Litchfield, IL Running Trails and Maps

463 Reviews

Looking for the best Running trails around Litchfield?

Find the top rated running trails in Litchfield, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
49 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Heritage Route 66 Bike Trail

4.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Interurban Trail (IL)

8.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Katy Trail State Park

238.7 mi
State: MO
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Lost Bridge Trail

5.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Goshen Trail

19.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Nature Trail

14.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Nickel Plate Trail

28.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

MCT Ronald J. Foster Heritage Trail

12.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Schoolhouse Trail

15.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Watershed Trail

1.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

McKinley Bridge Bikeway

1.2 mi
State: IL, MO
Concrete

MetroBikeLink Trail

14 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

1 mi
State: IL, MO
Concrete

Sangamon Valley Trail

13.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

St. Vincent Greenway Trail

5.5 mi
State: MO
Asphalt, Concrete

Wabash Trail

2.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Arches Rail Trail

2.2 mi
State: IL
Dirt, Grass

Carlyle Lake Bike Trail

10.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete
Accordion

Delyte W. Morris Trail

2.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

General Dacey Trail

6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Green Diamond Rail-Trail

4.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Illini Trail

0.8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lincoln Prairie Trail

14.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Bluff Trail

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Quercus Grove Trail

18.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Richland Creek Greenway Trail

3.8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail

20.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Ted Jones Trail

2.2 mi
State: MO
Asphalt

Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail

1.4 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Bunn to Lost Bridge Trail

1.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

MCT Confluence Trail

18.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Gravel

Metro-East Levee Trail

7.6 mi
State: IL
Gravel

Sunset Greenway Trail

3.9 mi
State: MO
Asphalt

Centennial Greenway

14.7 mi
State: MO
Concrete

Eagle Points Trail

7.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

West Alton Trail

1.1 mi
State: MO
Crushed Stone

Bethalto Arboretum Trail

0.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Cottage Hills Trail

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Leland Grove Trail

0.8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Monarchy Valley Trail

0.8 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Riverbend Trail

1.75 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

MCT Silver Creek Trail

0 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Maline Greenway

1.6 mi
State: MO
Asphalt

St. Ellen Trail

1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Trestle Trail (Lebanon)

