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South Lake Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 128 Google reviews · Running trail in San Marcos, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- 1 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from South Lake 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.
Pretty lake within a park that’s popular for hikes, leisurely jogs and dog-walking.
What runners say about South Lake Park
“Hidden amidst the picturesque landscape, South Lake Park is a fabulous park that promises serenity and natural beauty.”
“Whether you’re an avid hiker or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, this park has something to offer.”
“Loved it, was it the best trail I've ever done, no, but at 1 mile, this is a great one for kids and families and dog walks, or a short jog.”
Great place. Keep your eyes open though. Rattlesnakes on the trails, Bobcats are in the brush and coyotes sneak up behind you. Don’t leave anything visible in your car, a lot of windows get smashed here. Please… if people are fishing, don’t stand next to them and throw rocks in the water.
Quiet. Peaceful. Passed maybe 10 people and 2 dogs. I didn't see any restrooms. I saw some lures left behind by some fishers near the bench down by the lake. It looks like the wildflowers are starting to bloom. I had to look it up, but there's a sonic buoy in the middle of the lake that hinders algae blooms.
This is a beautiful, brand new park that opened this week in San Marcos! The parking lot is a small one, but it has a few wheelchair accessible parking spots at the start of the trail. The trail itself is a mile around the lake, flat ground, tightly packed dirt/gravel.
Cool place to go spend the morning fishing with my son. Free parking and entry. Plenty of trails for walking the dog and hiking. Fishing license required.
Trail conditions & character
“The parking lot is a small one, but it has a few wheelchair accessible parking spots at the start of the trail.”
“Loved it, was it the best trail I've ever done, no, but at 1 mile, this is a great one for kids and families and dog walks, or a short jog.”
“The topography is cool, water views, lots of flowers, not too much incline, new fences, bench, dog stations, and access to fish.”
“Whether you’re an avid hiker or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, this park has something to offer.”
“The parking lot is a small one, but it has a few wheelchair accessible parking spots at the start of the trail.”
“Upper dirt trail is level and wide but not handicap accessible (stairs, sidewalk edge).”
“The topography is cool, water views, lots of flowers, not too much incline, new fences, bench, dog stations, and access to fish.”
“Upper dirt trail is level and wide but not handicap accessible (stairs, sidewalk edge).”
“The trail itself is a mile around the lake, flat ground, tightly packed dirt/gravel.”
Plan your run at South Lake 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
- Distance1 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- 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.
- Websitesan-marcos.net
- Phone(760) 744-9000
Hours
| Monday | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
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