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Shoe Factory Road Prairie Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 244 Google reviews · Running trail in Hoffman Estates, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 9 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Shoe Factory Road Prairie 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.
Forest & prairie nature preserve with a hiking trail, popular with bird watchers.
What runners say about Shoe Factory Road Prairie Nature Preserve
“Great wildlife, beautiful prairie, and fairly quiet (as urban preserves go).”
“My favorite place for cross country mountain biking or gravel biking (great for running too) in west part of the Shoe Factory Woods North and South of Golf Rd!”
We enjoyed our time on the trail! Amazing animals so close! We’ll be back when the spring shows itself more!
A bit of a walk from the parking lot off of rt 59, but well worth it. Many rare species of plant can be found within this remnant gravel hill prairie, one of only a few remaining in northern Illinois. Please walk carefully and stay on marked trails to protect this area.
My favorite place for cross country mountain biking or gravel biking (great for running too) in west part of the Shoe Factory Woods North and South of Golf Rd! I usually combine it with the 9mile or so paved loop to the East around the Arthur L. Janura Preserve!
Wilderness in the middle of the city! A feeling that continuously prevails while walking this beautiful trail covered with white sheet of black ice which attracts you towards itself at the same time repels to not destroy its beauty. Rightly said “Nature has its own unique ways of keeping the sanity intact”. Carl R.
Trail conditions & character
“Great wildlife, beautiful prairie, and fairly quiet (as urban preserves go).”
“Many rare species of plant can be found within this remnant gravel hill prairie, one of only a few remaining in northern Illinois.”
“Whether you are walking the dog, doing a little hiking adventure with the kids, or a trail run.”
“I usually combine it with the 9mile or so paved loop to the East around the Arthur L.”
“My favorite place for cross country mountain biking or gravel biking (great for running too) in west part of the Shoe Factory Woods North and South of Golf Rd!”
“I usually combine it with the 9mile or so paved loop to the East around the Arthur L.”
“I usually combine it with the 9mile or so paved loop to the East around the Arthur L.”
Plan your run at Shoe Factory Road Prairie Nature Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance9 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- 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.
- Websitednr.illinois.gov
- Phone(800) 870-3666
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–9:30 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–9:30 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–9:30 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–9:30 PM |
Running trails near Hoffman Estates
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Carl R. Hansen Woods
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Arthur L. Janura Preserve
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Bode Lake
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Beverly Lake
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Rolling Knolls Forest Preserve
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