Home › Illinois › Glenwood › Sweet Woods Forest Preserve
Sweet Woods Forest Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 55 Google reviews · Running trail in Glenwood, Illinois · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Sweet Woods Forest 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.
Beautiful area with paved and unpaved trails for walking, running and biking.
What runners say about Sweet Woods Forest Preserve
“This is a beautiful forest preserve with a well-maintained biking and hiking trail, it also has more adventurous unpaved mountain biking trails.”
Good paved path for walking, riding or roller blading. Heading in the other direction there are some nice dirt paths. Good place for a bbq and there is a pavilion. Usually not very crowded.
The bridge in that picture has been washed out, along with a few other areas in the park. Be careful riding the bike and watch out for the markers before the other washed out bridge near the start of the track when starting at the parking lot. This single track is a lot of work and exhausting.
Great place to run but I wouldn't run alone, a lot of weirdos, bring a partner.
As a first time vistor, I enjoyed the visit. It has open areas for family and restrooms..Long curving paved trails. Easy identifiable unpaved trails. With nice views of river cannon.
Trail conditions & character
“This is a beautiful forest preserve with a well-maintained biking and hiking trail, it also has more adventurous unpaved mountain biking trails.”
“Good paved path for walking, riding or roller blading.”
“This single track is a lot of work and exhausting.”
“Be careful riding the bike and watch out for the markers before the other washed out bridge near the start of the track when starting at the parking lot.”
“Be careful riding the bike and watch out for the markers before the other washed out bridge near the start of the track when starting at the parking lot.”
“The hike is very accessible, perfect for families, and is about 2 miles through scenic woods.”
Plan your run at Sweet Woods Forest Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- 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.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitefpdcc.com
- Phone(708) 868-0606
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Glenwood
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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