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Espenscheid Memorial Forest Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 163 Google reviews · Running trail in Cherry Valley, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Espenscheid Memorial 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.
Tranquil park featuring trails, boating and river views.
What runners say about Espenscheid Memorial Forest Preserve
“⛺️☀️🦦Great Forest Preserve 🏃🏻🏃🏼♀️ Awesome for hiking 🥾 Good for walking 🚶♀️ Excellent for having fun in the 🚿 💧 water Here in this beautiful place you can do anything you want.”
“If you're looking for a quiet place to read a book or eat your lunch this park is the best and the place you have been looking for.”
⛺️☀️🦦Great Forest Preserve 🏃🏻🏃🏼♀️ Awesome for hiking 🥾 Good for walking 🚶♀️ Excellent for having fun in the 🚿 💧 water Here in this beautiful place you can do anything you want. This preserve will inspire you🎍🪷you’ll soon feel the connection with Mother Nature.
Love this place, biking trail gas 3 miles of very challenging trail. I call it spaghetti.
This Forest Preserve is a nice hiking spot with trails along the Kishwaukee River and through the woods. It's very quiet, I had the place to myself on a Sunday morning. If you want to extend your hike, the green trail connects to Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve.
I love this place for it's kayak launch. It has a nice, large parking lot and some sort of bathroom facility, which I've never used. It has a gravel drive down to the kayak launch, so you don't have to carry your kayak very far. It also has some nice walking paths that connect to Blackhawk Springs Park.
Trail conditions & character
“⛺️☀️🦦Great Forest Preserve 🏃🏻🏃🏼♀️ Awesome for hiking 🥾 Good for walking 🚶♀️ Excellent for having fun in the 🚿 💧 water Here in this beautiful place you can do anything you want.”
“If you're looking for a quiet place to read a book or eat your lunch this park is the best and the place you have been looking for.”
“It has a nice, large parking lot and some sort of bathroom facility, which I've never used.”
Plan your run at Espenscheid Memorial 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 trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitewinnebagoforest.org
- Phone+1 815-877-6100
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 5:55 am–11 pm |
| Tuesday | 5:55 am–11 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:55 am–11 pm |
| Thursday | 5:55 am–11 pm |
| Friday | 5:55 am–11 pm |
| Saturday | 5:55 am–11 pm |
| Sunday | 5:55 am–11 pm |
Running trails near Cherry Valley
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 558 reviews
Sprawling natural area with hiking trails, picnic tables, ball fields & a playground.
Deer Run Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 153 reviews
Rambling riverside prairie & forest preserve spanning 594.8 acres with hiking & horse-riding trails.
Kishwaukee River Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 417 reviews
Wooded preserve for picnics featuring the Kishwaukee River, plus hiking and fishing.
Baumann Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,043 reviews
Community venue bordered by the Kishwaukee River & containing a lake with fishing.
