HomeIllinoisDowners Grove › Gelwicks Park

Gelwicks Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 69 Google reviews · Running trail in Downers Grove, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Gelwicks 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.

Dog-friendlyTrailhead parking

Park with athletic fields, a pavilion, and mowed paths, plus access to the Belmont Prairie Buffer.

What runners say about Gelwicks Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (69 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“I just like the fact that it is quiet.”

This place is the "secret" dog park of Downers Grove. The southwest corner of the park is a great place to let your dog off his or her leash and let them run off some energy. But don't tell anyone... It's a secret. ;-)

★★★★★ — Conor , Oct 2019

Great park, with trails, wildlife and sports fields. Also connects to Belmont Prarie.

★★★★★ — Laura , Jun 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 69 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.

🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“This place is the "secret" dog park of Downers Grove.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at Gelwicks Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • 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
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitedgparks.org
  • Phone+1 630-960-7500
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–9 pm
Saturday 6 am–9 pm
Sunday 6 am–9 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 Gelwicks Park

4721 Walnut Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515

Get directions

Running trails near Downers Grove

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

Belmont Prairie

4.6 ★★★★★ 44 reviews

Downers Grove, IL

Scenic

under a mile away

Hoopers Hollow Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 83 reviews

Downers Grove, IL

3 miPavedShadedDog-friendly

Paved circuit and dog-friendly hill for dog walks and biking, featuring a playground for slides and swings.

1.1 miles away

Dragonfly Landing

4.6 ★★★★★ 230 reviews

Lisle, IL

Parks with playgrounds, splash pads and picnic tables.

1.3 miles away

PrairieWalk Pond

4.5 ★★★★★ 136 reviews

Lisle, IL

PavedScenic

Relaxed green space with a pond, play areas and a splash pad.

1.4 miles away

Downers Grove Fury

4.7 ★★★★★ 17 reviews

Downers Grove, IL

1.5 miles away

Maple Grove Forest Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 44 reviews

Downers Grove, IL

175 miCrushed gravelShadedScenic

Short trail through a wooded preserve, where red leaves and dappled sunlight create a magical feel.

1.5 miles away

All running trails in Downers Grove, 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.