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Thaddeus S. "Ted" Lechowicz Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 266 Google reviews · Running trail in Chicago, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Thaddeus S. "Ted" Lechowicz Woods' 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.

PavedShadedScenic

Wooded riverside park featuring walking/jogging trails & a picnic shelter in a clearing.

What runners say about Thaddeus S. "Ted" Lechowicz Woods

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (266 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Spring is one of the prettier times as the flowers are stunning.”

I really love this area of the Chicagoland Forest Preserve. Firstly there are plenty of places to park in the Ted Leckovicz Woods. You have two options, one: for walking or cycling you can stay on the paved trail if you go east you will go over a large Steel Bridge and you can continue on the North Branch Trail…

★★★★★ — Mary , Dec 2020

With the recently completed extension of the North Branch Trail I'm sure that this has become a much more frequented area. At the southeast end of the woods the Trail has an overpass over the Metra train line that leads to the Forest Glen Woods and at the northwest end, the Trail goes over the North Branch of the…

★★★★☆ — Gary , Nov 2018

The park has paved walkways for bikes and pedestrians. Near the entrance you'll see an open space with picnic tables. There are some little short shaded trails that run along the river if you walk past the field area.

★★★★☆ — Mckinley , Aug 2023

Really nice Forest Preserve. Can get quite wild for the city. The best trails are off the pavement along the river. Very friendly deer.

★★★★★ — Tomek , Jun 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 266 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 6 mentions

“Spring is one of the prettier times as the flowers are stunning.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 4 mentions

“The park has paved walkways for bikes and pedestrians.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“There are some little short shaded trails that run along the river if you walk past the field area.”

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Plan your run at Thaddeus S. "Ted" Lechowicz Woods

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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • Websitefpdcc.com
  • Phone(800) 870-3666

Hours

Monday 6:30 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 6:30 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 6:30 AM–8 PM
Thursday 6:30 AM–8 PM
Friday 6:30 AM–8 PM
Saturday 6:30 AM–8 PM
Sunday 6:30 AM–8 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 Thaddeus S. "Ted" Lechowicz Woods

5901 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60646

Get directions

Running trails near Chicago

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

Edgebrook Woods

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Forested preserve featuring hiking & biking trails, birding & nature observation in a spacious area.

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Forest Glen Woods

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MixedScenic

Nature & recreation area featuring paths amid woods & wildlife, plus a picnic pavilion.

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Sidney Yates Flatwoods

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PavedScenic

Peaceful, leafy nature preserve along a river, with unpaved walking trails & local wildlife.

1.0 miles away

LaBagh Woods

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MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

This wooded area is a popular spot for nature observation & offers trails & picnic areas.

1.1 miles away

Caldwell Woods (Forest Preserves of Cook County)

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Cook County park offering a trail for walking and biking, plus a picnic area.

1.3 miles away

Norwood Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 121 reviews

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Dog-friendly

Neighborhood park with a pool, playground, dog park, rollerblading skate park, and athletic facilities.

1.5 miles away

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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.