Home › Illinois › Lake Villa › Grant Woods Forest Preserve North

Grant Woods Forest Preserve North

4.8 ★★★★★ 25 Google reviews · Running trail in Lake Villa, Illinois · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Grant Woods Forest Preserve North'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.

Grant Woods Forest Preserve North — running trail in Lake Villa, IL, photo 1
Grant Woods Forest Preserve North — running trail in Lake Villa, IL, photo 2
Grant Woods Forest Preserve North — running trail in Lake Villa, IL, photo 3
Grant Woods Forest Preserve North — running trail in Lake Villa, IL, photo 4
Grant Woods Forest Preserve North — running trail in Lake Villa, IL, photo 5
Crushed gravelDog-friendlyHilly

What runners say about Grant Woods Forest Preserve North

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (25 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

✨ well-maintained 5 mentions

“Really well maintained limestone path, great for road bikes with gravel tires for sure.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

It is a lovely park, very ample and clean. Perfect for an afternoon walk with the dog. It is so fascinating seeing the plants and trees in the walk.

★★★★★ — Javier , Oct 2022

A great circle trail, also has a little baggies for dogs. Clean bathrooms with the hand sanitizers filled up and two rolls of toilet paper. Also connects to a larger trails, great for a bike trip. I usually come here to run with my dog, we take about 45 minutes to complete full circle.

★★★★★ — Jose , Jul 2021

Really well maintained limestone path, great for road bikes with gravel tires for sure.. its not a long path tho, it connects to a few bike lanes thaf make it decent but the paths in gurnee are much longer

★★★★☆ — Fuelonempty , Aug 2024

Wonderful mid-fall walk on very well maintained trails! Loved our time spent there!!

★★★★☆ — Mark , Nov 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 25 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

“A great circle trail, also has a little baggies for dogs.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“Great if you're looking to hike some hills in Lake County”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

“Really well maintained limestone path, great for road bikes with gravel tires for sure.”

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Plan your run at Grant Woods Forest Preserve North

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • 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.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitelcfpd.org

Where to find Grant Woods Forest Preserve North

24960 W Grand Ave, Lake Villa, IL 60046

Get directions

Running trails near Lake Villa

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

Caboose Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 110 reviews

Lake Villa, IL

Park featuring a playground and a sledding hill plus a train caboose.

under a mile away

Lake Villa Township Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 341 reviews

Lake Villa, IL

Lit

Park featuring a caboose for kids, plus swings and picnic tables.

under a mile away

Grant Woods Forest Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 542 reviews

Ingleside, IL

Crushed gravelShadedScenicDog-friendly

Natural preserve featuring native plants & wildlife, with multiuse gravel trails & a canoe launch.

1.0 miles away

Bluebird Meadow Forest Preserve

5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews

Lindenhurst, IL

1.8 miles away

Chesapeake Trails Park - Round Lake Area Park District

4.3 ★★★★☆ 18 reviews

Round Lake Heights, IL

2.0 miles away

Shaw Park - Round Lake Area Park District

4.7 ★★★★★ 45 reviews

Round Lake, IL

Crushed gravel

Relaxed park featuring playground equipment, a basketball court, and a walking track.

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Lake Villa, 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.