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Little Bear Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 285 Google reviews · Running trail in Glenview, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
12.6 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Little Bear 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.

12.6 miShadedScenicRestroomsWater

Park with a playground, picnic tables, restrooms, and splash pad, plus a maze and sandbox.

What runners say about Little Bear Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (285 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Bathrooms are exceptionally clean, I can't say enough good things about this gem of a park.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Beautiful area, nice playground (the sprinklers are great), clean restrooms”

🌳 shaded & cool 7 mentions

“Next to that is a third section that is a big sand pit with awnings so your kid can dig and play in the shade.”

Really unique park! The castle design is great for imaginative play. Sprawling gardens and paths make for a beautiful landscape. There is a large sand pit and splash pad. The whole place is fenced in which is nice, however it is huge so it's hard to keep track of your kids.

★★★★☆ — Kiki , Jun 2022

Splash pad with rubber floor (protects little bare feet), sand area has umbrellas that provide shade, cute playground, bush maze, lots of winding path to ride bikes, and read a book that has its pages individually installed in little weather-proof boxes along the path, little grassy hills to run around and let the…

★★★★★ — Miri , Aug 2019

Little Bear Park is a wonderful spot for young kids. It’s well-maintained, and the surrounding green area is just beautiful. They also have large hedge maze with trees. The highlights are definitely the great splash pad and the adorable castle-themed pretend play features that really spark their imagination.

★★★★★ — Sumreen , Jun 2026

Lost a star bc the porch swings are replaced with stationary benches. Park is starting to show it's age by the visible wear on equipment, but that adds character and shows how much it is used! Love the story walk and layout ♥️

★★★★☆ — Michelle , Apr 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 285 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.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 7 mentions

“Next to that is a third section that is a big sand pit with awnings so your kid can dig and play in the shade.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“Beautiful area, nice playground (the sprinklers are great), clean restrooms”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“Bathrooms are exceptionally clean, I can't say enough good things about this gem of a park.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)

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Plan your run at Little Bear Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • Distance12.6 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Websiteglenviewparks.org
  • Phone+1 847-724-5670

Hours

Monday 7 am–11 pm
Tuesday 7 am–11 pm
Wednesday 7 am–11 pm
Thursday 7 am–11 pm
Friday 7 am–11 pm
Saturday 7 am–11 pm
Sunday 7 am–11 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 Little Bear Park

Glenview, Illinois

Get directions

Running trails near Glenview

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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under a mile away

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Thomas J. Richardson Park

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1.3 miles away

Flick Park

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LitScenicDog-friendly

Park with a playground, picnic, and pool areas, plus baseball, tennis, and volleyball courts.

1.5 miles away

Greenview Park

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The Grove

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All running trails in Glenview, 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.