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Loud Thunder Forest Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 607 Google reviews · Running trail in Illinois City, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Loud Thunder 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.
Park with hiking trails and camping that’s also a popular fishing spot.
What runners say about Loud Thunder Forest Preserve
“This park has to be a Best Kept secret,its very clean,very nice concrete sites full hook ups,good celluar reception lots of dog walking leash trails.”
“Staff was friendly, the views were gorgeous, and other campers were friendly but we didn't see much of them once we were actually settled.”
“I find those sites have way more shade and space.”
“Quiet area but those of us that stayed up didn't have to worry about being loud.”
Update 2025: Parks department has improved the infrastructure and it's a wonderful local campsite. Bathrooms are clean and have hot showers. 2020: Really good local campsite. Riverview sites have a great location but not very private. People can't seem to figure out how not to plug up the toilets 🤦.
Such a quiet and peaceful place to camp and hike. We always stay in the full hook up campground. Each site is pull through with a paved angle pad and fire pit with grill. The staff is friendly along with the preserve manager .
Update for mid Feb 2026 - park is always gorgeous if you are an outdoor lover. Trails are open for hiking. 90% dry conditions on the riverside trails & horse trails around the ranger station. I did not go through the back horse trails.
Overall its a very nice park. They have three campgrounds. This time I stayed in the new Deerhaven campground. It was nice however there weren't any bathrooms/showerhouse closeby and no trees except on the perimeter. It had more of a parking lot feel. The lake is beautiful but I think best suited for kayaking.
Trail conditions & character
“Staff was friendly, the views were gorgeous, and other campers were friendly but we didn't see much of them once we were actually settled.”
“My only wish is that they used led lighting in the bathroom so it was a bit bright and they posted store and bathroom cleaning times .”
“Quiet area but those of us that stayed up didn't have to worry about being loud.”
“I find those sites have way more shade and space.”
“This park has to be a Best Kept secret,its very clean,very nice concrete sites full hook ups,good celluar reception lots of dog walking leash trails.”
Plan your run at Loud Thunder Forest 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Websitericfpd.org
- Phone(309) 795-1040
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–7 PM |
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