Home › Illinois › Evanston › The Lakefill
The Lakefill
4.9 ★★★★★ 413 Google reviews · Running trail in Evanston, Illinois · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from The Lakefill'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.
Park near Northwestern University on the shores of Lake Michigan offering lake views, biking and jogging trails.
What runners say about The Lakefill
“Beautiful trail with gorgeous views of the lake and on our particular stroll, witnessed a rather entertaining theater rehearsal as it sits within campus.”
Gorgeous Lake Walk area, views are awesome! Fun to see all the graffiti on The rocks, nothing nasty, nothing obscene, good college kids stuff😊
Beautiful trail with gorgeous views of the lake and on our particular stroll, witnessed a rather entertaining theater rehearsal as it sits within campus. Very cool bridge with giant carp, seagulls, and other birds on an unusual dune like habitat.
We c enjoy here walking, biking , running .sight seeing is wonderful. We saw large fishes in lake . people s enjoying here .I go with my husband,son and daughter in-law .
Visiting from Atlanta and stayed in Evanston. Walked around the city on our last day of the trip and started here. Great place to walk around.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful trail with gorgeous views of the lake and on our particular stroll, witnessed a rather entertaining theater rehearsal as it sits within campus.”
Plan your run at The Lakefill
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both 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.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitenorthwestern.edu
- Phone(847) 491-3741
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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 |
Running trails near Evanston
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
4.7 ★★★★★ 156 reviews
Tree-lined lakefront park including a beach with volleyball courts & tranquil walking paths.
Arrington Lagoon at Dawes Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 875 reviews
This park pond features fountains & ducks & turns into an ice-skating rink in the winter.
Dawes Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 402 reviews
Relaxing green space with walking trails, a beach and a pond, plus views of Lake Michigan and Northwestern campus.
Burnham Shores Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 298 reviews
Family-friendly park featuring playgrounds, swings, slides and other play pieces.
Elliott Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 270 reviews
Park with a lakeside trail, picnic areas, and playground, plus opportunities for biking and jogging.
McCormick Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 18 reviews