HomeIllinoisCarbondale › Green Earth's - Brush Hill Preserve

Green Earth's - Brush Hill Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 57 Google reviews · Running trail in Carbondale, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Green Earth's - Brush Hill Preserve'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.

5 miLoopScenicHilly

Natural preserve on the edge of town offering a short, well-maintained trail through a forest.

What runners say about Green Earth's - Brush Hill Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (57 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“6mi), well maintained, short loop trail on the edge of Carbondale, belonging to a nonprofit called Green Earth.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful hilly preserve just outside of town.”

It's a cute little grove with a quite short trail. It takes me about 45 minutes of slow walking. It's a real mushroom paradise! So many species! It's really cooler underneath the trees, just as it should be in the forest.

★★★★★ — Anna , Jun 2024

Beautiful hilly preserve just outside of town. The loop trail is a little over a half mile and is a great workout for the doggo and I.

★★★★★ — Meghan , Nov 2021

Beautiful escape from town right in town! The trail is a loop that goes around one of the biggest hills in town. Most interestingly, it features prominent signage dedicated to the 2009 Super Derecho weather event and it's impact on forest succession.

★★★★★ — Jason , Nov 2025

One of my favorite places in town to go hiking (& mountains biking)! Although this trail doesn't compare to some of Southern ILs other nature, it's a nice .5mile single track that many people don't know about. Great for a few laps of trail running or a nice short hike to get outside!

★★★★★ — Matthew , Nov 2016

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 57 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.

⛰️ Hills / elevation 9 mentions

“For instance there are several bridges, hills, ravines, stairs, and even a creek at certain times of the year.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“Beautiful hilly preserve just outside of town.”

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🔁 Loop trail 3 mentions

“6mi), well maintained, short loop trail on the edge of Carbondale, belonging to a nonprofit called Green Earth.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)

“5mile single track that many people don't know about.”

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Plan your run at Green Earth's - Brush Hill Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • Loop distance5 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websitegreenearthinc.org
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–6 pm
Tuesday 6 am–6 pm
Wednesday 6 am–6 pm
Thursday 6 am–6 pm
Friday 6 am–6 pm
Saturday 6 am–6 pm
Sunday 6 am–6 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 Green Earth's - Brush Hill Preserve

1085-1087 E Park St, Carbondale, IL 62901

Get directions

Running trails near Carbondale

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

Chautauqua Bottoms (Freeman Street Trailhead)

4.7 ★★★★★ 60 reviews

Carbondale, IL

Scenic

Nature preserve with trails for walking, jogging, and biking, plus seasonal wildflowers.

2.5 miles away

Green Earth Oakland Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 67 reviews

Carbondale, IL

Scenic

Pet-friendly spot with a few short trails winding through the woods, plus an annual pumpkin glow event.

2.6 miles away

Green Earth Chautauqua Bottoms (David Kenney Trailhead)

4.6 ★★★★★ 37 reviews

Carbondale, IL

Crushed gravel

2.8 miles away

Green Earth's Fernlands Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 29 reviews

Carbondale, IL

LoopNatural surfaceDog-friendly

3.9 miles away

Cannon Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 361 reviews

Carterville, IL

Dog-friendly

6.8 miles away

Rocky Bluff Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 162 reviews

Makanda, IL

2 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Loop trail with a waterfall, wildflowers, and river views, varying in difficulty from easy to challenging.

7.3 miles away

All running trails in Carbondale, 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.