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Barbara Key Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 144 Google reviews · Running trail in Lake in the Hills, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Barbara Key Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicQuiet

Well-kept park featuring a playground, a basketball court and a pond.

What runners say about Barbara Key Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (144 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“It's Very well maintained and is Great for Taking walks on the trail.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Attached to a huge nature preserve with trails and a great viewing spot at the top of the hill off the path.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“There are benches and has a lake which very pretty and peaceful.”

The basketball court here is decent. People don't usually use the court so it's readily available most of the days. There is a path as well which you can take to tour the prairie (ish) area. You can also fish here since there is a pond. Fish are catch and release. There is a play area for kids as well.

★★★★☆ — Tahoor , May 2021

Great park with a bike/walking path, playground, basketball court, pond, and a couple BBQ areas. Attached to a huge nature preserve with trails and a great viewing spot at the top of the hill off the path.. Need pants when walking through the preserve.

★★★★★ — Nick , Sep 2023

There's also a baseball ball court and hiking trails plus places to fish 😄

★★★★★ — Grace , Aug 2024

Nice park with a playground, tables unfer a shelter, basketball court, a walking/running path around some water and more! There is a good chunk of wooded areas there with some trails. Be careful and/or cautious if you are there alone, it can get lonely there!

★★★★☆ — Christian , Jun 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 144 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“I have the privelege of living in a condo building directly overlooking this beautiful park.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“There are benches and has a lake which very pretty and peaceful.”

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Plan your run at Barbara Key Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Phone+1 847-960-7460

Hours

Monday 7 am–8 pm
Tuesday 7 am–8 pm
Wednesday 7 am–8 pm
Thursday 7 am–8 pm
Friday 7 am–8 pm
Saturday 7 am–8 pm
Sunday 7 am–8 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Barbara Key Park

Lake in the Hills, Illinois

Get directions

Running trails near Lake in the Hills

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Lake in the Hills Fen Conservation Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 100 reviews

Lake in the Hills, IL

1.3 miPavedScenic

under a mile away

Rotary Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 67 reviews

Cary, IL

LoopMixedShadedScenic

Kid-friendly hiking area with picnic facilities, as well as a launch for kayaking.

1.9 miles away

Fox Trails Park

5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Cary, IL

2.0 miles away

Prairie Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 30 reviews

Algonquin, IL

100 miPavedShaded

2.0 miles away

Hoffman Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 187 reviews

Cary, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Recreational area featuring disc golf, a nature preserve, and picnic tables, plus a popular dog park.

2.1 miles away

Woodscreek Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 282 reviews

Crystal Lake, IL

40-acre park with a castle-themed playground & seasonal splash pad, plus a bike path & fishing pier.

2.2 miles away

All running trails in Lake in the Hills, IL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.