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Hickory Creek Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 237 Google reviews · Running trail in Mokena, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Hickory Creek 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.

PavedScenicStroller / ADAQuiet

Sizable space featuring diverse wildlife & plant species, with trails & paved paths open year-round.

What runners say about Hickory Creek Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (237 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 12 mentions

“Had such an amazing find today it's such a beautiful preserve as we were walking through the Creek with my dog I moved a few big rocks around and found this beautiful arrowhead!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“Peaceful location with a decent view of the water (was at the Mokena Water Reservoir).”

I bike through here year round, beautiful, quiet with lots of wildlife. Flowing creeks with bridges, plenty of deer running around, if you want exercise there are plenty of hills to keep your heart rate up. There is a beautiful park off Rt30 with a pavilion and washrooms.

★★★★★ — Art , Mar 2022

Had such an amazing find today it's such a beautiful preserve as we were walking through the Creek with my dog I moved a few big rocks around and found this beautiful arrowhead! If anybody could please give me any information about it That would be amazing!

★★★★★ — Amanda , Jul 2024

So many nice quiet trails, shelters, and nature. Fantastic place to decompress and explore. I love it. Highly recommended.

★★★★★ — Mark , Apr 2025

“Large preserve with two different parking spots and several different areas to walk at. Hickory Creek Preserve is very beautiful and a great place to go enjoy the day in nature. They’re also places to have a picnic.”

★★★★★ — Chloe’S , Mar 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 237 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 13 mentions

“Had such an amazing find today it's such a beautiful preserve as we were walking through the Creek with my dog I moved a few big rocks around and found this beautiful arrowhead!”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 6 mentions

“Peaceful location with a decent view of the water (was at the Mokena Water Reservoir).”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“Paved trail is wide for two lanes of traffic.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

“Wheelchair accessible on the path, with two rickety bridges.”

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Plan your run at Hickory Creek Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.

Hours

Monday 6 AM–7 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–7 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–7 PM
Thursday 6 AM–7 PM
Friday 6 AM–7 PM
Saturday 6 AM–7 PM
Sunday 6 AM–7 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 Hickory Creek Preserve

Mokena, Illinois

Get directions

Running trails near Mokena

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

Butternut Creek Woods Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 30 reviews

Frankfort, IL

under a mile away

Mokena Community Park District

4.5 ★★★★★ 170 reviews

Mokena, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

Relaxed area with mature oaks offering outdoor activities, sports and a playground. Picnic tables.

1.3 miles away

Mokena Main Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 152 reviews

Mokena, IL

Shaded

Clean park featuring baseball fields, playgrounds, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts.

1.3 miles away

1.4 miles away

Old Plank Road Trail

5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews

Frankfort, IL

1.5 miles away

Breidert Green Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 474 reviews

Frankfort, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

Popular town park with a playground, a fountain, a gazebo and swings, plus a farmers market.

1.5 miles away

All running trails in Mokena, 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.