HomeIllinoisOak Brook › Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center

Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 653 Google reviews · Running trail in Oak Brook, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center'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.

LoopScenicDog-friendlyFlat & fastRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Nature education center featuring a woolly mammoth skeleton, microscopes, and spotting scopes.

What runners say about Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (653 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Indoor facilitie are clean and offer animals in tanks A large mammoth Skeleton and giant bird nest Great place.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 14 mentions

“Most scenic, peaceful, serene and colorful place to visit especially in the Fall.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Most scenic, peaceful, serene and colorful place to visit especially in the Fall.”

These photos were taken July 2022, almost a year ago. I haven’t been back recently, but definitely a serene place. Been here more than once. It has a beautiful path to walk, run, bicycle. The scenic view is meditative. I’ve only gone in the mornings before 10am. I’ve never seen what looks to be a restaurant open.

★★★★★ — Flo , Jun 2023

Beautiful forest preserve for wedding photos. The Flat bridge was a nice location surrounded by a few paths for a variety of photos backdrops in a short distance from the parking lot. keep in mind a photo permit is required for photos in all dupage county forest preserves.

★★★★★ — Rousary , Sep 2023

I like the path options so you can walk as long/ far as you want and you can walk in a loop so you don't have to turn around to get back to the parking lot. Just the right amount of shade and sun for a comfortable walk on a warm day. Watch for the wildlife!

★★★★★ — Cindy , May 2023

Love the walking paths here! We saw so much - multiple egrets, deer, lots of colorful birds, etc. There's a lot to see here and the paths are kept up very well. Will definitely come back in the future.

★★★★★ — Lk , Aug 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 653 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 18 mentions

“I went there 3 times and I liked it and it was very interesting and good trails to hike on and a waterfall to look at and with a museum.”

More trails like this →

🚻 Restrooms 5 mentions

“The restrooms aren’t bad for a public outdoor restroom.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“I like the path options so you can walk as long/ far as you want and you can walk in a loop so you don't have to turn around to get back to the parking lot.”

More trails like this →

🔁 Loop trail 3 mentions

“I like the path options so you can walk as long/ far as you want and you can walk in a loop so you don't have to turn around to get back to the parking lot.”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Most scenic, peaceful, serene and colorful place to visit especially in the Fall.”

More trails like this →

Flat & fast 2 mentions

“The Flat bridge was a nice location surrounded by a few paths for a variety of photos backdrops in a short distance from the parking lot.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center

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, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websitedupageforest.org
  • Phone+1 630-850-8110
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 10 am–4 pm
Tuesday 10 am–4 pm
Wednesday 10 am–4 pm
Thursday 10 am–4 pm
Friday 10 am–4 pm
Saturday 10 am–4 pm
Sunday 10 am–4 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center

3609 Spring Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523

Get directions

Running trails near Oak Brook

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

Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 264 reviews

Oak Brook, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Wooded preserve (7-mile path) featuring a scenic waterfall, hiking trails and a nature museum.

under a mile away

Burns Field Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 68 reviews

Hinsdale, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

Featuring tennis and basketball courts, this public park also has a playground and picnic tables.

1.3 miles away

Bemis Woods South

4.6 ★★★★★ 209 reviews

Western Springs, IL

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Shaded trails, picnic spots, and bridges dot this scenic forest preserve.

1.6 miles away

Bemis Woods North Grove #5

4.5 ★★★★★ 26 reviews

Westchester, IL

1.6 miles away

Spring Rock Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 381 reviews

Western Springs, IL

ShadedScenic

40+ acres with a playground, athletic fields, lighted tennis courts, BBQ areas & flower gardens.

1.9 miles away

Salt Creek Woods Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 195 reviews

Westchester, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

This iconic 245-acre forested nature preserve features hiking trails & birdwatching.

2.1 miles away

All running trails in Oak Brook, 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.