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Ottawa Trail Woods
4.3 ★★★★☆ 275 Google reviews · Running trail in Lyons, Illinois · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Ottawa Trail Woods' 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.
Forest preserve with picnic groves & shelters that's part of the historic Chicago Portage waterway.
What runners say about Ottawa Trail Woods
“Clean and well-kept, paths are spacious and easy to navigate.”
Love this trail youll find me here almost anytime. Been coming here for years, there's a nice trail where u can come across the river and chill there for a while. Same trail takes you by a small lake and you can spot beavers, red ear slider turtles, and snapping turtles in the water.
Ottawa trail woods is a very nice place to go on south wide. The only thing is that some trails are not that clear. The dam and the river part is nice.
I love going here mostly for convience. I live about 30 minutes walking. I hike it usually once or twice a week. I've taken to bringing a garbage bag with me since some of the visitors have no respect for preservation of wildlife. Overall a nice get away from the urban life.
For me it is a good place for a bicycle route, in places the ride was hard, but for the most part it was fine. I saw a lot of more wildlife like deer, cute animals but they quickly scurried away. The only thing you need to watch out for when biking is people walking with dogs, because you can bump into each other.
Trail conditions & character
“We love bringing our dogs here, and just saw some picnic tables on our walk today, can’t wait to go back and have lunch on a nice day.”
Plan your run at Ottawa Trail Woods
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- 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.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitefpdcc.com
- Phone(800) 870-3666
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–7 PM |
Running trails near Lyons
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Chicago Portage National Historic Site
4.5 ★★★★★ 199 reviews
This forested area features monuments to historic explorers & many wildlife viewing opportunities.
Cermak Woods
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Veterans Park
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Riverside Trail
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