Lake Murray

Can you brings dogs to the lake?

Yes.

Is there a playground for kids here?

I don't recall seeing a playground..

Are you able to fish?

Yes

What are hours and days open? Which Tues is the gate closed?

5AM-Sunset (hours change According to sun) Open all days except Christmas, New Years, and Thanksgiving.… Read more

Can you bring your own kayak? If so, is Inflatable kayaks allowed?

Yes you can bring your own watercraft. There's a boat launch and I met someone inflating their own thing I can only describe as a floating seat with a cooler and net he uses for paddling around and fishing.

Does anyone know the quarantine hours and also how how is the parking there?

Regular hours easy parking but can get busy on weekends

I have babies so are there any restrooms not porto potty?

By the parking lot near the dock

Anyone one know if Lake is open during quarantine ?Can we rent boats( paddle) at this time?

Yes it's open for rentals and everything. I just came from there

I tried calling Lake Murray is it open?

Yes it's open

Can we rent a boat on the lake?

Yes you can rent a small boat. I don't know if they are open right now though.

Is this open during the covid 19 issue?

The lake is now officially closed. Rangers and SDPD are patrolling the entrances and caution tape/signage has been posted. The public is no longer allowed to enter. The fine for bypassing this is pretty large from what I've heard.… Read more

Where do you park to access the trail that's stroller friendly? I went once and parked near the boat ramp and couldn't find a trail.

The trail locate on the right of the boat ramp, keep heading to the your right, you will see a lot of people heading that way as well

Can you walk around the lake at night?

You can, but both parking lots Murray Park Drive and Kiowa Drive close. Times vary according to season.

Can you swim?

No swimming for humans and dogs.

What is the pink colored organism that's on the rocks along the shore?

Those are eggs from the Channeled Applesnail, one of "top 100 worst invasive species" in the world, from South America. The snails can grow to be over 6" long.

Are there bathrooms at the entrance?

There are Porta potties very close to the entrance and then nicer bathrooms at the main parking lot.

How early does the parking lot open? And do you have to pay? If so cash only? Thx

Parking lot opens at 5:30 AM at Murray Park Drive. Parking is free and plentiful.

Is the 6 mile trail paved or dirt? Also is it somewhat shaded?

It's nearly entirely paved. There are parts that are slightly shaded.

Is it dog friendly?

Yes it is. However since it's a San Diego City Park, dogs must be leashed at all times and kept at least 25ft away from the water. Alot of people don't mind the rules and no seems to care. Lots of dogs here.

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Review Highlights - Lake Murray

“Biking, rollerblading, walking, night swimming, golf poaching, people watching or just plain hanging out.”

Mentioned in 27 reviews

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MacArthur Park

4.6(30 reviews)

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I was at this beauuutiful park for the La Mesa Earth Day Fair. It was a free community event…read morefeaturing eco-friendly vendors, a kids' zone, food trucks, and a clothing swap. I learned a lot from the vendors who provided some type of educational demonstration like composting and sustainable gardening just to name a few. The City of La Mesa did a fantastic job with putting this fair on...very well organized.

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San Carlos Park

5.0(10 reviews)

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Love it! It's self contained. It's nice with multiple children. Great play equipment. You meet the…read morenicest mothers, grandparents and Nanny's

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La Mesita Park

4.2(28 reviews)

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Rolled into the La Mesita Park not knowing where the pickleball courts were and ended up at Jr Seau…read moreSports Complex up the hill. Went back to the park proper, made a left towards YMCA and recognized the blue, green painted courts below eye level parallel to the freeway. Almost went to Big Rock in Santee this morning which has eight dedicated pickleball courts but more players. La Mesita on the other hand, has the same number of pickleball courts, four of which are newly resurfaced. They have a smaller crowd which means shorter wait times, some good shade, but adds four miles to my drive - a small price to pay to feed my quasi-addiction. It only took 2.5 hours to meet my minimum daily game quota of four challenging matches and I didn't encounter any aggro ball smashers. This is the ninth East County pickleball venue I have played at and can easily become one of my favorites.

Came to La Mesita to play some pickleball during the holidays! The courts were semi full, with two…read morecourts in the back free. The people were very friendly and we had a lot of fun games. The parking was a bit of a struggle with the YMCA still in session. Other than parking, it is a great place to stop by and play a few games while enjoying the scenery!!

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Pickleball courts

Aztec Park

4.1(21 reviews)

1.0 mi

I joined my gf at an event she planned at the park and it had everything you could ask for. The…read morearea with tables I mostly shaded and has grills. The park also has bathrooms and a playground. There is a lot open area for a picnic and street parking as well. A very nice parking in a quiet residential area.

