HomeIllinoisBartlett › James Pate Philip State Park

James Pate Philip State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 355 Google reviews · Running trail in Bartlett, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from James Pate Philip State 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.

Crushed gravelShadedScenicRestroomsWater

Home to a diverse array of wildlife, this open area offers a visitor center, picnic spots & trails.

What runners say about James Pate Philip State Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (355 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 11 mentions

“This is a very well-maintained and state of the art park with beautiful trails for people of all walking abilities as they are very flat and taken care of.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“This is a very well-maintained and state of the art park with beautiful trails for people of all walking abilities as they are very flat and taken care of.”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“Not a lot of shade on the paths, so bring water!”

This park is enjoyable and very interesting. The park consists of many trails that allow biking or hiking. On the trails you will see a collection of unique marshlands not found anywhere else in the country. Also found are unique plants and animals(we saw coyotes, beavers, and muskrats).

★★★★☆ — Ryan , Jun 2021

My dog and I love coming here. It’s a great place to unwind and take a nature walk. It’s always clean and well kept. There are some benches scattered throughout the trail if you wanted to sit. The trails are gravel so be mindful of that on days it rains.

★★★★★ — Lilibeth , Aug 2025

Really really nice path in Bartlett, perfect for biking or casually walking. Well maintained 👍

★★★★★ — Scotty , Jul 2023

Beautiful park. Crushed limestone trails. Lots of green wetland plants and insect life. Know that there is very little sun cover. The nature center is free and has a cute little museum with some live reptile (mostly snakes), amphibian (they have an axolotl) and insects on display.

★★★★★ — Patrick , Jul 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 355 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 8 mentions

“This is a very well-maintained and state of the art park with beautiful trails for people of all walking abilities as they are very flat and taken care of.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 6 mentions

“The trails are gravel so be mindful of that on days it rains.”

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🚻 Restrooms 5 mentions

“There are many opportunities to get close to nature as well as fantastic pavilion to utilize along with indoor restrooms.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“Not a lot of shade on the paths, so bring water!”

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🚰 Water fountains 4 mentions

“Bathroom is clean and the water fountains work.”

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Plan your run at James Pate Philip State Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websitebartlettparks.org
  • Phone(847) 608-3100
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 9 AM–5 PM
Tuesday 9 AM–5 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–5 PM
Thursday 9 AM–5 PM
Friday 9 AM–5 PM
Saturday 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday 9 AM–5 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 James Pate Philip State Park

2050 W Stearns Rd, Bartlett, IL 60103

Get directions

Running trails near Bartlett

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

Bartlett Nature Center

4.7 ★★★★★ 119 reviews

Bartlett, IL

Educational center for kids to learn about local creatures along with hiking trails.

under a mile away

James “Pate” Philips State Park Cross Country Skiing Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 22 reviews

South Elgin, IL

under a mile away

Valley View Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 7 reviews

Bartlett, IL

under a mile away

Pratts Wayne Woods Forest Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 11 reviews

Wayne Township, IL

1.1 miles away

Blue Heron Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 99 reviews

Bartlett, IL

Shaded

Popular neighborhood park featuring playgrounds, slides and a fenced-in splash pad.

1.3 miles away

Pratt's Wayne Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 175 reviews

Bartlett, IL

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Spacious natural area popular for fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing & remote-control vehicles.

1.5 miles away

All running trails in Bartlett, 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.