HomeIllinoisEvanston › Lovelace Park

Lovelace Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 446 Google reviews · Running trail in Evanston, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Lovelace 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.

ScenicTrailhead parking

Park of flowering pear trees & open spaces, with tennis courts, sports fields & a playground.

What runners say about Lovelace Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (446 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“A gorgeous park with a nice pond, fountain, ducks flying about and very hilly.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“At this very moment I sit here watching the calm waters ripple.”

There are two playgrounds, with one designed for toddlers and preschoolers. The equipment is old and worn, but appears to be safe. There are benches and picnic tables. The park is large with grassy mounds and hills. There is a nice paved walking trail around the park.

★★★★☆ — D , May 2024

Great park to take a walk with my dog. A good place for kids, tennis courts, soccer fields.Big attraction is the lake and small waterfall .

★★★★★ — Anna , Oct 2023

Discover hidden beauty near Evanston for solitude and relaxation. Enjoy the abundant geese and peaceful silence. It’s my favorite spot to walk and unwind.

★★★★★ — Veronica , Mar 2025

Park was decent. There were geese and they hissed at me as I walked past. Also I ran for a mile and a half because there were mile markers.

★★★★★ — Ralph , Nov 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 446 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 6 mentions

“A gorgeous park with a nice pond, fountain, ducks flying about and very hilly.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Lovelace Park

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
  • Websitecityofevanston.org
  • Phone(847) 448-4311

Hours

Monday 6 AM–11 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–11 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–11 PM
Thursday 6 AM–11 PM
Friday 6 AM–11 PM
Saturday 6 AM–11 PM
Sunday 6 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 Lovelace Park

Gross Point Rd &, Thayer St, Evanston, IL 60201

Get directions

Running trails near Evanston

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

Bent Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 103 reviews

Evanston, IL

Natural surfaceShaded

Shaded park with an open playground, a soccer field and tennis courts.

under a mile away

Mallinckrodt Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 38 reviews

Wilmette, IL

Scenic

under a mile away

Perkins Woods

4.4 ★★★★☆ 41 reviews

Evanston, IL

Dog-friendly

under a mile away

Hibbard Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 53 reviews

Wilmette, IL

1.2 miles away

Jacqueline B. Gorell Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 23 reviews

Evanston, IL

1.6 miles away

McCormick Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 18 reviews

Evanston, IL

1.6 miles away

All running trails in Evanston, 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.