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McDowell Grove Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 813 Google reviews · Running trail in Naperville, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from McDowell Grove 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.
This 465-acre wooded area has multi-use trails & recreation such as fishing, boating & picnicking.
What runners say about McDowell Grove Forest Preserve
“Beautiful trails, some paved and others unpaved, be sure to carry a mosquito spray/repellent for the unpaved trails especially if accompanying kids.”
“Perfect place for a nice quiet walk when the weather is nice outside.”
While searching for a new hiking spot for our family including our dog, we found McDowell Grove Forest Preserve— a wonderful place to visit for those who love hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking, or being in a peaceful, foliage-rich forest preserve.
Beautiful park with miles and miles of trails. Most of the trails are crushed limestone but they also have some single track and wider dirt trails. There’s also a small lake to run around and a dam at the other end of the park. The parking lot is a great size and was recently repaved. Check this place out!
Perfect place for a nice quiet walk when the weather is nice outside. Not too many bugs and have great area for family picnics. It's beautiful during fall as well. If you follow the long trail ...along the way you find a huge flower field which is so beautiful during spring time...
First time here, park is nice, some picnic tables, a porta potty, and walking trails. I could see where this park could be really hard to walk along the river trail when wet...lots of mud. I didn't check out the other trail. Saw lot's of people walking dogs here.
Trail conditions & character
“Very well maintained, has washrooms, gravel paths which are well packed and not dusty, some grass paths if you’d like to walk in the jungle and relax, and ample free parking space.”
“Beautiful trails, some paved and others unpaved, be sure to carry a mosquito spray/repellent for the unpaved trails especially if accompanying kids.”
“Very well maintained, has washrooms, gravel paths which are well packed and not dusty, some grass paths if you’d like to walk in the jungle and relax, and ample free parking space.”
“I recently lead a photo tour here and the landscape never disappoints & neither do the lovely people who walk by us with their dogs!”
“Perfect place for a nice quiet walk when the weather is nice outside.”
“We took the path North from the parking lot the West once we got to the lake and eventually that will loop back South and East leading back to the parking lot.”
“First time here, park is nice, some picnic tables, a porta potty, and walking trails.”
Plan your run at McDowell Grove Forest Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- 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.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitedupageforest.org
- Phone(630) 933-7683
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–8 PM |
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