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Madigan State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 194 Google reviews · Running trail in Lincoln, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Madigan State 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.

ScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsQuiet

What runners say about Madigan State Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (194 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“My childhood playground and still playing there st 50 years old excellent fishing trails and plenty of beautiful nature to view”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“very peaceful place to visit when you want feel the nature surrounding you.”

I enjoyed driving through the park in the early morning and the deer population was amazing. If I stopped the car an remained quite they would stay there and not run away.

★★★★★ — Deborah , Nov 2023

Outdoor fun! Wildlife galore, picnic areas, pavilions horseshoe pits, playground, pavilions,canoe/kayak launch, fishing, hiking trails and public pit toilet restrooms

★★★★☆ — Corey , Sep 2023

Nice quiet park. Lots of deer, and wildlife. Plenty of trails, and a good size park. Good for walking, biking, picnic's, or just to ride through. Very peaceful.

★★★★★ — Venture , Jun 2023

I go to Railsplitter every September for their dove hunting program. It's a small operation (only 30 hunters per day) but is well run. The staff are nice and the grounds are clean.

★★★★★ — Gabriel , Sep 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 194 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 7 mentions

“My childhood playground and still playing there st 50 years old excellent fishing trails and plenty of beautiful nature to view”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“very peaceful place to visit when you want feel the nature surrounding you.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“Wildlife galore, picnic areas, pavilions horseshoe pits, playground, pavilions,canoe/kayak launch, fishing, hiking trails and public pit toilet restrooms”

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🐕 Dog-friendly

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Plan your run at Madigan State 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 trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitednr.illinois.gov
  • Phone(217) 735-2424
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–8 PM
Thursday 8 AM–8 PM
Friday 8 AM–8 PM
Saturday 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday 8 AM–8 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 Madigan State Park

Lincoln, Illinois

Get directions

Running trails near Lincoln

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

Edward R Madigan State Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 49 reviews

Lincoln, IL

Dog-friendly

under a mile away

Lincoln Memorial Hospital Wellness Trail

5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

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2.8 miles away

Kickapoo Creek Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 249 reviews

Lincoln, IL

Scenic

3.5 miles away

Carpenter Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 267 reviews

Springfield, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

This 434-acre park is a popular spot for hikes through woodlands, quiet picnics & animal viewing.

20.6 miles away

Funks Grove Nature Spaces

4.8 ★★★★★ 497 reviews

McLean, IL

Scenic

Relaxed preserve with a nature center and playground with a sandbox and stream.

21.2 miles away

Funks Grove Nature Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 211 reviews

McLean, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

Popular park with public restrooms and picnic tables, plus kid-friendly hiking trails.

22.0 miles away

All running trails in Lincoln, 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.