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Barnes Forest Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 16 Google reviews · Running trail in Aurora, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Barnes Forest Preserve'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.

Barnes Forest Preserve — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 1
Barnes Forest Preserve — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 2
Barnes Forest Preserve — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 3
Barnes Forest Preserve — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 4
Barnes Forest Preserve — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 5
Dog-friendly

What runners say about Barnes Forest Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (16 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Good bass fishing. DNR had this listed as one of the best stocked lakes in the area and it certainly seems that way. Don’t be surprised if you have to make your own path to the shore early in the year. By fall there are usually enough foot paths to the popular fishing spots.

★★★★★ — James , Jun 2023

Small forest preserve with a short loop trail accessible by the Virgil Gilman trail.

★★★★☆ — Jeremy , Dec 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 16 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.

🐕 Dog-friendly

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Barnes Forest Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • 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.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitekaneforest.com
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Barnes Forest Preserve

39 Prairie St, Aurora, IL 60506

Get directions

Running trails near Aurora

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

Virgil Gilman Nature Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 45 reviews

Aurora, IL

MixedScenic

Park with kid-friendly hikes, wildlife and paved, gravel and asphalt trails.

under a mile away

Aurora West Forest Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 179 reviews

Aurora, IL

Crushed gravelDog-friendly

715-acre park of prairie, marsh & woodland with a multi-purpose trail & a model airplane field.

2.0 miles away

Lincoln Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 233 reviews

Aurora, IL

PavedDog-friendly

Dog-friendly grassy space, featuring a playground as well as basketball and volleyball courts.

2.1 miles away

Blackberry Trail Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 82 reviews

Montgomery, IL

Scenic

Clean park with a playground for kids and picnic tables.

2.4 miles away

Montgomery Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 175 reviews

Montgomery, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Relaxed, clean park featuring playgrounds for kids, a riverside trail and live music performances.

2.5 miles away

Arrow Wood Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 50 reviews

Aurora, IL

Paved

2.6 miles away

All running trails in Aurora, 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.