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Belvidere Dam

4.6 ★★★★★ 70 Google reviews · Running trail in Belvidere, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Belvidere Dam'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.

PavedScenic

Spacious park with a dam, fishing spots and hiking trails.

What runners say about Belvidere Dam

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (70 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“The dam is but one of the beautiful sights at Belvidere Park.”

If you aren't utilizing Belvidere Park, the Belvidere Dam, and Spencer Conservation Area for the hidden gems they are, you're missing out. 3 playgrounds, fishing areas, picnic shelters, bathrooms, paved and grass walking/hiking/biking trails, fishing, frisbee golf, a beach you can find shells on, canoe launch and more.

★★★★★ — Michelle , Sep 2022

A great place you want to go to relax and maybe do a little fishing but the river is running the water is running well it's a great peaceful place

★★★★★ — Jajuan , Nov 2021

Nice relaxing place to walk , fish or just sit. Great paved paths and play areas for kids.

★★★★★ — Toosassee4U , May 2021

Always peaceful here. So many areas to walk and sit. Lots of fish if you enjoy fishing.

★★★★★ — Wendy , Jul 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 70 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 5 mentions

“The dam is but one of the beautiful sights at Belvidere Park.”

More trails like this →

🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Great paved paths and play areas for kids.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Belvidere Dam

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.

Hours

Monday 6:30 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6:30 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6:30 am–10 pm
Thursday 6:30 am–10 pm
Friday 6:30 am–10 pm
Saturday 6:30 am–10 pm
Sunday 7 am–10:30 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 Belvidere Dam

845 W Locust St, Belvidere, IL 61008

Get directions

Running trails near Belvidere

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

Belvidere Park District

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,002 reviews

Belvidere, IL

LitScenic

Landscaped green space for walking and fishing, with picnic tables, a playground and a dam.

under a mile away

Doty Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 46 reviews

Belvidere, IL

Scenic

under a mile away

Fridh Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 110 reviews

Belvidere, IL

Shaded

Large park featuring a playground, plus sand-volleyball and basketball courts.

under a mile away

Spencer Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 382 reviews

Belvidere, IL

PavedScenic

Scenic park with a fish-stocked pond, ball fields & picnic shelters, plus trails with wooded areas.

under a mile away

Prairie Fields

4.6 ★★★★★ 106 reviews

Belvidere, IL

Sprawling sports-oriented park featuring baseball fields, playgrounds and walking trails.

1.3 miles away

Redhorse Bend

4.6 ★★★★★ 45 reviews

Garden Prairie, IL

Natural surfaceScenic

Park with a river for fishing, hiking, and relaxation.

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Belvidere, 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.