Home › Illinois › Itasca › Songbird Slough
Songbird Slough
4.5 ★★★★★ 435 Google reviews · Running trail in Itasca, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Songbird Slough'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.
393-acre secluded preserve offering picnic space & a trail amid wetlands, fishing ponds & prairies.
What runners say about Songbird Slough
“This is a small, but well-kept and really pretty preserve.”
“Great for a morning walking or read a book sitting next to a beautiful large pond.”
“This trail is not well marked on maps but it accesible from the first small parking area after entering the preserve.”
“However, it's calm and pretty and not very crowded.”
Beautiful piece of land off of 290 in Itasca. This forest preserve features a main trail which is paved and goes through young woodland and wetland areas. Lots of small trees and shrubs makes it a great spot of looking at birds. A lake with plenty of small access trails is very popular for fishing.
Overall it is another nice little park as part of the forest preserve. The trails are very clean and well maintained. I did not see path leading to the pond though. Wish they could be more clear signs.
I come here to relax and meditate. The hike and bike trail is paved and very simple, one trail so you can't get lost. There's natural trails by the pond. Fishing is aloud/ permit of course. Picnic area can be reserved for get togethers. Portable restroom available also. Park closes after sundown and opens at sunrise.
Nice paved walking / biking path. Generous sized Covered Picnic pavilion that you can reserve for functions. Not a good place to drink alcohol - the preserve police patrol quite often and love the occasional excitement of a big bust. A large handicapped port-a-john (just in case nature calls) near the picnic grove.
Trail conditions & character
“Great for a morning walking or read a book sitting next to a beautiful large pond.”
“This forest preserve features a main trail which is paved and goes through young woodland and wetland areas.”
“The main parking lot is at the back of the Preserve and has a good number of parking spaces, a couple of port-a-pottys, and a picnic shelter.”
“Walked dogs in the great outdoors here in Itasca and DuPage County.”
“This trail is not well marked on maps but it accesible from the first small parking area after entering the preserve.”
Plan your run at Songbird Slough
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
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitedupageforest.org
- Phone+1 630-933-7248
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Itasca
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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