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Big Woods

4.3 ★★★★☆ 99 Google reviews · Running trail in Aurora, Illinois · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Big Woods' 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.

Big Woods — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 1
Big Woods — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 2
Big Woods — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 3
Big Woods — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 4
Big Woods — running trail in Aurora, IL, photo 5
Open 24hScenicTrailhead parking

Undeveloped nature preserve with a path & a fishing lake in a scenic setting housing local wildlife.

What runners say about Big Woods

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (99 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Thanks Dupage county for maintaining such a beautiful preserve.”

Serenity in a concrete jungle of warehouses. Thanks Dupage county for maintaining such a beautiful preserve. The ground water plants that merge with the landscape, the trails, the birds and 🐝, this place is beautiful.

★★★★★ — Satya , Apr 2019

Great forest preserve for strolling on the trail. Some bird watching areas. Not much else.

★★★★☆ — Benny , Jan 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 99 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

“Thanks Dupage county for maintaining such a beautiful preserve.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“No parking sadly and the church does not allow you to use their carpark.”

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Plan your run at Big Woods

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • 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.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitedupageforest.org
  • Phone(630) 933-7683
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Big Woods

2502 Bilter Rd, Aurora, IL 60502

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.

Illinois Prairie Path Batavia Spur

3 ★★★☆☆ 2 reviews

Aurora, IL

under a mile away

Arlene Shoemaker Flatwoods Nature Preserve

4.2 ★★★★☆ 26 reviews

Aurora, IL

MixedDog-friendly

2.0 miles away

Margaret Pearson Interpretive Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 11 reviews

Batavia, IL

2.5 miles away

Prairie Path Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 25 reviews

Batavia, IL

PavedDog-friendly

2.7 miles away

Simmons Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 168 reviews

Aurora, IL

Park featuring a playground and picnic facilities, plus soccer and cricket fields.

2.8 miles away

Fox Trail Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

Batavia, IL

3.2 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.