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Loop Trails (No Backtracking) in Illinois
Illinois has 170 trails with a loop route in this directory, across 111 cities and towns — Belleville, Glenview, Hoffman Estates, Lake Villa and 107 more. Start and finish at the same trailhead: a known distance, no backtracking and no car shuttle.
Every one in Illinois
Use the filters to narrow these by surface, loop, distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and parking.
Busse Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,482 reviews
Lakeside forest retreat offering an elk habitat, a biking trail, boat rentals & large picnic groves.
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 4,242 reviews
Wildlife & plant preservation area with glacial potholes, multi-use trails, fishing & picnicking.
Skokie Lagoons
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,088 reviews
Forest preserve consisting of pools, channels & islands, with fishing, kayaking & hiking.
Dan Ryan Woods
4.5 ★★★★★ 3,208 reviews
A 257-acre forest preserve with play fields, a popular sledding hill & a paved multi-use trail.
Moraine Hills State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,071 reviews
2,200+ acres of glacier-formed park with woods, wetlands & lakes for year-round sports & recreation.
Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,947 reviews
885-acre nature preserve with over 5 miles of trails, plus boat rentals & fishing opportunities.
Forest Park Nature Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,142 reviews
Over 500 acres of nature preserve featuring trails, a natural history museum & a bird observatory.
Busse Forest Elk Pasture
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,067 reviews
Popular park offering wooded trails for hiking & biking, plus an enclosed pasture with elk.
Hidden Lake Forest Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,111 reviews
This tranquil destination features trees & ponds, plus kayaking, fishing, hiking & picnicking.
Moraine View State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,105 reviews
This 1,687-acre lakefront park has swimming & fishing plus seasonal hunting & cross-country skiing.
Gallery Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,017 reviews
A walking/biking path circles a fish-stocked lake at this 140-acre park, which also has ball fields.
Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 993 reviews
Serene, lakeside park with hiking, cycling, horseback & cross-country ski trails, plus boat launch.
Raceway Woods Forest Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 946 reviews
Wooded nature preserve offering designated areas for horseback riding, hiking & picnicking.
Meadowbrook Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 943 reviews
Extensive area includes a farm, play structure, acres of restored prairie, several gardens & trails.
Springbrook Prairie
4.7 ★★★★★ 955 reviews
Expansive natural area including meadow & prairie habitat for birds plus running & biking trails.
Waubonsie Lake Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 914 reviews
Serene park with a lake for fishing, plus biking trails, a playground & waterfront picnic pavilion.
Arthur L. Janura Preserve
4.4 ★★★★☆ 931 reviews
Serene forest preserve offering paved & unpaved trails for walks, hikes, biking & wildlife viewing.
West Ridge Nature Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 858 reviews
Walking, bird-watching & fishing are popular in this lush, outdoor area with a large pond.
Mount Saint Mary Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 836 reviews
Multi-use public space with an arboretum, picnic areas, fishing, a skate park & play equipment.
McDowell Grove Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 813 reviews
This 465-acre wooded area has multi-use trails & recreation such as fishing, boating & picnicking.
Hastings Lake Forest Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 790 reviews
Preserve with 4 mi. of trails through forest, fields & wetlands, plus picnic areas & a playground.
Deer Grove East
4.7 ★★★★★ 790 reviews
1,500-acre preserve offering miles of trails for runners, cyclists & cross-country skiiing.
Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 775 reviews
Scenic parkland offering wildlife viewing, a fishing reservoir & trails for hiking & biking.
Old School Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 770 reviews
A 543-acre reserve with trails & picnic shelters known for biking, cross country skiing & fishing.
Harms Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 769 reviews
Wooded park bisected by the Chicago River, with paved & unpaved trails, picnic areas & wildlife.
Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 738 reviews
Wildlife-filled prairie preserve on 1,200 acres with trails, seed library & snowmobiling in winter.
Nippersink Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 667 reviews
Scenic preserve with lakes, woodlands & marshes, popular for hiking, picnics & wildlife viewing.
Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 653 reviews
Nature education center featuring a woolly mammoth skeleton, microscopes, and spotting scopes.
Wolfe Wildlife Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 679 reviews
Wetlands wildlife habitat with walking/biking trails, a viewing deck & year-round nature programs.
Loud Thunder Forest Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 607 reviews
Park with hiking trails and camping that’s also a popular fishing spot.
Settlers' Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 570 reviews
Scenic park featuring open lawns, a playground, an amphitheater and a paved path around a pond.
Big Marsh Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 565 reviews
280.13-acre open space with an off-road bike park, nature areas for bird watching & hiking trails.
Illiniwek Forest Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 577 reviews
Riverside park with trails for hiking and biking, a lookout, and a campground.
Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 558 reviews
Sprawling natural area with hiking trails, picnic tables, ball fields & a playground.
Bode Lake
4.6 ★★★★★ 566 reviews
Lake park featuring a loop trail, fishing, hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing & other activities.
Meacham Grove Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 496 reviews
Protected woodland groves, meadows & wetlands along the meandering Spring Brook Creek.
Midlothian Meadows
4.5 ★★★★★ 498 reviews
Sprawling woodland preserve offers various hiking & biking trails & paved paths, plus picnic areas.
Salt Lick Point Land and Water Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 442 reviews
Hiking and walking trails along bluffs, with views of the Mississippi floodplains, plus some caves.
Centennial Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 444 reviews
Tranquil nature area featuring trails for walking, picnics and biking, plus a playground.
Big Rock Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 431 reviews
Woodland, marsh & prairie make up this 840-acre preserve with camping, hiking & horseback riding.
Heron Creek Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 426 reviews
242-acre nature preserve featuring 2.3 miles of trails, a playground & over 100 species of birds.
Lincoln Marsh
4.7 ★★★★★ 423 reviews
This urban oasis with woodlands, prairies & more provides recreational & educational activities.
Vollmer Road Grove
4.7 ★★★★★ 393 reviews
Nature preserve offering a paved loop trail that's popular for walking, jogging, and cycling.
McDonald Woods Forest Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 364 reviews
Forest preserve with rolling green hills plus trails for cross-country skiing, biking & hiking.
Orland Grassland
4.6 ★★★★★ 379 reviews
Prairie conservation area with a bike trail & walking paths, plus birdwatching opportunities.
Hadley Valley - Gougar Road Access
4.6 ★★★★★ 355 reviews
726-acre nature preserve with wildlife & a multi-use trail, plus a picnic shelter & trailer parking.
Pleasant Ridge Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 343 reviews
Spacious 95-acre park featuring a log cabin built in 1850, plus a playground & picnic facilities.
Black Partridge Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 327 reviews
Public park with picnic and play areas, plus baseball fields, trails, and a forest.
Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 331 reviews
This sizable tract of wildland landscape offers nature viewing opportunities & a multi-use path.
Eldridge Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 309 reviews
Park featuring various athletic fields, a creek for canoeing & a lagoon for fishing & ice skating.
Crabtree Nature Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 291 reviews
Nature preserve on 112 acres of woodlands & wetlands offering year-round outdoor recreation.
Russell Woods Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 297 reviews
Benches, trails, cabins and shelters are some of the amenities at this wooded nature preserve, which also includes a sledding hill.
Delnor Woods Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 277 reviews
Dog-friendly memorial garden featuring a dog statue, a playground and a waterfall.
Laderman Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 291 reviews
Tranquil park featuring a playground, swings and sculptures, plus trees, a trail and a soccer field.
Dick Young Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 270 reviews
Peaceful, lakefront area offering wetland, woodland & prairie trails, plus varied plants & animals.
Willowhaven Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 269 reviews
Nature destination featuring trails, a dog park, a nature center and a playground.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 257 reviews
Prairie & forest provide a scenic setting for hiking, biking & bird-watching in this 272-acre park.
