HomeIllinoisRiver Forest › Evans Field

Evans Field

4.6 ★★★★★ 142 Google reviews · Running trail in River Forest, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Evans Field'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.

MixedDog-friendlyStroller / ADARestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Wooded preserve featuring wide trails, picnic areas and encounters with birds, deer and other wildlife.

What runners say about Evans Field

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (142 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌾 quiet & peaceful 11 mentions

“Evans Park is a great spot for a peaceful walk or some quiet time outdoors.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“The trails are well-marked and suitable for all ages, making it a family-friendly spot.”

Great walking trail that goes along the river m. Some bikes, some dogs and not too busy. I have seen deer here ever time I have visited.

★★★★★ — Heather , Jun 2022

I love coming here, never seen it really crowded. Awesome place for a quick hike with the dogs or alone. Lots of space for picnics and peaceful trails. Can be muddy in early spring and after heavy rain, although it's lovely to visit any time of year.

★★★★★ — Jen , Jun 2020

Great place but ever since they fixed the road that runs along the forest preserve (Thatcher Road), people speed and run over the animals, because there are no signs posted and people don't care. Wish we could do something and hope tje right eyes see it

★★★★☆ — Jacob , Apr 2021

A Tranquil Escape in Evan’s Field - A Gem Among Elmwood Park’s Forest Preserves I recently had the pleasure of visiting Evan’s Field, a serene and beautifully maintained forest preserve located at the western edge of Elmwood Park.

★★★★★ — Laurie , Dec 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 142 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.

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 10 mentions

“Evans Park is a great spot for a peaceful walk or some quiet time outdoors.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“There are a couple of side "alleys" where you can picnic without really seeing the shelter or the parking (which is pretty ample.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Awesome place for a quick hike with the dogs or alone.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“Can be muddy in early spring and after heavy rain, although it's lovely to visit any time of year.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

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🛣️ Paved surface

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Evans Field

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • 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
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websitefpdcc.com
  • Phone(800) 870-3666
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Evans Field

River Forest, Illinois

Get directions

Running trails near River Forest

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

Sunset Bridge Meadow

4.5 ★★★★★ 108 reviews

River Grove, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Relaxed area, featuring a scenic trail beside the Des Plaines River and open fields.

under a mile away

Jerome Huppert Woods

4.6 ★★★★★ 392 reviews

River Grove, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Forested open space along the Des Plaines River, with hiking, wildlife sightings & a picnic shelter.

under a mile away

Thatcher Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 753 reviews

Maywood, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

245 acres of floodplain woodlands with a natural history museum & an unmarked trail system.

1.0 miles away

Priory Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 79 reviews

River Forest, IL

Dog-friendly

Public park with a playground, baseball field, restroom, and trails.

1.3 miles away

River Front Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 256 reviews

River Grove, IL

Scenic

Park featuring a playground, picnic tables, and walking trails, as well as summer events.

1.3 miles away

Lindberg Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 297 reviews

Oak Park, IL

LitScenicDog-friendly

Park with a gated playground, picnic areas, tennis courts, and baseball and soccer fields.

1.4 miles away

All running trails in River Forest, 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.