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Lyon Forest Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 51 Google reviews · Running trail in Yorkville, Illinois · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Lyon 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.

ShadedScenicHillyMile markersQuiet

Sprawling park featuring boardwalks and a hill offering walking paths and trails through a wooded landscape, plus geocaches.

What runners say about Lyon Forest Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (51 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“The trails are very narrow in parts and weave through a beautiful wooded setting.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Beautiful trails and reflection benches The creek was so calm and relaxing too.”

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

Lyon Forest Preserve and the Richard Young Forest Preserve it connects with is a great place to go hiking; however, parts of the trail have overgrowth and can be better maintained. The trails are very narrow in parts and weave through a beautiful wooded setting.

★★★★☆ — Jeremy , Jun 2025

Nice little stroll, lot of paths with signage at every fork. Appears that there are a few paths that go further past a mile, but haven’t ventured that far yet. Fairly quiet, but nice getaway from cars and such. Dont eat the shrooms though man

★★★★★ — Phillip , May 2023

Great place for a short hike. Long enough to feel like you're outside and short enough to make a quick hike.

★★★★★ — Terrill , Aug 2022

Really nice hike, so many interesting mushrooms growing after all the rain and heat we've had.

★★★★★ — Katie , Jul 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 51 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

“The trails are very narrow in parts and weave through a beautiful wooded setting.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 4 mentions

“It features a board walk and stairs that peak on large hill.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“The trails are very narrow in parts and weave through a beautiful wooded setting.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Fairly quiet, but nice getaway from cars and such.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

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Plan your run at Lyon Forest Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable

Where to find Lyon Forest Preserve

8200-8276 Van Emmon Rd, Yorkville, IL 60560

Get directions

Running trails near Yorkville

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

Richard Young Forest Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 132 reviews

Yorkville, IL

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

Kid-friendly, pet-friendly space for hiking trails traversing prairies and forests.

under a mile away

Pickerill-Pigott Forest Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 22 reviews

Yorkville, IL

1 miLoopBoardwalkScenic

1.3 miles away

Bicentennial Riverfront Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 705 reviews

Yorkville, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

Park alongside the River Fox, featuring rapids, a playground and picnic tables.

1.4 miles away

Ron Clark Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Yorkville, IL

Scenic

1.6 miles away

Riemenschneider Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 111 reviews

Yorkville, IL

Family-friendly space dedicated to firemen offering playgrounds, a statue and a baseball field.

1.7 miles away

Saw Wee Kee Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 325 reviews

Yorkville, IL

Natural surfaceScenic

Wildlife park with water activities, plus multi-use trails for BMX biking, horseback riding & more.

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Yorkville, 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.