HomeIllinoisBourbonnais › Rock Creek Trail

Rock Creek Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 50 Google reviews · Running trail in Bourbonnais, Illinois · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Rock Creek Trail'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.

LoopScenicHillyTrailhead parking

Scenic outdoors spot featuring trails along a waterfall-filled river and creek.

What runners say about Rock Creek Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (50 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“The river is clean and beautiful .”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 9 mentions

“Beautiful place none the less to enjoy a hike though nature!”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Nice, easy walk through the woods and along Rock Creek.”

There's parking right at the trailhead in Kankakee State Park North Loop. The Rock Creek Trail is a 2 mile loop with a cave and waterfall along the way with lookout points and several unmarked trails down to the river and waterfall with differing degrees of difficulty.

★★★★★ — Shawn , Aug 2021

Nice wide, well marked trail from the parking lot to the waterfall. Appears to be an old road. Easy to see views of the creek and the waterfalls taking the little offshoot paths. Definitely hang on to your young ones, large sudden drop offs if you go off the main path. Views are worth doing this trail.

★★★★★ — Chr , Nov 2023

Wide trails with some signage. To actually see the river you will have to hike/climb down very steep cliff areas. Also some of the "look out areas" are on the edge of a very steep drop off. Not recommended for small children. Saw no other people and views were amazing!

★★★★☆ — Madalyn , Jul 2023

Nice hiking trail along the top with a few entry points to the creek. A few benches too to enjoy the views from above and lots of flat sandstone to sit on below. There is youth group camping as well as a family camp ground in the state park.

★★★★★ — John , Aug 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 50 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 21 mentions

“A few benches too to enjoy the views from above and lots of flat sandstone to sit on below.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 4 mentions

“To actually see the river you will have to hike/climb down very steep cliff areas.”

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🔁 Loop trail 3 mentions

“There's parking right at the trailhead in Kankakee State Park North Loop.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“There's parking right at the trailhead in Kankakee State Park North Loop.”

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Plan your run at Rock Creek Trail

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.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners

Where to find Rock Creek Trail

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Get directions

Running trails near Bourbonnais

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

Kankakee State Park North Loop

4.8 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Bourbonnais, IL

Loop

under a mile away

Chief Shawannassee Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 38 reviews

Bourbonnais, IL

Scenic

under a mile away

Kankakee River State Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 2,184 reviews

Bourbonnais, IL

3 miPavedScenic

4,000 acres along 11 miles of river for year-round outdoor sporting & recreation plus horse stables.

1.7 miles away

Kankakee River Trail South

4.7 ★★★★★ 49 reviews

Bourbonnais, IL

MixedScenic

Park offering a paved, riverside trail with picnic areas and playgrounds.

4.5 miles away

Limestone Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 97 reviews

Kankakee, IL

ShadedScenic

5.0 miles away

Riverfront Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 164 reviews

Bourbonnais, IL

PavedScenic

Park offering a 9-basket disc golf course plus riverfront views, benches and picnic tables.

5.7 miles away

All running trails in Bourbonnais, 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.