Best running trails in Illinois
Ranked by the runners who actually run there — Google rating weighted by review volume, across 401,539 reviews of Illinois trails. A trail needs at least 25 reviews to qualify (601 in Illinois do) and each name appears once. Nobody pays for a place. Updated 2026.
The 20 below run across 16 cities, 7 of them paved, 5 loops, 3 shaded, and 7 with a stated distance. This is a popularity ranking, not a difficulty score — for what a trail is actually like underfoot, open its page for surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms and parking.
Busse Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,482 reviews
Lakeside forest retreat offering an elk habitat, a biking trail, boat rentals & large picnic groves.
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 4,242 reviews
Wildlife & plant preservation area with glacial potholes, multi-use trails, fishing & picnicking.
Independence Grove Forest Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,710 reviews
Large park with a 115-acre lake, trails, visitor center with exhibits, amphitheater, marina & cafe.
Swallow Cliff Stairs
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,181 reviews
2 flights of stairs with almost 300 steps in total, forming a loop & popular for cardio workouts.
Sinnissippi Gardens
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,082 reviews
This riverside park features an exhibition hall & gardens showcasing exotic flora, art & sculpture.
Dan Ryan Woods
4.5 ★★★★★ 3,208 reviews
A 257-acre forest preserve with play fields, a popular sledding hill & a paved multi-use trail.
Blackwell Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,701 reviews
Scenic area with 9 miles of trails, picnic sites, fishing & boat rentals, camping, tubing & more.
The 606
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,198 reviews
Created on a former rail line, this elevated, 2.7 mile landscaped trail draws runners & bikers.
Kankakee River State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,184 reviews
4,000 acres along 11 miles of river for year-round outdoor sporting & recreation plus horse stables.
Pottawatomie Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,135 reviews
Riverside area with full & mini-golf, a pool, boat rentals, a native garden & riverboat cruising.
Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center (Burbank)
4.3 ★★★★☆ 2,359 reviews
Ghoulishly themed fun park offering an 18-hole mini-golf course, go-karts, rides, games & prizes.
Dellwood Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,149 reviews
150-acre park with picnic shelters, playgrounds & a disc-golf course, plus athletic fields & trails.
Moraine Hills State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,071 reviews
2,200+ acres of glacier-formed park with woods, wetlands & lakes for year-round sports & recreation.
O'Fallon Family Sports Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,985 reviews
Sports park offering on-site parking, 8 ball diamonds, soccer pitches & changing facilities.
Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,947 reviews
885-acre nature preserve with over 5 miles of trails, plus boat rentals & fishing opportunities.
LaBagh Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,915 reviews
This wooded area is a popular spot for nature observation & offers trails & picnic areas.
Horner (Henry) Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,744 reviews
Sizable park with playgrounds, multiple athletic fields, community events & cultural programming.
Schiller Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,677 reviews
Fishing for bass & catfish, plus walking trails, picnic areas & roaming deer in protected woodland.
Lake Arlington
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,647 reviews
Public park offering a lake for fishing and boating, plus a playground and picnic area.
Mineral Springs Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,606 reviews
Family-friendly green space featuring a playground and an off-leash dog area, as well as fishing and paddling.
Where these trails are
The cities in this ranking, if you'd rather start from where you live.
- Running trails in Rolling Meadows, IL
- Running trails in Darien, IL
- Running trails in Libertyville, IL
- Running trails in Palos Park, IL
- Running trails in Rockford, IL
- Running trails in Chicago, IL
- Running trails in Warrenville, IL
- Running trails in Bourbonnais, IL
- Running trails in St. Charles, IL
- Running trails in Burbank, IL
- Running trails in Lockport, IL
- Running trails in McHenry, IL
- Running trails in O'Fallon, IL
- Running trails in Wheaton, IL
- Running trails in Arlington Heights, IL
- Running trails in Pekin, IL
All 1,560 trails in Illinois → Best trails in other states →