HomeIllinoisLemont › Sagawau Canyon Nature Preserve

Sagawau Canyon Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 124 Google reviews · Running trail in Lemont, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Sagawau Canyon 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.

ScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADARestroomsTrailhead parking

Nature preserve offering trails, fossil programs, and sky walks, plus skiing in the winter.

What runners say about Sagawau Canyon Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (124 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful grounds, lovely area to sit and watch hummingbirds.”

well managed nature preserve with a unique ecosystem. stairwell is currently not operational so tours are not being done of the canyon, but you can see it from the main path a little.

★★★★★ — Danielle , Oct 2022

Although I was there on business and not pleasure, I found myself lost in the multitude of bird and plant species. They boast adventures in things such as bird watching, nature walks, and even skiing. They also host functions for children and encourage community volunteering for such events.

★★★★★ — Mysloppy , May 2019

I slept on this place in Lemont for too long. Sagawau canyon preserve is so amazing. And all this end of summer beauty on my morning walk.Prairies, flowers, so many birds including hummingbirds. I saw a hawk circling overhead the prairie. Chipmunks, bees, squirrels. The educational center is full of interesting things.

★★★★★ — Jennifer , Sep 2025

Quarry, trails, saying, and fossils. Be ready for a lot of walking and the long nature trails. Fossils and sky walk programs. Ski rental. Very knowledgeable people. 2 areas close together.

★★★★★ — Cdr , Nov 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 124 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 5 mentions

“Im goping to take a look at the waterfall on my next outting there.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

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🚻 Restrooms

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🐕 Dog-friendly

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Sagawau Canyon Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • 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, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitefpdcc.com
  • Phone+1 630-257-2045
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Sagawau Canyon Nature Preserve

12545 111th St, Lemont, IL 60439

Get directions

Running trails near Lemont

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

under a mile away

Top of Centennial Ridge

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MixedScenic

History-rich outdoor area where the world's 1st nuclear reactor was once built. Also features miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking and running.

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Wolf Road Woods

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Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Hilly forest preserve offering biking and hiking trails for all levels, plus picnic areas.

1.8 miles away

Pulaski Woods South

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Dog-friendly

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Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve

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LoopCrushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

Wooded area with footpaths & gravel trails for hiking & biking, with no dogs allowed.

2.1 miles away

All running trails in Lemont, 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.