Shoe Factory Road Prairie Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 244 reviews
Forest & prairie nature preserve with a hiking trail, popular with bird watchers.
Nickol Knoll Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 243 reviews
Scenic par 3 golf course on a hill with views of the Chicago skyline.
Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 218 reviews
Wooded area with footpaths & gravel trails for hiking & biking, with no dogs allowed.
Coral Woods Conservation Area
4.9 ★★★★★ 196 reviews
Serene oak woodland area for walking and hiking with a dog-friendly policy.
Kishwaukee Gorge North Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 199 reviews
Riverside hike in a gorge and forest that features a waterfall and a cave, plus scenic views.
Mather Woods
4.6 ★★★★★ 197 reviews
A 67-acre forest park with 2 miles of trails, picnic shelters & river access.
Central Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 186 reviews
Large playground-centered park with a splash pad, plus disc golf.
Sun Lake Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 188 reviews
A 629-acre prairie & wetlands refuge with no lake access featuring wildlife views & hiking trails.
Pine Dunes Forest Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 183 reviews
Tranquil, 2.2-mile nature trail for hiking, dog walking, bird-watching, running and biking, with ponds and wetland views.
Robert C. Porter Family Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 190 reviews
Walking trails, ponds & a kids' playground in a natural setting with a restored prairie area.
Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 182 reviews
This wildland habitat with a meandering creek offers multi-use trails & a horseback riding area.
Teason's Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 178 reviews
Family-friendly park with picnic tables, forested trails, and a public restroom.
Lake Carina Forest Preserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 184 reviews
Nature preserve featuring a trail around a lake popular with fishermen.
Spring Creek Reservior Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 165 reviews
Sprawling park featuring a paved loop trail for running and biking, plus picnic tables and restrooms.
West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 163 reviews
Scenic nature preserve with woodsy trails for hiking and picnicking.
Rocky Bluff Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 162 reviews
Loop trail with a waterfall, wildflowers, and river views, varying in difficulty from easy to challenging.
Guilford County Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 161 reviews
Tranquil, flat park for leisurely walks and biking along a paved pathway and memorials.
Ray M. Schon Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 155 reviews
Kids' space with a playground, a pond for fishing and geese, as well as walking trails.
Clow Stephens Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 155 reviews
Park with two playgrounds, clean walkways and a vast dog area.
Deer Run Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 153 reviews
Rambling riverside prairie & forest preserve spanning 594.8 acres with hiking & horse-riding trails.
Ray Lake Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 153 reviews
Natural area with crushed gravel paths for walking, biking, and bird watching.
Fox Bluff Conservation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 154 reviews
Natural area of woodlands, wetlands & prairies offering quiet hiking trails & access to river.
Morrissey Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 147 reviews
Community park with a kids' playground, tennis courts, open fields & a curved walking path.
Oak Forest Heritage Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 147 reviews
A 176.3-acre woodland conservation area steeped in Native American heritage with a 1.7-mile trail.
Oldfield Oaks
4.7 ★★★★★ 134 reviews
Wooded spot featuring hiking trails, a dog park and deer sightings.
Richard Young Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 132 reviews
Kid-friendly, pet-friendly space for hiking trails traversing prairies and forests.
Yankee Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 132 reviews
Relaxed, 3-mile trail for walking, jogging and biking, plus wooded surroundings, picnic tables and a dog park.
Dorrance Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 137 reviews
Baseball fields and soccer pitches found in an 81-acre forest preserve park, plus playground and trails for bikes and hiking.
Boone Creek Conservation Area
4.8 ★★★★★ 127 reviews
Sprawling destination featuring a number of trails, plus picnic tables, shelters and a deck.
Ebersold Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 132 reviews
Relaxed park featuring a playground, a sledding hill, swings, soccer fields and nature trails.
Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 131 reviews
Nature preserve with a trail, controlled-entry pond, and fenced-in acreage for dogs.
Thoman Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 133 reviews
Casual public green space featuring sculptures, a track and a playground, plus shelter.
