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Willow Springs Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 278 Google reviews · Running trail in Willow Springs, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Willow Springs 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.

Natural surfaceScenicTrailhead parkingQuiet

Forest preserve popular for its multi-use trails offers year-round outdoor recreation.

What runners say about Willow Springs Woods

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (278 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Grove is clean and lots of trees provide nice shade.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“I've just discovered this place, and i must say, this place is gorgeous!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Theyre great for me and my dog to take nice long peaceful hikes and runs🥰”

Some gorgeous trails through the woods. Good variety of landscapes, plenty of comnecting trails. Some trails way busier than others, alot of stickers. A bunch of old trees and plethora of wildlife songs. Would return again even though its noisy because of traffic airplanes and screeching trucks. Also atvs keep out!

★★★★★ — Moon , Feb 2026

Great nature walk in the woods, first day of Spring, 2019! I spent about 4 hours covering 80 percent of the Willow Springs Woods, which is enclosed by 95th street and Flavin 104th st. This area is part of the Ancient Morraine Glacier, 35 minutes southweat of Downtown Chicago, IL, USA.

★★★★★ — George , Mar 2019

Quiet trails leading to done of the main trails of the Palos Woods. A hike, run, or ride can be a short segment of single track trail, or lead to a 40 mile excursion!

★★★★★ — Theresa , Mar 2021

Great place for hiking and biking. The trails connect with others, and you can get a good workout in. Lot of birds in the area if you're into bird watching too.

★★★★★ — Harold , May 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 278 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 5 mentions

“I've just discovered this place, and i must say, this place is gorgeous!”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“Plenty of parking in multiple places in the area.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Theyre great for me and my dog to take nice long peaceful hikes and runs🥰”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“A hike, run, or ride can be a short segment of single track trail, or lead to a 40 mile excursion!”

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Plan your run at Willow Springs Woods

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • 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
  • Websitefpdcc.com
  • Phone(800) 870-3666

Hours

Monday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Tuesday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
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 Willow Springs Woods

Willow Springs Rd, southeast of S Archer Ave, #1, Willow Springs, IL 60480

Get directions

Running trails near Willow Springs

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

John Husar I&M Canal Bicycle Trail System

4.9 ★★★★★ 13 reviews

Willow Springs, IL

PavedShadedDog-friendly

under a mile away

Centennial Bike Trail -- Columbia Woods Trailhead

5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Burr Ridge, IL

under a mile away

Columbia Woods

4.5 ★★★★★ 142 reviews

Willowbrook, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Peaceful, dog-friendly wooded area with a riverbank for anglers, as well as bike trails.

under a mile away

Spears Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 213 reviews

Willow Springs, IL

ScenicDog-friendly

This scenic park has trails for hikers, bikers & horses through wetlands & woods, plus picnic spots.

under a mile away

Country Lane Woods

4.8 ★★★★★ 63 reviews

Willow Springs, IL

Crushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

Free-admission picnic area with trails amid forest preserves.

under a mile away

Maple Lake East - Mountain Bike Staging Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 202 reviews

Willow Springs, IL

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Large preserve featuring a lake for activities and picnic areas, along with biking and walking trails.

1.0 miles away

All running trails in Willow Springs, 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.