Running trails in Midlothian, IL
Midlothian has 4 trails in the directory — 2 paved, 1 loop that returns to the trailhead, 1 with a stated distance, and 1 open 24 hours. Every one post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 1,424 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Rubio Woods
4.6 ★★★★★ 532 reviews
Scenic open space with cycling/walking paths, a picnic grove & deer & other local wildlife.
Midlothian Meadows
4.5 ★★★★★ 498 reviews
Sprawling woodland preserve offers various hiking & biking trails & paved paths, plus picnic areas.
Memorial Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 268 reviews
Ball fields, batting cages, bocce & bean-bag toss are offered at this park with picnicking.
Kostner Park (Bellybutton Hill)
4.5 ★★★★★ 126 reviews
Public park with a playground, open field, and a summer movie series.
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Midlothian
- Match the surface to your legs. Most of what's here is paved (2 of 4). Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More paved trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 1 trail here is a loop, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Midlothian is Midlothian Meadows at 3 mi.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 1 trail in Midlothian is open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 4 of the 4 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 3 have trailhead parking and 2 have restrooms in Midlothian. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 2 that runners describe as quiet, 3 dog-friendly, and 2 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Midlothian trails by type
Running trails near Midlothian
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.