hour was beautiful, and the peaceful atmosphere made for a relaxing experience.”
“Nice area to walk your dog, go jogging, and have a peaceful time.”
“One thing very good to know is that the concrete boy or girl bathroom building has two more bathrooms around the back!”
“Plenty of parking and room for when this place gets full.”
“Great 7 mile walk, bird watching, and picnicing spot.”
“Bring a sunhat, sunblock, and sunglasses because there isn't a huge amount of shade on the paved walking path, and not every bench has shade above it.”
“There are wheelchair accessible portable toilets here (porta-potties), but spaced out far around the lake.”
“You can’t make a full loop around the lake because part of it runs into private property, but there’s still plenty of space to explore.”
Plan your run at Murray Reservoir
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- Loop distance5.5 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- 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.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
Running trails near La Mesa
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Lake Murray Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 256 reviews
Reservoir and park with hiking paths, a snack shack, a bait shop and picnic areas.
Lake Murray Park
4.9 ★★★★★ 8 reviews
Lake Murray Trail Head
4.8 ★★★★★ 204 reviews
Kid-friendly destination featuring a lake and waterside trails for walking and fishing.
Cowles Mountain Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,024 reviews
Picturesque uphill hiking trail known for its panoramic views at the summit.
Cowles Mountain
4.8 ★★★★★ 725 reviews
Popular hiking area with trails leading to a summit with panoramic views.
Briercrest Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 287 reviews
Quaint, grassy park featuring playgrounds for kids of all ages, plus benches, picnic tables and shaded areas.