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Cardinal Drive Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 30 Google reviews · Running trail in Rolling Meadows, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Cardinal Drive Park'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.

ScenicRestroomsTrailhead parking

What runners say about Cardinal Drive Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (30 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Beautiful swings and slides and a porta potty that was pretty clean and very convenient.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful swings and slides and a porta potty that was pretty clean and very convenient.”

Great newly redone park with astroturf surface!2 large slides on a large play structure with 2 different climbing walls and bars offers lots of space for tag with ramps. A smaller playset has 2 smaller slides and a little cover area.

★★★★★ — Tina , Mar 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 30 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 7 mentions

“) The walk over the bridge to get to Kimball Hill Park is right off the parking lot and gets you to the pretty waterfall, loop trail around the pond, and the 3 ziplines.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“The parking lot has 2 handicap spaces and ample other parking spots for cars (perhaps a dozen?”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Beautiful swings and slides and a porta potty that was pretty clean and very convenient.”

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Plan your run at Cardinal Drive Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • 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, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitermparks.org
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–9 PM
Thursday 6 AM–9 PM
Friday 6 AM–9 PM
Saturday 6 AM–9 PM
Sunday 6 AM–9 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 Cardinal Drive Park

2708 Cardinal Dr, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Get directions

Running trails near Rolling Meadows

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

Kimball Hill Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 467 reviews

Rolling Meadows, IL

Scenic

Ball fields, a fishing & skating pond & picnic areas highlight this community park with bike trails.

under a mile away

Florey Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 98 reviews

Rolling Meadows, IL

Popular green space joining another park, featuring a playground, tennis courts and a pond.

under a mile away

under a mile away

North Salk Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 83 reviews

Rolling Meadows, IL

Paved

Clean park offering disc golf and a playground, along with paved paths and a hillside for sledding.

under a mile away

South Salk Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 325 reviews

Rolling Meadows, IL

Dog-friendly

Community park featuring lighted ball fields, a basketball court & playground with climbing rocks.

under a mile away

Sunset Meadows Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 218 reviews

Arlington Heights, IL

Dog-friendly

Turf-fielded soccer venue with a driving range and a playground.

1.2 miles away

All running trails in Rolling Meadows, 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.