HomeIllinoisLake Forest › Prairie Wolf Slough County Forest Preserve

Prairie Wolf Slough County Forest Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 46 Google reviews · Running trail in Lake Forest, Illinois · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

We have not been able to confirm the surface, distance or shape of Prairie Wolf Slough County Forest Preserve yet from its own listing, the park's website or runner reviews — so those cells stay blank rather than guess. What is below comes straight from the listing and from reviewers' own words. 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.

Dog-friendly

What runners say about Prairie Wolf Slough County Forest Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (46 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Perfect location to take your bored, or high energy dog. The gravel paths help to keep owners shoes a bit clean, no guarantee off path. After rain storms, or early spring it is going to be a bit muddy, so be prepared. The parking lot is not huge, but you'll find a spot on off hour times.

★★★★★ — Michael , Apr 2024

I have been coming to the slough for over 20 years. I enjoyed this place so much as a child and as a teenager; there's a ton a great wildlife: early in the morning you can see deer and cranes, sometimes there are muskrats and frogs, and when it's hot enough you can see garter snakes just off the edge of the path.

★★★★★ — David , Nov 2025

Wonderful dog park with open spaces, tall grasses, wooded areas, and water that is separately fenced if you don't want your dog going in there.

★★★★★ — Paul , Oct 2025

Need membership but can buy at park. Great area for dogs to run and play.

★★★★★ — Tyler , Aug 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 46 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.

🐕 Dog-friendly 16 mentions

“Wonderful dog park with open spaces, tall grasses, wooded areas, and water that is separately fenced if you don't want your dog going in there.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Prairie Wolf Slough County Forest Preserve

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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitelcfpd.org
  • Phone(847) 367-6640

Where to find Prairie Wolf Slough County Forest Preserve

1917-2075 S Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045

Get directions

Running trails near Lake Forest

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

Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 131 reviews

Highland Park, IL

LoopCrushed gravelDog-friendly

Nature preserve with a trail, controlled-entry pond, and fenced-in acreage for dogs.

under a mile away

Lake Forest Open Lands: West Skokie Nature Preserve

4.2 ★★★★☆ 13 reviews

Lake Forest, IL

1.8 miles away

Woodland Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 97 reviews

Deerfield, IL

Sprawling, well-maintained park featuring playgrounds as well as baseball, basketball and soccer fields.

2.1 miles away

Buckthorn Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 13 reviews

Highland Park, IL

2.2 miles away

The Preserve of Highland Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 28 reviews

Highland Park, IL

PavedDog-friendly

2.4 miles away

Jaycee Memorial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 146 reviews

Deerfield, IL

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

Public park with picnic tables and a playground, plus a separate, fenced-in area for off-leash dogs.

2.5 miles away

All running trails in Lake Forest, 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.