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Pekin Lake

4.3 ★★★★☆ 71 Google reviews · Running trail in Pekin, Illinois · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Pekin Lake'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.

Pekin Lake — running trail in Pekin, IL, photo 1
Pekin Lake — running trail in Pekin, IL, photo 2
Pekin Lake — running trail in Pekin, IL, photo 3
Open 24hScenic

What runners say about Pekin Lake

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (71 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Slightly warmer then it has been, however i work on the waterway, but very beautiful at night”

This is a trail by the river I walk with my dog daily.We love walking here and it is a good place for your dog to run and fetch!

★★★★★ — Renee , Aug 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 71 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

“Slightly warmer then it has been, however i work on the waterway, but very beautiful at night”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Pekin Lake

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both 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.

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Pekin Lake

Pekin, Illinois

Get directions

Running trails near Pekin

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

McNaughton DOG Training Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 25 reviews

Pekin, IL

Dog-friendly

1.7 miles away

Richard Morrissey Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 81 reviews

North Pekin, IL

Lit

Park featuring picnic shelters, a playground and basketball courts.

2.2 miles away

McNaughton Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 220 reviews

Pekin, IL

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Undeveloped park consisting of trails winding through woodland & meadow habitat for native species.

2.3 miles away

McNaughton Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

Pekin, IL

2.5 miles away

Mineral Springs Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,606 reviews

Pekin, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

Family-friendly green space featuring a playground and an off-leash dog area, as well as fishing and paddling.

2.7 miles away

Happy Tails Dog Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 160 reviews

Pekin, IL

Natural surfaceShadedLitDog-friendly

Clean park for dogs to run off-leash, with light posts, chairs, fountains, shade and water bowls.

2.8 miles away

All running trails in Pekin, 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.