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It is quiet. It took me a while to figure out Lake Miramar’s chief virtue as a destination to run or cycle. It’s quiet.
The lake is maintained by the San Diego Water Utility—not the parks. There is no swimming or wading allowed in the lake but there are no motorized vehicles allowed either. The lack of motorized vehicles is a blessing.
If there is one thing that bothers me about running at East Mission Bay Park, it’s the jet skis and the Interstate 5. I guess that 's two things. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve run hundreds of miles at Mission Bay, it’s wonderful.
However, since I’ve graduated from using earphones while running, silence has become more valuable. At Lake Miramar, there are days when a car or two will creep by on the paved road that encompasses the lake. Besides that, there is zero traffic noise.
A trail accompanies about two thirds of the lake. If you hop down to it, all hints of civilization fade away. You may as well be running a trail in Noble Canyon. I’m guesstimating that the trail cuts between a quarter and a half of a mile off the five mile circuit. I’ve never “Garmin-ed” it.
There are also trails that run up the steep hills surrounding the paved road. Hills are our friends...
There is plenty of parking at the lake and adequate restroom facilities. There used to be a drinking fountain near the half-way point but it has been removed. Five miles isn’t really far enough to warrant dragging your own water but it does get hot in the afternoons.
Lake Miramar is far enough inland that there is usually sun when the coast is covered in marine layer. Bring your sunscreen and enjoy the silence.
It is quiet. It took me a while to figure out Lake Miramar’s chief virtue as a destination to run or cycle. It’s quiet.
The lake is maintained by the San Diego Water Utility—not the parks. There is no swimming or wading allowed in the lake but there are no motorized vehicles allowed either. The lack of motorized vehicles is a blessing.
If there is one thing that bothers me about running at East Mission Bay Park, it’s the jet skis and the Interstate 5. I guess that 's two things. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve run hundreds of miles at Mission Bay, it’s wonderful.
However, since I’ve graduated from using earphones while running, silence has become more valuable. At Lake Miramar, there are days when a car or two will creep by on the paved road that encompasses the lake. Besides that, there is zero traffic noise.
A trail accompanies about two thirds of the lake. If you hop down to it, all hints of civilization fade away. You may as well be running a trail in Noble Canyon. I’m guesstimating that the trail cuts between a quarter and a half of a mile off the five mile circuit. I’ve never “Garmin-ed” it.
There are also trails that run up the steep hills surrounding the paved road. Hills are our friends...
There is plenty of parking at the lake and adequate restroom facilities. There used to be a drinking fountain near the half-way point but it has been removed. Five miles isn’t really far enough to warrant dragging your own water but it does get hot in the afternoons.
Lake Miramar is far enough inland that there is usually sun when the coast is covered in marine layer. Bring your sunscreen and enjoy the silence.