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Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center
4.6 ★★★★★ 231 Google reviews · Running trail in Downers Grove, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center'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.
Tranquil mid-city nature retreat featuring oak forest, marshlands & walking paths on 150 acres.
What runners say about Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center
“Great Trails , clean facilities, bathroom friendly lots of indoor caged animals and taxidermy on walls”
“The place is beautiful, peaceful, and very well maintained.”
“The place is beautiful, peaceful, and very well maintained.”
Absolutely gorgeous gem of a preserve in downers grove. Even though it is not huge you can really feel like you are a millions miles away, the beautiful old oak groves and marshland areas feel so ancient and wild.
Beautiful trail both paved and unpaved areas. They have a honeybee farm as well that was pretty interesting to see. Aside from trail they also have a beautiful visitor center with activities for kids.
Nice hidden spot within the city. Good for a short walk, unfortunately because of its location you can still hear a lot of noise from cars… but hey that’s Chicagoland for ya!
Great place for a hike! They have a learning center with washrooms. No dogs allowed due to wildlife. Plenty of parking. Beautiful trees and wild flowers! Beautiful trails to walk on. It’s a gem in Downers Grove 🩷
Trail conditions & character
“The place is beautiful, peaceful, and very well maintained.”
“A small portion is paved near parking lot and building, then unpaved trails that were muddy, wet, icy and snowy depending on the area.”
“I don’t understand how there can be a public park but you can’t bring your dog on a leash.”
“A small portion is paved near parking lot and building, then unpaved trails that were muddy, wet, icy and snowy depending on the area.”
“A small portion is paved near parking lot and building, then unpaved trails that were muddy, wet, icy and snowy depending on the area.”
“There are plenty of trails, an interpretive center with water and restrooms, a nice garden and lots of interesting signage throughout.”
“The place is beautiful, peaceful, and very well maintained.”
Plan your run at Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- 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
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Phone+1 630-963-9388
Hours
| Monday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Friday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–2 pm |
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