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Sidney Yates Flatwoods

4.6 ★★★★★ 176 Google reviews · Running trail in Chicago, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Sidney Yates Flatwoods' 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.

PavedScenicRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Peaceful, leafy nature preserve along a river, with unpaved walking trails & local wildlife.

What runners say about Sidney Yates Flatwoods

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (176 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Bathrooms are clean and stocked although the bathroom I use didn't have any soap but did he did have toilet paper and an air dryer.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Edgebrook area, as long as this park, is a beautiful place full of trees and wildlife, peaceful and clean”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Edgebrook area, as long as this park, is a beautiful place full of trees and wildlife, peaceful and clean”

So beautiful and wonderful to be able to walk down the trails in the warm weather. We even took a walk down one of the old worn paths that lead down near the river... just like the old days... when we were young 🌱🌱🌱🌱

★★★★★ — Jennifer , May 2021

It is one of my favorite areas of the forest preserve. The trail is still in good condition for walking/running and especially rollerblading with the longest amount of trail without street crossing.

★★★★★ — Monika , Jun 2023

Great place for a stroll in the woods. Paved paths for walkers and cyclists, as well as a few nature trails through the woods you can follow

★★★★★ — Cody , Nov 2023

Great place to get away from the noise of the city, traffic, and fast pace of those around you. Walk, hike by the river, take a look at a few deer, and slow life down a bit.

★★★★★ — Ben , Jan 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 176 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 8 mentions

“Edgebrook area, as long as this park, is a beautiful place full of trees and wildlife, peaceful and clean”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“Paved paths for walkers and cyclists, as well as a few nature trails through the woods you can follow”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Looks like a spot for good gatherings because the parking lot is huge.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Edgebrook area, as long as this park, is a beautiful place full of trees and wildlife, peaceful and clean”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Bathrooms are clean and stocked although the bathroom I use didn't have any soap but did he did have toilet paper and an air dryer.”

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Plan your run at Sidney Yates Flatwoods

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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
  • Websitefpdcc.com
  • Phone(800) 870-3666

Hours

Monday 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–8 PM
Thursday 8 AM–8 PM
Friday 8 AM–8 PM
Saturday 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday 8 AM–8 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 Sidney Yates Flatwoods

6819 N Caldwell Ave, Chicago, IL 60646

Get directions

Running trails near Chicago

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

Caldwell Woods (Forest Preserves of Cook County)

4.7 ★★★★★ 176 reviews

Chicago, IL

Scenic

Cook County park offering a trail for walking and biking, plus a picnic area.

under a mile away

Bunker Hill Forest Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,135 reviews

Niles, IL

Mixed

Forest preserve with prairie & groves offering hiking & biking paths plus scattered picnic tables.

under a mile away

Edgebrook Woods

4.4 ★★★★☆ 265 reviews

Chicago, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

Forested preserve featuring hiking & biking trails, birding & nature observation in a spacious area.

under a mile away

Thaddeus S. "Ted" Lechowicz Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 266 reviews

Chicago, IL

PavedShadedScenic

Wooded riverside park featuring walking/jogging trails & a picnic shelter in a clearing.

1.0 miles away

Norwood Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 121 reviews

Chicago, IL

Dog-friendly

Neighborhood park with a pool, playground, dog park, rollerblading skate park, and athletic facilities.

1.2 miles away

Laramie Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 318 reviews

Skokie, IL

LitDog-friendly

Park with tennis & volleyball courts, lit sports fields, shelters & a playground.

1.3 miles away

All running trails in Chicago, 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.