Home › Illinois › Fairview Heights › Pleasant Ridge Park
Pleasant Ridge Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 343 Google reviews · Running trail in Fairview Heights, Illinois · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Pleasant Ridge Park'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.
Spacious 95-acre park featuring a log cabin built in 1850, plus a playground & picnic facilities.
What runners say about Pleasant Ridge Park
“The trails are well-maintained with bridges and steps along the way and well-marked with color-coded arrows to keep you on the right path.”
“She definitely enjoyed the scenic views on the trails/ open fields and smelling everything!”
“Best local park for trail running or hiking if you live in the Belleville or surrounding areas.”
“This is a nice, quiet part that you can take your kids, dog, or just go for a quick hike on the trail through the woods in the back of the park.”
This park is a gem!! Best local park for trail running or hiking if you live in the Belleville or surrounding areas. The paths aren’t labeled the best and can be a bit confusing as far as which little paths branch out, but that’s part of the fun, right?
Nice quiet park with some short trails. Excellent place for metro east residents to get in a short hike after a workday. The trail system winds along a series of watersheds and creeks in thick woods. There is even a little waterfall.
I loved this park, there was a dog trainer and an off leash area for pets. Plenty of space and trails.
Such a nice place! Just discovered this one and I'm so glad I did! Coming from a small wooded area to a "city" can be rough sometimes and I like going here to get away from people. There are usually people around, just not nearly as many as most parks.
Trail conditions & character
“This is a nice, quiet part that you can take your kids, dog, or just go for a quick hike on the trail through the woods in the back of the park.”
“There's also a preserved historic cabin (that you can only view from the outside), called the Kinsella Cabin in the park that was built in the late 1800s.”
“There are two hills in the main open part of the park that are great for hill repeats.”
“This is a nice, quiet part that you can take your kids, dog, or just go for a quick hike on the trail through the woods in the back of the park.”
“There is one main hiking trail that takes you through the majority of the wooded area on the property and another five short trails that shoot off of the main one.”
“Areas you and take the dog off leash along with a trail loop through the trees, my app told me it was about 1.”
“The map needs to be updated, but you could just use colored markers or paint to show which trail you're on and which way to go to stay on or go to a different trail.”
Plan your run at Pleasant Ridge Park
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiterecfh.com
- Phone(618) 489-2040
Running trails near Fairview Heights
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Old Lincoln Trail Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews
Long Acre Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 322 reviews
Family-friendly greenspace featuring a playground, baseball fields and tennis courts.
Moody Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 987 reviews
A wood playground designed with local children & built by volunteers, plus ballfields & picnicking.
Saint Ellens Mine Bike Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 8 reviews
