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Collins Pond Trail
4.3 ★★★★☆ 36 Google reviews · Running trail in Homer, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Collins Pond Trail'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.
What runners say about Collins Pond Trail
“A nice place to enjoy a small part of nature and is a very beautiful place to be when the sun is setting.”
“Peaceful place to visit nature.”
As a quick little trail it’s great. 10-20 minutes for an adult or you can take kids, dawdle & examine details like birds/plants/flowers/creatures. The trail’s like a big square with a 2-way leg ( parking lot & back) that attaches to it.
Collins Pond and its trails form one of the Champaign County Forest Preserves' hidden gems, well worth exploring especially in the spring. It encapsules several habitats in one place; wetland, prairie, forest & floodplain.
This is connected to the trails at Homer Lake Forest Preserve if you don't mind a short walk over a bridge and along a very low traffic country road. It does have its own parking lot though. This is a nice place to walk the dog or go for a picnic. There is a nice wide grassy trail around the eponymous pond.
Nice simple little trail with a pond in the middle and views of the river you could even hike off trail down to the river if you choose
Trail conditions & character
“Nice simple little trail with a pond in the middle and views of the river you could even hike off trail down to the river if you choose”
“The trail’s like a big square with a 2-way leg ( parking lot & back) that attaches to it.”
Plan your run at Collins Pond Trail
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 | 7 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Homer
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Larson Park
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