0.3 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone

Veteran's Honor Trail

5.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Heritage Route 66 Bike Trail is a 4.4-mile multi-use trail connecting the two villages of Williamsville and Sherman. The 10-foot-wide trail provides safe access and non-motorized access for...
IL 4.4 mi Asphalt
The paved Interurban Trail provides 8.4 miles of suburban and rural scenery for users between Chatham and Springfield. It follows the former route of the electrified Illinois Terminal Railroad...
IL 8.4 mi Asphalt
At 239 miles long, Katy Trail State Park spans nearly the full width of Missouri and is the country’s longest continuous rail-trail, intersecting with rural farmland, scenic small towns, and centers...
MO 238.7 mi Crushed Stone, Gravel
The Lost Bridge Trail, jointly managed by the Springfield Park District and the village of Rochester, is one of the area's earliest and most popular multiuse trails-even for locals taking a weekday...
IL 5.6 mi Asphalt
The 19.5-mile Madison County Transit (MCT) Goshen Trail is a namesake after the old Goshen Road that was built in 1808 to supply salt to the first permanent settlers of Madison County and crosses the...
IL 19.5 mi Asphalt
The Madison County Transit (MCT) Nature Trail goes through richly varied surroundings of city, farm and wood. In the west, it begins at beautiful Wilson Park in Granite City. From there, it makes its...
IL 14.4 mi Asphalt
The Madison County Transit (MCT) Nickel Plate Trail is the longest of the county’s trails and perhaps the most diverse in its offerings. On the west, it begins at a junction with the MCT Nature Trail,...
IL 28.5 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
You can make connections all over the countryside from the Madison County Transit (MCT) Ronald J. Foster Heritage Trail. The paved path travels 12.2 miles between the villages of Glen Carbon and...
IL 12.2 mi Asphalt
The Madison County Transit (MCT) Schoolhouse Trail offers a 15.5-mile flat, paved route through the eastern suburbs of greater St. Louis, Missouri, between Madison and Maryville, Illinois. Along the...
IL 15.5 mi Asphalt
The Madison Count Transit (MCT) Watershed Trail is all about trains, bridges and waterways. It follows an abandoned rail corridor built in 1868, the first to serve the city of Edwardsville, itself the...
IL 1.3 mi Asphalt
The McKinley Bridge has a long and storied past. In 1910, it opened to both railroad and vehicular traffic. Railroad tracks ran through the strong center portion of the bridge under the trusses, and...
IL, MO 1.2 mi Concrete
This trail gets its name from the MetroLink Red Line train track it parallels through eastern Belleville and (briefly) the village of Swansea. It is a classic rail-with-trail configuration, where...
IL 14 mi Asphalt
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge links two states–Illinois and Missouri—as the mile-long bridge crosses the Mississippi River. The bridge carries bikes and pedestrians between the two states.   About...
IL, MO 1 mi Concrete
Completed in 2020, the Saint Clair County Transit District's Orchard Loop Trail is a gorgeous, smooth asphalt pathway that traverses the rolling hills on the suburban outskirts of Belleville. The...
IL 4 mi Asphalt
The first 5.5-mile segment of the 38-mile Sangamon Valley Trail opened in summer 2011 and runs between Centennial Park and Stuart Park in Springfield. In 2017, a 6-mile extension was opened between...
IL 13.5 mi Asphalt
The St. Vincent Greenway Trail winds through the north and south campuses of the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) before emerging into the lush woodlands of St. Vincent Park. The park offers a...
MO 5.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
This short, but beautiful trail, takes travelers from Truman Park's lake north to Aubuchon Creek through a lush wooded area. The park offers places to fish, play sports and picnic. Future plans...
MO 0.6 mi Asphalt
The Wabash Trail is the epitome of an urban rail-trail link. It's straight and flat. It has bridges over its only intersecting roadways. Just keep moving and enjoy. The trail connects city...
IL 2.1 mi Asphalt
Opened in the Fall of 2012, Arches Rail Trail continues to be improved by an active local support group. It lies between Butler and Hillsboro, Illinois, along a section of an old 1850s route that...
IL 2.2 mi Dirt, Grass
The Carlyle Lake Bike Trail is located in one of Southwest Illinois's most popular recreational areas, just 50 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri—not far from that area's abundance of great trails, as...
IL 10.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Accordion
The Delyte W. Morris Trail lies entirely on the campus of Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (SIUE). It is named for the university's president at the Carbondale campus in the 1960s who helped...
IL 2.4 mi Asphalt
The General Dacey Trail, which first opened in 2006, is a beautiful and richly varied trail located between the city of Shelbyville to the west and large Lake Shelbyville to the east. Its surface is...
IL 6 mi Asphalt
Dedicated on August 5, 2000, the Green Diamond Rail-Trail was the first bicycling/pedestrian trail in Montgomery County. Partially funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the trail is...
IL 4.3 mi Asphalt
The Illini Trail (formerly known as the Hesse Trail) connects two neighborhoods and a park in the city of O'Fallon. It is a short, completely tree-covered rail-trail, well used by local residents....
IL 0.8 mi Asphalt
