Home › Illinois › Charleston › Woodyard Conservation Area
Woodyard Conservation Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 49 Google reviews · Running trail in Charleston, 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 Woodyard Conservation Area'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.
Kid-friendly recreation area featuring well-kept hiking trails, a lake and a butterfly garden.
What runners say about Woodyard Conservation Area
“Plenty of tree cover, multiple well maintained trails of different length or intensity.”
“The only criticism I have is that the trails aren't always clearly marked.”
“You can walk the trails, enjoy the quiet of not being immediately in town and just relax for a spell.”
Charleston is blessed to have such a nice hiking area. There are multiple trails for different hiking levels. I wouldn't describe any of the trails being higher than a moderate level. The only criticism I have is that the trails aren't always clearly marked. I took the red trail all away around the lake.
Hiking trails are well-marked. Make sure to check out the spillway Park.
Great place to stop for few hours. I walked the loop around the lake counterclockwise and didnt notice the trail map until I was done. It started well paved and turned to more of a hiking trail as I completed the circle. Beautiful scenery, couldn't have picked a better location to stumble upon as I was passing by.
Very nice little hide away, but keep your eyes open for snakes in the tall grass! You can walk the trails, enjoy the quiet of not being immediately in town and just relax for a spell. The restrooms are nice n clean, too. They do post open hours here, which is pretty much dawn to dusk.
Trail conditions & character
“Has bathroom facilities in parking area and offers doggy waste bags to use if you bring your best friend along.”
“You can walk the trails, enjoy the quiet of not being immediately in town and just relax for a spell.”
“Has bathroom facilities in parking area and offers doggy waste bags to use if you bring your best friend along.”
Plan your run at Woodyard Conservation Area
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, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitecharlestonillinois.org
- Phone(217) 345-5650
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 Charleston
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Warbler Ridge Conservation Area: North Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 15 reviews
Morton Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 325 reviews
Community park featuring a playground, baseball diamond, picnic pavilion & public restrooms.
Shake Your Trail Feather Trail Run
5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews
Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail Eastern Terminus
4.5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews
Fox Ridge State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 606 reviews
Scenic 2,064-acre park with hiking trails through wooded ridges & valleys, plus camping & fishing.