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Lake County Forest Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 92 Google reviews · Running trail in North Chicago, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lake County 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.
Relaxing park with walking paths, plus fishing in the lake and ponds.
What runners say about Lake County Forest Preserve
“The trails were very well kept and we were very surprised to find that there were very few people on the trail compared to the sidewalks and trails in our neighborhood.”
I always enjoy going to Lake County Forest Preserve and walking around with my wife and enjoying are beautiful natural wonders that is here as there's so much to see and smell and with all the animals that are available here to see and hear is amazing it would be nice if there was more money to invest in are park's.
Clean and pretty walkway surrounded by forests and ponds. With sunrise, I started to run, and there were only 2 other groups there. Quite landscape but you occasionally see white-tail along the way.
Love this place for a nice briskly walk. Sadly they cut down. Any trees and is not that private any more.
Huge forest preserve, but not too big to run with your hot momma or walk if she's a big momma. This forest preserve has two sides, the one closer to rt.41 being better of the two. Nice decent size ponds, I have seen people fishing on the bigger one.
Trail conditions & character
“The other side is better, safer and has shelters, grills, restrooms, and all.”
“Plenty of parking, even has a pokegym where I put my Charizard.”
Plan your run at Lake County 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, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitelcfpd.org
- Phone+1 847-968-3477
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–8 pm |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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