Harms Woods-North
4.7 ★★★★★ 127 reviews
Wooded preserve with trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing.
Harmony Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 127 reviews
Family-friendly hiking area offering a trail through pine forest with a pond and wildlife.
Busse Forest-West
4.8 ★★★★★ 123 reviews
Picnic areas, trails, and opportunities for biking, jogging, and kayaking in a forest preserve.
Stookey Township Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 131 reviews
Clean park featuring a fenced dog-park and play areas for kids.
Phipps Prairie Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 126 reviews
Open, grassy area surrounded by woodlands, offering nature trails, picnic shelter & a playground.
Silver Creek Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 118 reviews
Paved trail (1 mile) around a wetlands habitat, plus picnic tables and benches.
Sand Creek Conservation Area
4.8 ★★★★★ 113 reviews
Heavily wooded reserve with meadows, streams, footbridges and 8 miles of trails for hiking and riding horses.
Des Plaines River Trail and Greenway
4.8 ★★★★★ 112 reviews
Scenic gravel route, featuring a lake, popular for hiking, biking and running.
Sauk Trail Woods
4.5 ★★★★★ 118 reviews
Forested 630-acre area bounded by a Native American thoroughfare, with trails, picnicking & a lake.
Hadley Valley - Route 6 Access
4.6 ★★★★★ 112 reviews
Biking, walking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing & snowshoeing in a protected landscape.
Tawny Oaks Visitor Center
4.7 ★★★★★ 109 reviews
Scenic woodland featuring hiking trails, picnic tables and a visitors center.
Sycamore Trails Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 115 reviews
Recreational park known for its playground featuring a pirate ship and a swing.
Campton Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 104 reviews
Tranquil retreat offering wooded hiking paths, marshes, horse trails & hills with elevated vistas.
Bielfeldt Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 108 reviews
Open space with multiple playgrounds and walking trails for strolling and picnicking.
Binnie Forest Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 106 reviews
Protected green space with a network of trails, a picnic shelter & playground with open fields.
Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 102 reviews
Fossil-rich bluff features trails with sweeping vistas, steep inclines and wooden staircases.
Julius J Knobeloch Woods Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 97 reviews
Nature preserve with short, kid-friendly hiking trails and informational placards.
Kinnikinnick Creek Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 90 reviews
Nature preserve with picnic shelter and trails for horses and hikers, some with water crossings.
Spring Creek Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 82 reviews
Area for hiking and woodland walks, featuring a nature trail and picnic tables.
Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 87 reviews
35-acre parcel with virgin prairie & wetland areas, plus horseback riding, biking & walking trails.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 90 reviews
Serene woods, popular for hiking and wildflower spotting, with quiet trails and a creek.
Jay Woods Forest Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 76 reviews
Wooded prairie preserve offering trails for strolls.
Bode East
4.4 ★★★★☆ 81 reviews
Scenery and wildlife are big draws at this forested area of 9-mile paved paths, ponds and picnic spots.
Orland Grassland-South
4.7 ★★★★★ 67 reviews
Path featuring a variety of natural flora and fauna, and birds, plus an unpaved trail.
George Doering Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 72 reviews
Quiet park featuring a playground and a 4/10-mile loop, along with a picnic area.
Wock Family Lake & Walking Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 63 reviews
Popular lake and park known for fishing and for its trail.
Rotary Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 67 reviews
Kid-friendly hiking area with picnic facilities, as well as a launch for kayaking.
Carl R. Hansen Woods
4.5 ★★★★★ 63 reviews
Hiker, biker and dog-walker favorite featuring forests, prairie and trails.
Stemler Cave Woods Preserve Trails
4.4 ★★★★☆ 64 reviews
Well-kept nature preserve and trail network featuring a 2-mile-plus loop along with woodlands, prairies and sinkholes.
Green Earth's - Brush Hill Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 57 reviews
Natural preserve on the edge of town offering a short, well-maintained trail through a forest.