While you’re in the land of Lincoln, visit the Lincoln Prairie Trail to make the trip complete. Starting at the trailhead in northwest Pana, leisurely stroll along a paved trail that is nicely...
IL 14.6 mi Asphalt
The MCT Bluff Trail is the shortest trail in the Madison County network, but it highlights a feature of regional topography which can be evidenced on several other trails. The American Bottom is a...
IL 2 mi Asphalt
The MCT Quercus Grove Trail begins in Edwardsville at its junction with the MCT Nickel Plate Trail. It begins on city sidewalks and alleys near Edwardsville's historic downtown area and very quickly...
IL 18.4 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
This trail along Richland Creek is in two discontiguous sections that must be accessed separately. The northern section goes by the thick and quiet woods of Centennial Park, where there are also very...
IL 3.8 mi Asphalt
Paralleling the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers along the border between Illinois and Mississippi, the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail (also known as the Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail) runs...
IL 20.5 mi Asphalt
Closure Notice: Please be advised that the Riverfront Trail is currently subject to intermittent closures and disruptions due to construction; please see the Great Rivers Greenway site for the latest...
MO 12.2 mi Asphalt
The Ted Jones Trail runs for 2.2 miles between the town of Ferguson and the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL), where it joins with the St. Vincent Greenway on the west side of campus. From...
MO 2.2 mi Asphalt
The Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail is part of two developing Illinois initiatives: the Route 66 Trail from Chicago to St. Louis, loosely following the historic highway; and the Illinois Traction System...
IL 1.4 mi Asphalt
This trail is an extension of the Lost Bridge Trail that goes from Springfield to Rochester. From its western terminus, the first half mile is a heavily wooded section of urban rail-trail. It has a...
IL 1.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Bring your camera to the MCT Confluence Trail. Part of Illinois' Madison County Transit (MCT) bikeways network, this trail is a photographic patchwork of rivers, bridges, waterfront wildlife and...
IL 18.7 mi Asphalt, Gravel
The Metro-East Levee Trail offers a semicircle route around Cahokia, which lies south of St. Louis and east of the Mississippi River. It parallels a canal and sits atop a levee that is 30 feet high at...
IL 7.6 mi Gravel
The Sunset Greenway Trail begins near Sunset Park, on the banks of the Missouri River, and travels along a roadway through open space to beyond St. Ferdinand Park in Old Town Florissant. The village...
MO 3.9 mi Asphalt
Centennial Greenway is open in five segments, totaling 14 miles. City Centre Park to Page Ave. This section, which largely parallels Page Avenue, connects with the St. Charles County Heritage...
MO 14.7 mi Concrete
Caution: While construction continues on the new I-270 bridge over the Mississippi River, be alert for trail restrictions or closings north of the parking lot access. The trail will remain open from...
IL 7.2 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The West Alton Trail occupies the right-of-way of an old railroad bed. The crushed-stone trail runs for 2 miles between US 67 in West Alton and the Lincoln-Shields Recreation Area at the Mississippi...
MO 1.1 mi Crushed Stone
The trail is a popular local recreation spot. The trail first winds through the Bethalto Arboretum, about a half-mile, shaded stroll through stands of oak, maple and over 80 other tree species. The...
IL 0.9 mi Asphalt
This paved path, also known as the Wood River Township Multi-Use Trail, runs along a former railroad corridor between the communities of Cottage Hills and Rosewood Heights. The trail heads east from S...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
At just under a mile in length, Leland Grove's trail is the kind of space people go to for a quick workout or simply a breath of fresh air. The tree-lined trail parallels Outer Park Drive from Bates...
IL 0.8 mi Asphalt
The MCT Monarchy Valley Trail, part of the larger Madison County Trail Network (MCT), offers 0.8 miles of paved trail in Edwardsville, IL. While the trail is sandwiched between dense suburbs, a...
IL 0.8 mi Asphalt
The MCT Riverbend Trail, a part of the large Madison County Trail Network (MCT), offers a 1.75-mile long trail, perfect for biking or walking. At its southern end, the trail connects to the longer...
IL 1.75 mi Asphalt
The MCT Silver Creek Trail, part of the much larger Madison County Trail System (MCT), offers an 1.5-mile off-road route through Troy, IL. Although not particularly scenic, the trail is a nice wide...
IL 0 mi Asphalt
Maline Greenway is an east-west shared use trail in St. Louis, Missouri. The planned length of the trail in 7 miles and will join Mississippi Greenway to the St. Vincent Greenway. In the summer of...
MO 1.6 mi Asphalt
Th St. Ellen is a mile-long paved recreational trail in O'Fallon, Illinois. The trail connects residents of the nearby neighborhoods to local schools as well as the St. Ellen Mine Park, a former coal...
IL 1 mi Asphalt
Named for the former Baltimore & Ohio (CSX) railroad bridge it passes under, the Trestle Trail provides a quiet short passage through the woods along Little Silver Creek on southeastern edge of the...
IL 0.3 mi Crushed Stone
The Veteran's Honor Trail is an asphalt trail that forms an incomplete ring around the community of Highland, Madison County. The paved trail provides a safe and enjoyable walking and biking route...
IL 5.1 mi Asphalt

