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Sandy Ford State Nature Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 21 Google reviews · Running trail in Streator, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Sandy Ford State Nature Area'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.
What runners say about Sandy Ford State Nature Area
“Sandy Ford Land and Water Reserve is a beautiful local natural area which features rugged hiking trails in 200 acres of remnant woodland through St.”
Dense woods, rough terrain including significant ravines, some trails provide access to the southwest corner, but the bulk of the site requires traversing some rough terrain to get to. Site is on the small side (about 200 acres).
If you need stairs, bridges, and defined trails this isn't the place for you. If you like the woods and don't like people around while enjoying the woods. This is the place for you. Just follow the sound of traffic and you'll never get lost.
Sandy Ford Land and Water Reserve is a beautiful local natural area which features rugged hiking trails in 200 acres of remnant woodland through St. Petersburg Sandstone. Hikes are on deer trails running along cliffs, ravine, creeks, and the Vermillion River.
Plan your run at Sandy Ford State Nature Area
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.
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–10 PM |
Running trails near Streator
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Vermillion River Greenway trail head
4.8 ★★★★★ 9 reviews
Hopalong Cassidy River Trail
4.1 ★★★★☆ 8 reviews
Illinois Canyon
4.8 ★★★★★ 127 reviews
Mellow, circa 1-mile hike featuring a winding creek and waterfalls, plus canyon views.
