HomeIllinoisMoline › Sylvan Island

Sylvan Island

4.6 ★★★★★ 477 Google reviews · Running trail in Moline, Illinois · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Sylvan Island'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.

Crushed gravelOpen 24hScenic

Former industrial site by the water, offering crushed limestone hiking trails & dirt bike paths.

What runners say about Sylvan Island

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (477 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“It's beautiful and I highly recommend checking it out!”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

Great place to ride or walk the dogs. Island is busy on the weekends but rarely meet someone on a trail. Very safe. Winter is beautiful on the island

★★★★★ — Chad , Jan 2023

It's one of the best places to do some off road Mountain Bike trail riding within City Limits... It's a very good place to teach Kids how to Ride & Enjoy trail riding with different levels of trail riding All in a fairly small area with nicely groomed trails.

★★★★★ — Garth , Jun 2019

Many memories of this mysterious place throughout my life and it's great to see how well the community has kept pushing for its success. At one point it wasn't the best for fishing or nature walks to even running around the island and for the advanced trails bring your mountain bike and shoes tied tight because Sylvan…

★★★★★ — Justin , Jan 2024

A great venue for mountain biking right on the Mississippi River. A small, easily managable tangle of trails with a solid ring trail that will always bring you back around to the bridge.

★★★★★ — Will , Sep 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 477 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 7 mentions

“It's beautiful and I highly recommend checking it out!”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

“My boyfriend and I love the hiking trails (some of which are gravel) and the wooden river viewing platforms.”

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Plan your run at Sylvan Island

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • 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.
  • Phone(309) 524-2424

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Sylvan Island

1st Ave & 2nd Street, Moline, IL 61265

Get directions

Running trails near Moline

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

Sylvan Island Gateway Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 148 reviews

Moline, IL

Mixed

Park featuring paved walking and biking paths, a bridge leading to hiking trails, and fishing.

under a mile away

Stephens Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 434 reviews

Moline, IL

25 mi

Unpretentious option offering multiple athletic fields, playgrounds & picnic pavilions.

under a mile away

Leach Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 330 reviews

Bettendorf, IA

LitScenic

Bike-friendly park, featuring walking paths along the Mississippi River and views of the I-74 bridge.

1.3 miles away

Lindsay Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 229 reviews

Davenport, IA

ShadedLitScenic

Grassy park with a playground, a baseball/softball diamond & views of the Mississippi River.

1.3 miles away

River Heritage Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 13 reviews

Davenport, IA

1.6 miles away

Schwiebert Riverfront Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 919 reviews

Rock Island, IL

Scenic

Polished community gathering place with water views, a playground, splash pad & outdoor music area.

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Moline, 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.