Blackwell, a region in DuPage County, Illinois, features a varied landscape shaped by glacial history, offering a mix of oak and hickory woodlands, prairies, grasslands, and wetlands. This diverse terrain provides a suitable environment for several outdoor sports like mountain biking, jogging, hiking, touring cycling, and more. The area's gently rolling hills and extensive trail networks make it a notable destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Blackwell offers more than 40 routes for various outdoor activities, catering…
97
Routes
4.5
(95)
Average rating
1029
People visited

5.0
(1)
3
riders
40.7km
02:50
460m
460m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(10)
42
riders
43.8km
03:35
340m
340m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
35
riders
17.6km
01:28
170m
170m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
51
riders
46.7km
02:53
380m
380m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(14)
32
riders
44.1km
03:08
430m
430m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(7)
30
riders
23.3km
01:44
200m
200m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
25
riders
24.4km
02:03
250m
240m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
22
riders
81.7km
05:48
770m
770m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

3.7
(3)
14
hikers
6.74km
01:47
60m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
17
hikers
10.4km
02:45
100m
100m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
19
hikers
3.42km
00:54
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
hikers
4.54km
01:12
50m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

25
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

26
runners
23.9km
02:38
210m
210m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

21
runners
14.8km
01:39
150m
150m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
runners
9.87km
01:05
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.7
(7)
27
riders
28.4km
01:50
270m
270m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.3
(3)
16
riders
32.5km
02:00
340m
340m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
111km
06:40
970m
970m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
13
riders
59.6km
03:38
600m
600m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

12
riders
30.8km
01:29
320m
320m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

11
riders
69.5km
03:20
610m
610m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5
riders
38.3km
01:53
430m
420m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

6
riders
54.1km
02:55
460m
460m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Blackwell Forest Preserve offers a variety of outdoor activities including mountain biking, jogging, hiking, and touring cycling. The preserve features over 7 miles of multi-use trails and more than 40 routes for exploration. Visitors can also enjoy boating and fishing on Silver Lake.
Yes, Blackwell Forest Preserve features 64 mountain biking trails, with options for E-biking. The network provides varied terrain suitable for different skill levels. More information can be found in the MTB Trails around Blackwell guide.
Blackwell offers over 69 hiking trails, including notable routes like Catbird Trail, Park Mowed Path, Egret Trail, and Mount Hoy Path. These trails traverse diverse ecosystems such as woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. For detailed information, consult the Hiking around Blackwell guide.
Touring cyclists can enjoy routes through gently rolling hills, diverse woodlands, and open prairies. Popular routes include the 13.5-mile (21.7 km) Herrick Lake – Danada Forest Preserve loop and the 8.9-mile (14.3 km) Mount Hoy Summit loop. These routes often connect to the larger Illinois Prairie Path. The Cycling around Blackwell guide provides further details.
Blackwell provides ample opportunities for runners with 66 dedicated trail running trails. These paths offer varied terrain for different running preferences. The Running Trails around Blackwell guide offers more information on available routes.
Blackwell offers family camping with electric sites, fire rings, and picnic tables available on weekends from May through September. Silver Lake provides recreational boating with rentals for canoes, kayaks, rowboats, or paddleboats. A fully fenced off-leash dog area is also available with a permit.
Mount Hoy is a prominent scenic overlook offering panoramic views and is a popular spot for birding. Silver Lake, a former quarry, is a multi-use area for boating and fishing. McKee Marsh features trails and vernal ponds, serving as important amphibian breeding grounds and bird foraging areas.
Blackwell is highly rated by the komoot community, with an average rating of 4.49 out of 5 stars from more than 4,000 ratings. Over 38,000 visitors have explored the region's more than 40 routes.
Yes, Blackwell Forest Preserve features a fully fenced off-leash dog area. A permit is required for use of this facility. Dogs are generally allowed on trails when leashed.
Komoot offers several guides for Blackwell, including MTB Trails around Blackwell, Running Trails around Blackwell, Hiking around Blackwell, and Cycling around Blackwell. There are also guides for easy hikes, gravel biking, and road cycling.
Blackwell Forest Preserve is managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. For inquiries and permit reservations, contact the Visitor Services at 630-933-7248. Additional information can be found on their official website.

