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Sand Dune Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 785 Google reviews · Running trail in Manhattan Beach, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Sand Dune 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.

Flat & fastHillyRestroomsTrailhead parking

Recreation area with a playground & trails up a 100-foot-high sand dune; reservations required.

What runners say about Sand Dune Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (785 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“It’s a nicely maintained natural shaded area, where some users enjoy a leisure walk and others prefer the workout.”

Sand Dune Park is one of my favorite natural areas in the LA Metropolitan area! Great park for workouts on the hill and for kids to play at the playground! It’s basically a multilevel park starting with the lower flat area with a parking lot, playground, picnic tables and restrooms.

★★★★★ — Jim , Jul 2023

The workout was nice and the short walk to the beach was amazing! It was not crowded and very peaceful.

★★★★★ — Nichelle , Jan 2022

Just as I remember it in the late 80s but with less crowds. Just as hard as I remember it too. I did reserve my spot, which I think is a helpful way to keep it less crowded than it used to be. Hopefully those same people will come back with a reservation.

★★★★★ — Lea , Sep 2023

There is a sand playground, a large green space, bathrooms, a 100 foot high sand dune (good for workouts) with an accompanying parallel set of stairs, a 'nature' trail, and picnic tables and shared ground to have a picnic on. The playground is mediocre, and the sand makes it less enjoyable.

★★★★☆ — Chris , Apr 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 785 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

⛰️ Hills / elevation 13 mentions

“If you've ever tried to do that, you'll know it's impossible to get a good slide down a hill.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“It’s basically a multilevel park starting with the lower flat area with a parking lot, playground, picnic tables and restrooms.”

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🚻 Restrooms 5 mentions

“It’s basically a multilevel park starting with the lower flat area with a parking lot, playground, picnic tables and restrooms.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“It’s basically a multilevel park starting with the lower flat area with a parking lot, playground, picnic tables and restrooms.”

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Plan your run at Sand Dune Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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
  • Websitemanhattanbeach.gov
  • Phone(310) 802-5448

Hours

Monday 6 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–8 PM
Thursday 6 AM–8 PM
Friday 6 AM–8 PM
Saturday 6 AM–8 PM
Sunday 6 AM–8 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Sand Dune Park

3299 Bell Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Get directions

Running trails near Manhattan Beach

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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Aviation Park

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All running trails in Manhattan Beach, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.