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Sugar Creek Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 38 Google reviews · Running trail in Joliet, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Sugar Creek 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.

Scenic

What runners say about Sugar Creek Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (38 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions
🏞️ beautiful scenery 9 mentions

“The b&b we're staying at is beautiful, in the middle of 20 acres, and the owners are very nice!”

Beautiful, beautiful preserve. Some of the trail areas were a little rough for riding. Heavy large stones and ruts from tractor wheels in certain areas other than that incredible area.

★★★★★ — John , Oct 2024

It is a wonderful place to get outside and enjoy nature. Love the forest preserve locations. All are well maintained. This location has loads of maps and pamphlets to grab. There is quite a bit of info to gather from the office.

★★★★★ — Donna , Nov 2023

Good access to the wauponsee trail. Nice visitor center. Google maps does not take you to the correct location, it's on 45, you can see the racetrack from the entrance.

★★★★★ — Arick , Nov 2018

Beautiful preserve and lovely visitors center. Went for the quilt show but stayed to walk the paths.

★★★★★ — Susan , Jun 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 38 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 9 mentions

“The b&b we're staying at is beautiful, in the middle of 20 acres, and the owners are very nice!”

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Plan your run at Sugar Creek Preserve

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.
  • Websitereconnectwithnature.org
  • Phone(815) 727-8700

Hours

Monday 8 AM–4 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–4 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–4 PM
Thursday 8 AM–4 PM
Friday 8 AM–4 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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 Sugar Creek Preserve

17540 W Laraway Rd, Joliet, IL 60433

Get directions

Running trails near Joliet

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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Freedom Park

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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.