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River Forest Nature Preserve

3.7 ★★★★☆ 15 Google reviews · Running trail in Mequon, Wisconsin · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from River Forest Nature Preserve'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.

River Forest Nature Preserve — running trail in Mequon, WI, photo 1
Trailhead parking

What runners say about River Forest Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (15 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Beautiful spot in the city to see all kinds of wild life. Good place for little walks especially to take children!

★★★★★ — Tappy , Oct 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 15 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

More trails like this →

Plan your run at River Forest Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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 — reported by runners

Hours

Monday 6 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–9 pm
Saturday 6 am–9 pm
Sunday 6 am–9 pm

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 River Forest Nature Preserve

Mequon, Wisconsin

Get directions

Running trails near Mequon

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

Shoreland Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Mequon, WI

Scenic

under a mile away

Willow Bay Nature Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 15 reviews

Mequon, WI

under a mile away

Rotary Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 201 reviews

Mequon, WI

ScenicDog-friendly

Family-friendly park featuring soccer and baseball fields, ponds and walking trails.

1.6 miles away

Highland Woods

4.5 ★★★★★ 53 reviews

Mequon, WI

Natural surfaceShadedScenicDog-friendly

Park with clearly marked trails through wooded areas for hiking and walking dogs.

2.3 miles away

Virmond County Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 591 reviews

Mequon, WI

PavedScenicDog-friendly

63-acre park with a lake overlook, picnic pavilion & playground, plus trails, benches & open fields.

2.6 miles away

Grasslyn Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 10 reviews

Mequon, WI

2.7 miles away

All running trails in Mequon, WI →

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.