Siems Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 64 reviews
Park featuring a playground and fields for soccer and other games, plus a basketball court and a path for jogging and biking.
Keepataw Preserve
4.4 ★★★★☆ 60 reviews
Nature preserve offering kid-friendly hikes, a grass loop trail, and an overlook.
Rutland Forest Preserve
4.1 ★★★★☆ 64 reviews
Picnicking and hiking are available at this public park.
Thomas J. Richardson Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 57 reviews
Park featuring playgrounds, basketball courts and tennis courts, plus a sand volleyball court.
Rock Creek Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 50 reviews
Scenic outdoors spot featuring trails along a waterfall-filled river and creek.
Bohm Woods Nature Preserve
4.4 ★★★★☆ 54 reviews
Nature preserve offering forests & grasslands, including a seasonal 90-acre hunting area.
Grassy Ridge Meadow
4.6 ★★★★★ 51 reviews
Nature preserve featuring forest, trails, and a pond, as well as kid-friendly hikes.
Lyons Prairie and Marsh Conservation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 46 reviews
Nature preserve offering trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and fishing.
McKee Marsh at Blackwell Forest Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 45 reviews
Nature preserve featuring scenic trails for walking, biking, and jogging.
Barrington Road Pond
4.5 ★★★★★ 46 reviews
Relaxed spot featuring a pond filled with lotus lilies, plus picnic tables, trails and cycle-parking.
Subat Forest Preserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 35 reviews
Nature preserve, with a loop trail through the woods and along the prairie, as well as a lookout point.
Ulrich Wildlife Preserve
4.2 ★★★★☆ 33 reviews
Natural environment with trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and creek walks on 72 acres.
River Loop Trail
No trails match those filters.
By city
Every running trail in the town, not just the ones with a loop route.
- Belleville
- Glenview
- Hoffman Estates
- Lake Villa
- Streamwood
- Chicago
- Elgin
- Mahomet
- Naperville
- Plainfield
- Plano
- Rockford
- St. Charles
- Tinley Park
- Yorkville
- Bloomingdale
- Bourbonnais
- Carbondale
- Cary
- Champaign
- Darien
- Edwardsville
- Fairview Heights
- Grayslake
- Gurnee
- Hampshire
- Joliet
- Lemont
- Long Grove
- Morton Grove
- O'Fallon
- Oak Forest
- Palatine
- Peoria Heights
- Round Lake
- Urbana
- Wadsworth
- Washington
- Wheaton
- Algonquin
- Antioch
- Arlington Heights
- Aurora
- Barrington
- Bartlett
- Batavia
- Big Rock
- Bolingbrook
- Bull Valley
- Caledonia
- Carpentersville
- Carterville
- Cherry Valley
- Columbia
- Country Club Hills
- Decatur
- Downers Grove
- Dundee Township
- East Moline
- Edelstein
- Elk Grove Village
- Elmhurst
- Flossmoor
- Forest Park
- Genoa
- Glen Carbon
- Glencoe
- Glendale Heights
- Hampton
- Highland Park
- Illinois City
- Jerseyville
- Kankakee
- Le Roy
- Libertyville
- Lombard
- Makanda
- Marengo
- Mascoutah
- Matteson
- McHenry
- Metamora
- Midlothian
- Minooka
- Monee
- Monticello
- Morton
- Mt Prospect
- Mundelein
- Northbrook
- Oak Brook
- Oak Lawn
- Oglesby
- Palos Hills
- Palos Park
- Port Byron
- Prairie Du Rocher
- Rockton
- Rolling Meadows
- Schaumburg
- Sesser
- Silvis
- South Chicago Heights
- Springfield
- Swansea
- Sycamore
- Valmeyer
- Warrenville
- Waukegan
- Winfield
- Wood Dale
See loop trails (no backtracking) across the whole country, or every running trail in Illinois. You can also browse the other features or start from surface.