LJ
Lake Johnson Park
Raleigh's scenic oasis for outdoor recreation and natural beauty.
4.8(5 reviews)
Business
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Raleigh's scenic oasis for outdoor recreation and natural beauty.
Lake Johnson Park is a premier outdoor destination in Raleigh, NC, offering a stunning 150-acre lake surrounded by well-maintained trails, picnic areas, and recreational facilities. With a 4.5-mile loop trail (partially paved), opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and birdwatching, and beautiful seasonal views, it's perfect for walking, running, cycling, and family outings. The park features clean restrooms, event rental spaces, and multiple parking lots, making it a favorite for locals and tourists seeking active leisure in a serene setting.
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Enjoy a 4.5-mile loop trail around the lake with paved and unpaved sections, suitable for all fitness levels.
Access the lake for recreational kayaking and fishing in a peaceful, natural environment.
Use designated picnic spots with tables and scenic views for family gatherings or casual outings.
Rent facilities for private events, parties, or group activities in a beautiful lakeside setting.
Observe wildlife like Great Blue Herons and enjoy seasonal foliage, especially vibrant in fall.
This is one of my favorite parks in Raleigh. There’s a ~4.5-mile loop circumnavigating the lake with ~1.5 miles are unpaved; this can be shortened by taking a bridge across part of the lake resulting in a 3-mile, all paved route. There are some hills along the south side of the lake, but the northern side is very flat. There are various benches along the trail. The recreation facility has bathrooms that are moderately clean. There’s also a water fountain (turned off during the winter). There are three parking lots, but on holidays and weekends they can get pretty tight. They usually fill up in this order 1) the one by the recreation facility 2) the one just to the south across the lake (Avent Ferry Rd lot) 3) the one on the east side of the lake (1320 Lake Dam Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606)
Beautiful walk around the lake. Amazing fall colors and a good walking/biking path for 3.5 miles loop. We started from the east side. It had picnic tables at the main entrance. Beautiful views!
Such a beautiful place! The lake is gorgeous and I saw three Great Blue Herons in one day. The walking trails around the lake are great, most of the path is paved and pretty wide. There is more parking on the other side of the bridge. The main lot gets fill really fast.
This was part of our morning walk on the Walnut Creek Trail starting from the Farmer's Market. The trail is beautiful, well maintained, and fairly flat. Our two-way 8-mile walk ended at Lake Johnson. The lake, beach, restroom, and grounds are well kept. We took a 15 minute break here to enjoy the site and view before trekking our return trip. If you haven't walked on this trail, give it try, you will enjoy it.
Highly recommended. Has picnic areas and rentable room for events. Also has easy to moderate paved route suitable for walking, running, dog walking, cycling, or whatever else. The lake is beautiful and colors are amazing in the fall season. There is also possibility for fishing and kayaking. Parking is hard but there is another parking lot past the bridge. Pictures don’t do it justice!
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