Laguna Lake Park lies south of Cerro San Luis and offers plenty of options for you and your dog, depending on how ambitious you’re feeling that day. The 375-acre park centers around a 25-acre lake with several hiking trails to choose from.

If you want a serious workout, the trek up San Luis Mountain is 5.7 miles round trip with 1,150 feet of elevation gain. There’s also a more direct four-mile route starting from a trailhead at the end of Fernandez Road if that suits you better. But honestly, when I visited with my dog, we stuck with the easy loop trail around the base of the hill—it’s gentle and still gives you the feel of the place without burning you out.

Starting from the parking lot, an obvious path heads northwest, though there’s no formal sign marking it. After a few hundred yards, you’ll see a sign marking the open space boundary and a wooden gate. Just past the gate, take the right fork onto the unmarked Laguna Lake Upper Loop Trail. The path gradually rises along the south slope heading generally north. About 0.65 miles in, you’ll hit a T-junction near a fence line—turn left to parallel it. There’s also an unsigned Meadow Trail that branches off if you want to cut your loop short and head directly back to the parking lot.

Getting there is straightforward: head west on Madonna Road, then turn right on Dalidio Drive into the park. Parking is free, though spaces are limited, especially on weekends. Restrooms are available near the parking area. There’s an off-leash dog play area too, though it’s not fenced, so keep an eye on your dog if other dogs are around. My dog appreciated having a chance to run around after the hike.