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Peter J. Exner Marsh Conservation Area
4.3 ★★★★☆ 226 Google reviews · Running trail in Lake in the Hills, Illinois · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Peter J. Exner Marsh Conservation Area'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.
116-acre conservation area featuring wetlands vegetation, a diverse bird community & several trails.
What runners say about Peter J. Exner Marsh Conservation Area
“It's scenic Queen well-maintained and if you like playing Pokemon go you're going to find a bunch of stuff over there.”
“Despite this, the trail was decent, well-maintated, and easy to navigate.”
“Did not walk the trails, just hung in the pavilion, and it was a quiet and serene with a beautiful view of nature.”
“The walking trail is rarely if ever crowded and is a great place to go if you need to clear your head or take your dog(s) for a walk.”
Overall, simple trail that is dog friendly. No gravel or pavement for the majority of it so it can get quite muddy. Not a challenging path however so there was limited slipping and sliding.
i love this place in all seasons, i recently went when everything was relatively flat and my friend and i searched for bones to save and clean and display as a way to preserve the animals even more. we picked up some shotgun shells and removed them along with garbage found on the way.
It's a marsh. It's muddy 😁 lots of poop from various wildlife on the path, and there's a few parts that are currently blocked off for one reason or another. It's a good hike and generally you'll be on your own in there. Watch for ticks!
This is a wonderful Forest Preserve and the trails are very fun and relaxing to walk. Although it seems to me that these days every piece of vacant land they pick up to be a forest preserve and do nothing to set it apart from the last one that they created.
Trail conditions & character
“It's scenic Queen well-maintained and if you like playing Pokemon go you're going to find a bunch of stuff over there.”
“The walking trail is rarely if ever crowded and is a great place to go if you need to clear your head or take your dog(s) for a walk.”
“Did not walk the trails, just hung in the pavilion, and it was a quiet and serene with a beautiful view of nature.”
“It's muddy 😁 lots of poop from various wildlife on the path, and there's a few parts that are currently blocked off for one reason or another.”
“Bathrooms aren't great but beautiful Marsh lands, very peaceful”
Plan your run at Peter J. Exner Marsh Conservation Area
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- 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.
- Websitemccdistrict.org
- Phone(815) 338-6223
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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