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Blackhawk County Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 230 Google reviews · Running trail in South Elgin, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Blackhawk County 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.
Beautiful reserve for walking and biking trails, plus a waterfall (Blackhawk Falls).
What runners say about Blackhawk County Forest Preserve
“big enough parkinglot for the traffic it gets, beautiful little falls that you can get up close to, and nice walking paths for families.”
“Beautiful and peaceful spot to relax and enjoy nature.”
Cute little gem that I came across upon my hike at Jon D Duerr Forest Preserve! The parking lot for this mini waterfall will be right before the main forest preserve entrance (on 31, right after the McLean Blvd light). The parking lot is very small, and only accommodates around 8 cars max.
One of the best places to hike in the area and my kids loved the little creek and waterfall. Be aware that the trail entrance leading to the creek has no exit after awhile so you will have to turn around I would recommend stopping at the 2nd bridge
Nice trail to walk, small waterfall, a cool tunnel to see, paved. Very limited parking by waterfall area, maybe 7 or 8 cars at best. More parking at other parts of the trail.
The kids love walking the creek line, finding tadpoles, crawfish, and snakes.
Trail conditions & character
“The parking lot for this mini waterfall will be right before the main forest preserve entrance (on 31, right after the McLean Blvd light).”
“The parking lot for this mini waterfall will be right before the main forest preserve entrance (on 31, right after the McLean Blvd light).”
“Beautiful and peaceful spot to relax and enjoy nature.”
Plan your run at Blackhawk County Forest Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 6:30 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 6:30 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near South Elgin
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve
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Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve
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Blackhawk Park
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Family-friendly, local park featuring a playground, fields with backstops and a pond for fishing.
James Pate Philip State Park
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Home to a diverse array of wildlife, this open area offers a visitor center, picnic spots & trails.
Otter Creek Forest Preserve
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Kid-friendly nature preserve offering trails for walking and biking.