Home › Illinois › Zion › North Dunes Nature Preserve
North Dunes Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 372 Google reviews · Running trail in Zion, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from North Dunes Nature 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.
Large waterfront preserve featuring beaches, trails through diverse landscapes & an array of birds.
What runners say about North Dunes Nature Preserve
“If you like walking well kept trails and enjoy uncrowded beaches this is a good stop.”
“Beautiful space that's usually less busy than parks closer to the city!”
“On calm days the water is very clear and snorkeling in 3-4 feet of water can be loads of fun; just checking out the bottom.”
North Dunes Nature Preserve is a fantastic place for birding, walking, riding a bike, and a unique beach. The sugar white sands of Panama City Beach, FL, it ain't...but it is a very cool beach for combing. When the water warms up a bit it's a great place to wade or swim in the shallows.
A lot of the photos posted here are not accurate to where it is pinned on the Map. Follow me on maps for more photos of state parks and forest preserves that are accurate to pinned places. Now on to the review. It has great bike trails with lots of different wildlife. It is peaceful and quiet very scenic.
Calm and serene escape. Saw 1 other person, five deer, a few crows and a migrating flock of geese. It was about 31 degrees, with fresh snow from the morning. The trail was pretty flat and easy.
Beautiful in the winter. The frozen waves and giant icicles are fun to see, and the near by frozen pond was cool to walk on.
Trail conditions & character
“Peaceful well marked nature walking trails with fantastic views of Lake Michigan.”
“I love it and if you're looking for a quiet beach with lots of adjacent trails, this just might be for you.”
Plan your run at North Dunes Nature Preserve
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.
- Websitednr.illinois.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–7 PM |
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