HomeIllinoisDowners Grove › Whitlock Park

Whitlock Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 157 Google reviews · Running trail in Downers Grove, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Whitlock 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.

MixedShadedDog-friendlyRestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

In addition to a playground, this park features a jogging trail, athletic fields & a picnic shelter.

What runners say about Whitlock Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (157 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 13 mentions

“I really like this park, it is clean, the grounds are very nice and well kept, the walking path is also very nice.”

Great path around the park! It is partially paved but is mostly small gravel. I find this park to be pretty busy during lunch time. There are covered picnic tables and a nice, clean bathroom.

★★★★★ — Laura , Dec 2017

Whitlock Park is a nice park with baseball and soccer fields, as well as a bike/walk trail that loops around the entire park and even has a wooded section. It also has bathrooms and a children's playground with multiple play sets. Plenty of parking and additional space for recreation or relaxation.

★★★★★ — Bill , Sep 2016

The park itself is great. Lots of space to run and play, a great playground. There are sports fields and a walking path. My problem is there are no bathrooms anywhere close to the playground. We had to run around trying to find the bathroom for my potty training toddler.

★★★★☆ — Katrina , Oct 2018

Very nice park. Walking/jogging trail around the outside, a couple of baseball fields, a playground on the east side, open grassy fields for soccer or football, ice rink in the winter, and a picnic pavilion and bathrooms.

★★★★★ — Eric , Feb 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 157 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.

🚻 Restrooms 11 mentions

“It's a very nice park with a pavillion, walking trails, bathrooms, play ground, baseball diamonds and soccer fields.”

More trails like this →

🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“Walking path is small grain gravel, partially paved.”

More trails like this →

🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 3 mentions

“Walking path is small grain gravel, partially paved.”

More trails like this →

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Whitlock Park is a nice park with baseball and soccer fields, as well as a bike/walk trail that loops around the entire park and even has a wooded section.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

“Plenty of parking and additional space for recreation or relaxation.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

More trails like this →

🚰 Water fountains 2 mentions

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Whitlock Park

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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitedgparks.org
  • Phone+1 630-963-1304
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

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 Whitlock Park

4000 Fairview Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515

Get directions

Running trails near Downers Grove

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

Lyman Woods & William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center

4.6 ★★★★★ 231 reviews

Downers Grove, IL

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Tranquil mid-city nature retreat featuring oak forest, marshlands & walking paths on 150 acres.

1.1 miles away

Ty Warner Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,178 reviews

Westmont, IL

BoardwalkLitScenic

Landscaped area with ballfields, tennis & bocce ball, spray park, trails & outdoor fitness station.

1.3 miles away

Lebeck Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 33 reviews

Westmont, IL

1.7 miles away

Veterans Memorial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 208 reviews

Westmont, IL

Kid-friendly space with playground and ball fields, plus a zip line.

1.8 miles away

Patriots Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 696 reviews

Downers Grove, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Unassuming spot with nature trails, a pond for non-motorized boats & kids' play areas.

1.8 miles away

Smith Woods

4.6 ★★★★★ 68 reviews

Westmont, IL

Crushed gravelScenic

Park with picnic tables and BBQ grills, plus a public restroom, trails, and volleyball.

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Downers Grove, 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.