HomeIllinoisWood River › Belk Park

Belk Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 119 Google reviews · Running trail in Wood River, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Belk 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.

PavedLit at nightScenicWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

Quiet park featuring picnic facilities, a playground, and a lake, plus a walking trail.

What runners say about Belk Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (119 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Peaceful, fisherman friendly, serene, new walkways for exercise, well maintained.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 12 mentions

“It is a well maintaned beautiful little park with a paved walking trail surrounding a stocked lake with plenty of nice sized fish.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 9 mentions

“Peaceful, fisherman friendly, serene, new walkways for exercise, well maintained.”

It was the first time for me to visit here and I fell in love immediately! Nice, clean, quiet and beautiful park. Good for taking dogs for a walk or run. I met people who were so friendly. I'll definitely come back here! 😍

★★★★★ — Hj , May 2023

This is a great quiet park. It has a 1 mile paved walking trail. The lake is stocked with fish regularly. There are 4 covered pavilions. Management has just re landscaped the entrance to the park. The ornamental grass has been removed, so the traffic can be seen.

★★★★★ — Val , Jun 2022

Fantastic walking trail..great place to take the dog or kids to burn off energy..make sure to take ya a fishing pole also because the fishing is pretty decent..if u like catching turtles then this is the place for you..lol..

★★★★★ — Daniel , May 2025

It is a well maintaned beautiful little park with a paved walking trail surrounding a stocked lake with plenty of nice sized fish.

★★★★★ — David , Nov 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 119 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 13 mentions

“It is a well maintaned beautiful little park with a paved walking trail surrounding a stocked lake with plenty of nice sized fish.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 9 mentions

“Peaceful, fisherman friendly, serene, new walkways for exercise, well maintained.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“It is a well maintaned beautiful little park with a paved walking trail surrounding a stocked lake with plenty of nice sized fish.”

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💡 Lit for night running

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🚰 Water fountains

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at Belk Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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.
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
  • Websitewrparks.org
  • Phone+1 618-251-3130
  • Social Facebook

Where to find Belk Park

880 Belk Park Rd, Wood River, IL 62095

Get directions

Running trails near Wood River

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

Bohm Woods Nature Preserve

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Nature preserve offering forests & grasslands, including a seasonal 90-acre hunting area.

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SIUE Cross-Country Course

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SIUE Mountain Bike Trailhead

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Gordon F. Moore Community Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 804 reviews

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Scenic

Sprawling park with golf, tennis & baseball facilities & landscaped gardens over 704 acres.

4.7 miles away

Hearland Prairie of "The Nature Institute" at North Gordon Moore Park

5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews

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4.7 miles away

The Watershed Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 636 reviews

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1 miMixedShadedLit

Protected forest, prairie & wetland habitat with paved walking trails & an education center.

4.9 miles away

All running trails in Wood River, 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.