Home › Illinois › Evanston › Dawes Park
Dawes Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 402 Google reviews · Running trail in Evanston, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Dawes 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.
Relaxing green space with walking trails, a beach and a pond, plus views of Lake Michigan and Northwestern campus.
What runners say about Dawes Park
“STUNNING park with easy, free parking right by the lake, nice walking trails, good cell service, and a little beach.”
“Always peaceful to get some fresh air or go for a nice jog around the Lakeshore.”
STUNNING park with easy, free parking right by the lake, nice walking trails, good cell service, and a little beach. You can even see the skyline in the distance. Nice place to park our RV for a few hours and just relax.
Beautiful park on Evanston's Lakeshore. The geese and ducks are gone for now but they'll be back next year. Running and biking track, and a cafe during the summer months. This is where I practice Tai Chi.
Beautiful and relaxing park, bustling with walkers, joggers, bikers, loungers, boaters and sun worshipers. We walked here every day from our hotel less than one mile away, and spent hours walking and sitting. Lovely place.
This is a park along the longer walking path along the lake, there are plenty of benches and it also has restrooms and i believe they sell refreshments during day in a summer. There are also grills you can use
Trail conditions & character
“STUNNING park with easy, free parking right by the lake, nice walking trails, good cell service, and a little beach.”
“Always peaceful to get some fresh air or go for a nice jog around the Lakeshore.”
Plan your run at Dawes Park
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.
- Websitecityofevanston.org
- Phone(847) 488-4311
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–10 PM |
Running trails near Evanston
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Arrington Lagoon at Dawes Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 875 reviews
This park pond features fountains & ducks & turns into an ice-skating rink in the winter.
Burnham Shores Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 298 reviews
Family-friendly park featuring playgrounds, swings, slides and other play pieces.
Centennial Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 156 reviews
Tree-lined lakefront park including a beach with volleyball courts & tranquil walking paths.
Elliott Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 270 reviews
Park with a lakeside trail, picnic areas, and playground, plus opportunities for biking and jogging.
The Lakefill
4.9 ★★★★★ 413 reviews
Park near Northwestern University on the shores of Lake Michigan offering lake views, biking and jogging trails.
Garden Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 155 reviews
City park offering a playground, picnic areas, and walking paths, plus beach access.