Extraordinary, stunning family park. Exceptional clean and very of dog poop and trash debris…read more Extremely new upgraded safe playground equipment. Remarkable plus green landscape. Street parking is average not lot parking. However parking is moderate. The city does an exceptional job keeping up the landscape of this park. We had a picnic with our Girl Scout troop and it was marvelous family/troop event. Crisp air, vibrant green grass and lavish trees. Clean bathrooms particularly for a public park. We will without a doubt be returning. Very soon

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Eucalyptus County Park

4.1(32 reviews)

3.0 mi

I'd added parks in La Mesa and surrounding areas to my favorites in a map app a while ago,…read moreintending to check them out but hadn't. I was in the area of this park recently, and passed a parking area while driving on Bancroft. I was in need of a restroom so I turned at the first road after and that led to another, smaller parking area. I parked there, found the restroom I needed, then walked around a little bit. The park is on a slope. There is a covered area for family or company picnics@ some sort of a ball court. I walked down the slope to the other parking area. A dog would find plenty to sniff around at, but I didn't see much so I headed back to my truck. The parking area started filling. Some cars and vans with their clients, on outings. Some guy parked next to me was talking to himself and dumped what looked like grocery store dumpster finds out behind his vehicle, I guess to go through them. And commenting on stuff in my direction. Ok, time to go. 10 am by then so I made a mental note to come early again next time.

Came by here to eat our food from Valley Farm Market on our group get-together with Yelp Elites S &…read moreM. You would have to take quite a turn after seeing the sign on Bancroft if you are driving from the Valley Farm Market. Parking spots looked quite limited as there was only one way in and then one way out. The table we got was perfect for us to enjoy our BBQ ribs, chicken, and salads under the eucalpytus trees. But would say some of the other seating areas were pretty much in the sun, so wish there was a bit more shade to those closer to the parking lot. The area looked very family friendly, lots of shade, and the grassy areas looked perfect for dogs to run around. I read in another review that dogs aren't allowed there but don't think I saw the sign during our visit there, so might have missed it. The dogs that were there that day were quite friendly and no one seemed to mind. There were two pavilion areas towards the left of the park which were well shaded where parties can be hosted. Bathrooms are nearby the higher elevated one. Overall looked like a decent park.

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Lake Murray Community Park

4.5(57 reviews)

0.4 mi

Id say this park is nice for Parents to bring their kids to play. It's in a safe neighborhood. Park…read morewas pretty clean. 》Fair warning: their is no restroom just a porta-poty so I'd have some hand-sanitizer or hand wipes handy!. Parking is fairly simple here due to it being in a residential area.

We love this park and lake -- pretty much come here every day to walk and talk and enjoy the…read morebeauty. Today I wanted to give a "shout out" to OSCAR, one of the staff members. He's always the "real deal" -- a good worker and a nice, helpful person. He cares and steps up when people come to him with questions or unique concerns. We think he's a great employee -- and that sure sets the tone for a happy visit!

Well maintained paved walkway about the lake. Out and back is 5.7 miles.

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Vista La Mesa Park

4.3(16 reviews)

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I like how nice and enclosed this park is. Feild playground bathroom walking track all close so you…read morecan keep an eye on your kid. The downside is it can get pack especially when they have baseball, but I don't mind it. The bathroom can get beyond nasty. I almost stepped on human doo doo walking into the men's bathroom lol so for that 4 stars

Such a fun park geared for 5-12 year olds. Plenty of shade and benches. Clean & had cute a trash…read moretruck to climb in. My son loved it here ! He is 3 1/2 for reference and needed a little help going up the steps. He still went down the slide :) For reference we came here on Easter Sunday morning 2023. No baseball game or parties. Very quiet.

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Rancho Mission Canyon Park

4.1(16 reviews)

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The playground is amazing here! Great structures for all ages and love that it has trail access and…read morea large field. The downside? You can barely use the equipment by 10 am. My baby got burns on his hands from touching a metal slide at 10:15 am. It was 72 degrees out. All the slides, stairs, and climbing equipment was too hot to touch unfortunately. Also, there are no bathrooms. We really want to love this park but so hard when you can't use it after 10 am.

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4.1(25 reviews)

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Mt Helix Park

4.6(108 reviews)

3.7 mi•Mount Helix

Situated 1365' above San Diego and east of downtown, Mt. Helix Park is a hidden gem to most who…read morelive in or visit San Diego. It is well worth taking the scenic drive up Mt. Helix, starting in neighborhoods and stopping at or near the summit. Parking near the top is very limited, and the road is one way, so be prepared to take the first space you find as you approach the summit and walk to the top. At the summit, you'll enjoy spectacular views that stretch from the mountains to the east, south toward Mexico, and to the Pacific coastline to the west. Here you'll also find an open air amphitheater used for concerts, as well as lookout points and trail heads. Plan to spend time here absorbing the views, fresh air, peaceful surroundings ... and maybe a picnic. I highly recomend a visit.

One of my favorite parks in La Mesa. Sd best kept secret…read more Best place to watch sunrise or sunset with extraordinary views of spring valley/ Rancho sd La Mesa. Also the incline is a great workout! Bonus tip. In October they host the Halloween candlelight for the best spookiest vibes under moonlight!