Recent Trail Reviews

Katy Trail State Park

Short &Sweet

November, 2025 by kavery5304

We rode from Clinton out 15 miles and returned to Clinton. Trail was covered with so many leaves and they made the ride very interesting - they crackled- and the surface was hidden - but the surface was fine. We were on our gravel bikes and had a great time. Temperatures were pleasant- in the 60s. Most of this stretch would be shaded. Restrooms in Clinton were closed for winter. We loved it and want to come back and do the complete trail.

Saint Clair County Orchard Loop Trail

Parking Options

November, 2025 by ttt678fdg9

This trail is nice but the section from the “The Orchards” to Eckards is very open and loud next to Green Mount Road. The parking at the beginning section in The Orchards golf course is a good hike prior to starting on the path with no sidewalks or designated crosswalks. And the street is hilly with turns and drivers mostly can’t see you crossing or walking on the side of the street. Also crossing where the path ends puts you in someone’s back yard , walking around the pool & tennis courts. Parking at the at one of the other options would be much safer especially with kids.

Katy Trail State Park

Katy Trail Experience

October, 2025 by subscriptions10

I rode the Katy Trail the first week of October, 2025. I rode west to east, starting in Clinton and ending in St. Charles. My trip took 5 days. I was supported by my wife from our vehicle, so I didn't camp. We stayed in hotels each night. Here are my observations:

1. The trail is clearly the "crown jewel" of rail trails due to it's length. While the trail was in great shape with no detours (wonderful!), your view is either one of riding in a wooded area, with stone rock walls on one side for a good portion which gives you a great visual, or riding next to cornfields or soybean fields and Highway 94 traffic noise. In preparing for the ride, I was left with the impression that the Katy "followed the Missouri river". While it might follow it on a map, it was visible from the trail for less than 10% of the ride from Clinton to St. Charles.

2. One of several reasons I kept reading about why to ride west to east was the prevailing westerly winds. I didn't get those winds until the last day. The first four days had winds coming in from the east, or northeast. Although the wind speed was only noticeable on two of the days, don't expect that you'll have the wind at your back. You might....you might not.

3. Another reason I kept reading on why to ride west to east was the "high point" of the trail was approximately 25 miles west of Clinton near Green Ridge. While that is true, don't get fooled by thinking "its all downhill from there". My second day I rode 57 miles from Windsor to Boonville (my first day was just 17 miles from Clinton to Windsor because we didn't arrive in Clinton from Chicago until almost 5pm). I use the the All Trails app, and the second day, despite reaching the "high point" early in the ride that day with very little noticeable climb, my app showed 1,476 feet of total elevation climb at the end of the second day! I could tell the ride from Sedalia to Pilot Grove was a good climb that stretched for over 23 miles. Once you pass Pilot Grove, the trail mostly feels either flat or slightly downhill.

4. The mileage markers run from east to west in ascending order. So if you start from the west, the mile markers will be in descending order. They are well marked every 1 mile. I found it very useful to bring a paper map with me that showed the mileage to the next trailhead, which usually had at least a place to stop and rest. Not all trailheads have bathrooms or water, so check ahead if you're depending on the trail to provide you water. There isn't cell phone coverage on 100% of the trail, so a paper milage map is a must!

