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Gaelic Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 114 Google reviews · Running trail in Bloomington, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Gaelic 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.

Trailhead parkingQuiet

Small, clean neighborhood park featuring basketball courts, a baseball field, and a playground.

What runners say about Gaelic Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (114 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Very clean open park, basketball baseball and a creek.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Not very big, but quiet and toddler enjoyed the sand area.”

Nice park, but it is a long walk to get here for me. my nephews kept saying the name like "gay lick" so i thought it wasnt real and refused to go here. But now i have and it is ok. I was almost stung by a wasp, evil creatures

★★★★☆ — Darla , Mar 2019

This is a really nice small (compared to urban parks in Columbus, OH) neighborhood park. The Constitution trail has a nice off-shoot that runs through here. There's a basketball area, horseshoes, and a playground along with a fishing pier and a pond. Also, has a Pokemon Go gym and a number of Pokestops.

★★★★★ — Becky , Mar 2021

Review Date: October 11th, 2014 A small fun gem in Bloomington. My dad and I came here after exploring Bloomington and it was one of our last stops. It was a great way to end a fun day. Bloomington has a ton of parks and this one is on the nicer side of them.

★★★★★ — Joshua , Sep 2022

What a fun park! The area of the park isn't huge, but there is a ton for the kids to do! They have a big sandbox, a play area for smaller kids, and one for bigger kids.

★★★★★ — Anne , May 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 114 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Highly recommend it easy access close parking.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Not very big, but quiet and toddler enjoyed the sand area.”

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Plan your run at Gaelic 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.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitebloomingtonparks.org

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

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 Gaelic Park

3102 Cave Creek Rd, Bloomington, IL 61704

Get directions

Running trails near Bloomington

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

Brookridge Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 19 reviews

Bloomington, IL

under a mile away

McGraw Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 487 reviews

Bloomington, IL

ShadedScenic

Landscaped park with a playground, splash pad & water fountain, plus soccer & baseball fields.

2.2 miles away

Ewing Park I

4.5 ★★★★★ 361 reviews

Bloomington, IL

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Large public area featuring playgrounds, a playground for small children, trails, baseball diamonds and picnic spots.

2.9 miles away

Ewing Park ll

4.5 ★★★★★ 164 reviews

Bloomington, IL

ShadedDog-friendly

Kid-friendly park with a playground and baseball fields as well as a wooded area for bird-watching.

3.2 miles away

Tipton Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 385 reviews

Bloomington, IL

PavedShaded

Recreation area with baseball fields & a walking trail, plus a playground & splash park for kids.

3.2 miles away

Franklin Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 195 reviews

Bloomington, IL

ShadedScenic

Sandy playground and picnic-table-lined park featuring quiet benches, mature trees and shady spots for relaxing.

3.5 miles away

All running trails in Bloomington, 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.