HomeIllinoisSwansea › Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park

Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 95 Google reviews · Running trail in Swansea, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation 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.

PavedScenicDog-friendlyHilly

Former golf course turned public space with trails for biking, walking and disc golf.

What runners say about Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (95 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Didn’t know you could turn an old golf course into a heavenly wonder of beautiful nature.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 4 mentions

“Love to take my dogs for walks there!”

Great park hidden in plain sight. Great for walking, frisbee golf, picnics and more. Located right by Fletchers Bar and grill.

★★★★★ — Dustin , Sep 2023

They have definitely made some great improvements to this park! The paved walk/bike trail is very nice! It’s about 1.5 miles to walk the whole trail! Love to take my dogs for walks there!

★★★★★ — D , Nov 2024

Didn’t know you could turn an old golf course into a heavenly wonder of beautiful nature. Dog friendly. You can fish in the lake/pond. Walk run jog etc. definitely a Gem to me.

★★★★★ — Shana , Nov 2025

Absolutely beautiful. Great for a picnic (bring your own picnic blanket) and a long walk. There are plenty of trees for shade and I walked for hours today soaking up the view (lakes and beautiful homes). It used to be a golf course, so that's pretty much what you can expect it to look like at this point.

★★★★★ — Tiffany , Sep 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 95 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 10 mentions

“Didn’t know you could turn an old golf course into a heavenly wonder of beautiful nature.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Love to take my dogs for walks there!”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“The disc golf course at Clinton Hills used to be a ball golf course and it is incredible what they have done with the place.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“The paved walk/bike trail is very nice!”

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Plan your run at Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park

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.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteswanseail.org
  • Phone(618) 234-0044

Hours

Monday 6:30 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 6:30 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 6:30 AM–9 PM
Thursday 6:30 AM–9 PM
Friday 6:30 AM–9 PM
Saturday 6:30 AM–9 PM
Sunday 6:30 AM–9 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 Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park

Swansea, Illinois

Get directions

Running trails near Swansea

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

Centennial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 444 reviews

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LoopPavedScenic

Tranquil nature area featuring trails for walking, picnics and biking, plus a playground.

1.4 miles away

Schranz Memorial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 381 reviews

Swansea, IL

Park with a playground featuring a wooden castle, plus a splash pad, picnic areas, and restrooms.

1.6 miles away

St. Ellen Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 16 reviews

Fairview Heights, IL

LoopPavedDog-friendly

2.2 miles away

Melvin Price Memorial Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 296 reviews

Swansea, IL

Dog-friendly

Small urban park with walking trails, a volleyball court, playground, picnic area & softball field.

2.2 miles away

Saint Ellens Mine Bike Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

Fairview Heights, IL

2.4 miles away

Moody Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 987 reviews

Fairview Heights, IL

1.5 miPavedShadedDog-friendly

A wood playground designed with local children & built by volunteers, plus ballfields & picnicking.

2.7 miles away

All running trails in Swansea, 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.