5. Unlike the GAP trail (which I HIGHLY recommend riding!), the towns right on the Katy don't have a lot of services/food with the exception of Sedalia. You can access downtown Sedalia easily from the Katy Depot trailhead. There are some GREAT towns, like Hermann, but to access them you have to ride off the trail for several miles or more on winding or busy roads with cars. Dutzow, Rocheport, Augusta (and a few others) have one or more coffee/sandwich shops on or close to the trails, but they aren't open every day of the week, so check ahead on hours of operation for where you think you will find food/drink. If you have a vehicle supporting you, I highly recommend staying at Hermann Hill Hotel and Spa (a 10 minute drive from the McKittrick trailhead). Hermann is a really remarkable town surrounded by great wineries. We had breakfast the next day at Stomp'n Grounds Expresso Cafe. A MUST stop!! The food, coffee and staff were excellent!

The Augusta trailhead has a great winery called, ironically, Augusta Winery! It's only .25 miles from the trailhead and well worth the stop! Be aware that you have a short but steep hill to climb to get to the winery from the trailhead.

All in all, I found riding the Katy from Clinton to St. Charles to be a great accomplishment for me. I had a Trek gravel bike with 35mm tubeless tires. I found the 35mm tires to be just fine on the Katy. I had no mechanical or tire issues. I witnessed a number of road bikes with what looked to be tires in the 20-something mm range. Now, I don't think they were doing the entire trail because they didn't have any gear on them, but using a narrower tire on a gravel bike is just fine for the riding the entire trail. The trail had not gotten any rain the previous week, so IT WAS VERY DUSTY!!! Plan on cleaning your chain at least once or twice to keep it performing well. Good luck and be safe!

Accordion

MetroBikeLink Trail

great trail in great shape

October, 2025 by scott stocking

This trail is the best maintained, marked and clean trails I have ever ridden. The trail surface is paved and in better condition than most of the areas highways! The prettiest portion is from the memorial hospital station to the Highway 161 station. Rode from Scott AFB to hwy 161 and back. Ride it soon! Get out there!

MCT Ronald J. Foster Heritage Trail

Great Trail

September, 2025 by jsb3144

Nice paved bike path very woodsy and several bridges and several secondary roads. We were surprised to see the police patrolling the path but very reassuring.

St. Louis Riverfront Trail (Mississippi Greenway)

Do not ride here!

September, 2025 by anitasowers

Do not ride here!

Sangamon Valley Trail

Great trail!

September, 2025 by e2c2deron

This trail was really nice to bike. Says it’s 11.5 miles but there are 2 additional miles of what looks to be very new pavement. Total length now 13.5 miles. Trailhead at the very northern end now.

Katy Trail State Park

sunflowers!

August, 2025 by mudpuppyjolee

This Art installation is on the Katy trail just west of Matson. They are spectacular!

Katy Trail State Park

Near Hartsburg

August, 2025 by rossbr1

Interesting to see the water level in Hartsburg creek and the flood levels recorded on the bridge

Katy Trail State Park

Beautiful ride close to the Lou!!!

July, 2025 by pitsplace

Stopped by and rode part of this trail while on a trip to Florida. What an awesome trail. Most of our trails in Florida are paved so I was a little hesitant of the gravel but it was no problem. Huge rock bluffs, the river, wineries breweries and eating establishments, it’s awesome, who could ask for more. Rode 23 miles from Defiance to Marthasville for lunch and back. We’ll be back to do more in the future!!

MCT Nickel Plate Trail

Bumpy ride but beautiful

June, 2025 by trailrunner62_tl

I would have given this 4 stars if the trail was resurfaced and smooth.

Katy Trail State Park

Bucket List Ride

June, 2025 by dustonm

If you appreciate multi-day riding, site seeing, camping or “glamping” (BnBs, Hotels…etc.) the Katy Trail is one that doesn’t disappoint. Less than 3000’ feet of elevation, with the largest gradient being about 2%, this is a flat, fast, and easy to pedal trail with crushed hard packed stone comprising over 95% of the trail surface. Road bikes with larger tires (35-40mm) tires can be used on this trail. Lots of great place to stop, eat, and see along this historic byway. If you haven’t done the Katy, add it to your list!

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Accordion

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