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South Boulevard Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 299 Google reviews · Running trail in Evanston, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from South Boulevard Park'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.
Park featuring a beach and a public restroom, popular for sunrise views.
What runners say about South Boulevard Park
“So beautiful and it's pretty clean beach but I believe you have to pay to park for last year.”
“You need a beach token to enter during the summer, but the view is beautiful and there are nice people around.”
“It's kind of chilly, but it was very peaceful and easy to relax.”
I live few blocks down and I love to come here often, just for a walk or to chill in the water or sometimes just to sit down and relax or to take pictures. You can enjoy this place in many ways.
We enjoy South Beach. It is a smaller beach in Evanston. It has bathrooms that are close. It can be a little Rocky and hard to walk in at times. Lots of sea glass.
Decent beach on the border of Evanston and Chicago. Beach is generally a little more gravelly and rocky than the other beaches. Also a lot of traffic noise as a pretty busy road runs right behind it. At night it is very lit up by lights.
It's kind of chilly, but it was very peaceful and easy to relax. Fresh air, couples walking and holding hands, pet mommies and daddies walking their best friends. It was a lovely evening to sit back and listen to a podcast or two.
Trail conditions & character
“Great place to watch the sunrise though as it provides unobstructed views to the northeast, east, and southeast.”
“Nice area to swim and bathrooms outside the beach entrance.”
“Beautiful spot to catch the sunrise if you're lucky enough to find a parking spot.”
“It's kind of chilly, but it was very peaceful and easy to relax.”
“Beach is generally a little more gravelly and rocky than the other beaches.”
“There are water fountains but there is no bathroom though.”
Plan your run at South Boulevard Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- 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.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Websitecityofevanston.org
- Phone(847) 448-4311
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–11 PM |
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