HomeIllinoisRoscoe › Kieselburg Forest Preserve

Kieselburg Forest Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 147 Google reviews · Running trail in Roscoe, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Kieselburg Forest 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.

ScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parkingQuiet

Wooded preserve offering picnic areas, a soccer field, and trails for hiking and remote-controlled aircraft flying.

What runners say about Kieselburg Forest Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (147 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Preserve appears to be well kept, and I take my dogs there pretty much year around”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“It looks like trees line the entire way to the shelter, but it clears to a beautiful lawn.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Tucked away in Winnebago County, it offers serene trails perfect for a peaceful hike, while its open skies make it a hotspot for model airplane flying.”

Beautiful place. Sometimes I'm a little creeped out though because it seems like the back parking lot usually has a lone van parked there with the engine running and someone inside. I usually tell a family member where I'm going before I hike here or have them watch me on google maps.

★★★★☆ — Johanna , Jun 2021

Beauty of a Forest Preserve with natural elements, yet mowed grass trails! Extremely nice for pets!

★★★★★ — Ms. , Oct 2022

🐝🫎🦋🌳 Kieselburg Forest Preserve in northern Illinois is a hidden gem for outdoor enthusiasts and hobbyists alike! Tucked away in Winnebago County, it offers serene trails perfect for a peaceful hike, while its open skies make it a hotspot for model airplane flying.

★★★★★ — Ramin , Sep 2024

Lovely place for walking and picnicking. Couple loops will give 4 miles of walk.

★★★★★ — Natha , Oct 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 147 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 5 mentions

“Be careful with the coyotes in this area and most if you have small dogs, there’s no poop bags so make sure to brings yours”

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🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“It looks like trees line the entire way to the shelter, but it clears to a beautiful lawn.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Sometimes I'm a little creeped out though because it seems like the back parking lot usually has a lone van parked there with the engine running and someone inside.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“It's usually a pretty packed place in the evenings with the soccer field but there is another pavilion farther up the hill that you can usually get to that's a lot quieter.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Tucked away in Winnebago County, it offers serene trails perfect for a peaceful hike, while its open skies make it a hotspot for model airplane flying.”

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Plan your run at Kieselburg Forest Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.

Hours

Monday 7 am–9 pm
Tuesday 7 am–9 pm
Wednesday 7 am–9 pm
Thursday 7 am–9 pm
Friday 7 am–9 pm
Saturday 7 am–9 pm
Sunday 7 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 Kieselburg Forest Preserve

5801 Swanson Rd, Roscoe, IL 61073

Get directions

Running trails near Roscoe

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

Leland Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 149 reviews

Roscoe, IL

Park featuring baseball fields and a stone-bridge trail, as well as playgrounds.

2.1 miles away

Riverside Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 110 reviews

Roscoe, IL

Scenic

Tranquil greenspace featuring the Rock River for fishing and boating.

2.2 miles away

Roland Olson Forest Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 130 reviews

Roscoe, IL

PavedShadedScenic

Hiking, bird watching and prairie-restoration area featuring shaded trails.

2.4 miles away

Schoonmaker Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 193 reviews

Machesney Park, IL

Dog-friendly

Parks for both small & large dogs are available at this recreation spot with trails & a playground.

2.8 miles away

Dennis Johnson Memorial Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 39 reviews

Machesney Park, IL

2.8 miles away

Robert J. Cross Memorial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 53 reviews

Roscoe, IL

Sizeable play area, with swings, slides and a baseball field, plus a playground.

3.3 miles away

All running trails in Roscoe, 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.