HomeIllinoisElk Grove Village › Busse Forest Elk Pasture

Busse Forest Elk Pasture

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,067 Google reviews · Running trail in Elk Grove Village, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Loop distance
7.7 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Busse Forest Elk Pasture'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.

Paved7.7 miLoopScenicRestrooms

Popular park offering wooded trails for hiking & biking, plus an enclosed pasture with elk.

What runners say about Busse Forest Elk Pasture

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,067 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“The walking trails are peaceful, well maintained, and surrounded by nature, making it a perfect spot for a relaxing stroll, bike ride, or family outing.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 10 mentions

“We stopped by the elk pasture at Busse Forest Elk Pasture and were amazed to see these beautiful animals so close to home.”

Beautiful long (I think about 8 miles) trail for walking, jogging, biking 🚴🏼‍♂️ or rollerblading. Tree paths, grassy path, bridges, water. A few are near to the city and homes— so not very removed from city in some parts- other parts are immersive. Very lush. Several bathroom stops (average cleanliness - smelly).

★★★★★ — Samar , May 2022

There are paved trails as well as unpaved trails. We took an unpaved trail. It's beautiful ❤️. We saw deer, Coyotes , and many birds. The Elk Pasture itself, is fenced off. We weren't lucky enough to see one. 😔

★★★★★ — Patricia , May 2025

Love it love it . We were biking 7.3 miles . Taking brake every 10 mins 😆. Perfect place for bike run roller skating scooter walk trail for everything enjoyable.

★★★★★ — Me , Jun 2022

Big beautiful park area with a 7.7 mile loop for a long walk this weekend. The trail was nice with great views of water and forest. Started and ended at the Elk trail head and the walk took about 3.5 hours.

★★★★★ — Tiffeny , Jun 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,067 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 11 mentions

“We stopped by the elk pasture at Busse Forest Elk Pasture and were amazed to see these beautiful animals so close to home.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 6 mentions

“Beautiful long (I think about 8 miles) trail for walking, jogging, biking 🚴🏼‍♂️ or rollerblading.”

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🔁 Loop trail 4 mentions

“A lot less wild than I like but I wanted a place I've never been before with a 7+ mile loop.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“Do not feed the elk😂 The bathrooms here were not super clean so make sure you don’t need to go to the bathroom during your time here.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“The trails were nicely paved and the park itself was beautiful.”

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Plan your run at Busse Forest Elk Pasture

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
  • Loop distance7.7 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitefpdcc.com
  • Phone(800) 870-3666

Hours

Monday 6 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–6 PM
Thursday 6 AM–6 PM
Friday 6 AM–6 PM
Saturday 6 AM–6 PM
Sunday 6 AM–6 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 Busse Forest Elk Pasture

225 N Arlington Heights Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Get directions

Running trails near Elk Grove Village

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

Busse Forest-South

4.6 ★★★★★ 81 reviews

Elk Grove Village, IL

Scenic

Nature preserve offering picnic tables and trails, plus a public restroom.

under a mile away

Busse Woods Grove 27

4.6 ★★★★★ 135 reviews

Elk Grove Village, IL

Shaded

Large park for hiking, biking and fishing, plus a picnicking area.

1.0 miles away

Busse Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 5,482 reviews

Rolling Meadows, IL

LoopPavedShadedScenic

Lakeside forest retreat offering an elk habitat, a biking trail, boat rentals & large picnic groves.

1.1 miles away

Busse Forest Central

4.7 ★★★★★ 116 reviews

Elk Grove Village, IL

PavedDog-friendly

Preserve with paved trails for biking, hiking and strolling, plus areas for boaters.

1.1 miles away

Busse Forest Main (South) Dam

4.7 ★★★★★ 70 reviews

Elk Grove Village, IL

Scenic

Nature preserve providing a space for activities such as biking, fishing, picnicking, and kayaking.

1.2 miles away

Busse Forest-West

4.8 ★★★★★ 123 reviews

Schaumburg, IL

LoopPavedScenic

Picnic areas, trails, and opportunities for biking, jogging, and kayaking in a forest preserve.

1.4 miles away

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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.