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Forest Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 300 Google reviews · Running trail in Lake Forest, Illinois · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Forest 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.
37-acre park district facility with a 3/4-mile walking trail & a lakefront beach.
What runners say about Forest Park
“Clean and organized - Family friendly area”
“It was absolutely gorgeous and was perfect for us to decompress after the stress that was boot camp.”
“Good place to spend with family, very calm and quiet picnic point.”
Forest Park Beach is beautiful .. fantastic scenic views of Lake Michigan and all of its glory
Beautiful park along the beach. Easy to access via bike, car, or walking.
Trail conditions & character
“It was absolutely gorgeous and was perfect for us to decompress after the stress that was boot camp.”
Plan your run at Forest Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- 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.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadwater — reported by runners
- Websitelfparksandrec.com
- Phone(847) 234-2600
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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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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