HomeIllinoisElburn › Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve

Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 36 Google reviews · Running trail in Elburn, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Blackberry Maples 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.

MixedShadedDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parking

What runners say about Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (36 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Nice short walk, mix of sun and shade, the main trail is about 1 miles, mowed, with about 50 feet of elevation gain.”

Beautiful trails and unspoiled woods. Fun to trapse around and burn some calories. Watch for ticks. It comes with the territory. Nice bathroom in parking lot.

★★★★★ — Toni , May 2022

One of my favorite spots for walking my dog. Maple forest and prarie grass. The left branching trail is shady in the morning. The right branch is shady in the afternoon.

★★★★☆ — William , Oct 2019

Nice short walk, mix of sun and shade, the main trail is about 1 miles, mowed, with about 50 feet of elevation gain.

★★★★☆ — Ashelyn , Nov 2025

Nice spot for an early afternoon walk on our way to friends' house for Thanksgiving. TY Kane County❣️

★★★★★ — Patricia , Nov 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 36 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.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Nice short walk, mix of sun and shade, the main trail is about 1 miles, mowed, with about 50 feet of elevation gain.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“One of my favorite spots for walking my dog.”

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🚻 Restrooms

“Nice bathroom in parking lot.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

“Nice bathroom in parking lot.”

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🛣️ Paved surface

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack

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Plan your run at Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitekaneforest.com
  • Phone+1 630-232-5980
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve

43W231 Main St, Elburn, IL 60119

Get directions

Running trails near Elburn

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

Hannaford Woods/Nickels Farm Forest Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 15 reviews

Sugar Grove, IL

MixedDog-friendly

3.2 miles away

West Main Community and Bark Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 226 reviews

Batavia, IL

PavedShadedDog-friendly

Spacious, dog-friendly park featuring a baseball field, a disc golf course, swimming holes and agility facilities.

3.2 miles away

Lake Run Forest Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

North Aurora, IL

Crushed gravelDog-friendly

3.5 miles away

Bliss Woods Forest Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 241 reviews

Sugar Grove, IL

PavedShadedScenic

Trails and paths crisscross this wooded park with a pavilion and picnic tables.

3.8 miles away

Elburn Forest Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 153 reviews

Elburn, IL

PavedShadedDog-friendly

Wooded nature preserve with winding trails and a grassy landscape, plus shelters for picnics.

4.6 miles away

Dick Young Forest Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 270 reviews

Batavia, IL

5 miLoopMixedShaded

Peaceful, lakefront area offering wetland, woodland & prairie trails, plus varied plants & animals.

4.6 miles away

All running trails in Elburn, 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.