Why Runners Are Heading to Lemont for Hill Training & Trail Races
You’ve made the resolution, purchased the gear, and invested hundreds of hours in training for your next big fitness goal. Every runner, whether amateur or pro, knows that running on different types of terrain prepares them best for the challenges ahead. However, search "where to run hills in Chicago," and you'll find the same disappointing answers every time. Cricket Hill, which tops out at maybe 45 feet. Parking garage stairwells. The treadmill incline button. For a metro area with millions of runners, it's a short list.
But travel just about 30 minutes southwest of the Loop, and you’ll find terrain that actually challenges your legs and is perfect for marathon, endurance, and long-distance training. Runners from all over come to hustle in the hills.
Actual Hills, Not Just Bumps
Lemont sits on the Valparaiso Moraine, a glacial ridge that provides significant elevation change, plus historic limestone quarries that now form The Forge Lemont Quarries: Adventure Park.
The hills in Lemont won't remind you of the Appalachians, but they're legitimate. The course of the Quarryman Challenge 5K and 10-mile, the annual May race hosted by Lemont Parks, winds through residential neighborhoods with enough climbing that your quads will have opinions the next morning. Over at The Forge, the trails run through wooded quarry land on single-track with roots, rocks, and short steep pitches. You won't find that kind of variety anywhere else this close to the city.
60+ Miles of Connected Trails
The trail network around Lemont is bigger than most people realize. The I&M Canal Trail, Heritage Quarries Recreation Area, and the Palos system all connect here. Palos, in particular, might be the hilliest trail running you can do in the entire Chicago region. Build routes from a few miles up to 30+ without covering the same ground twice – perfect for solo running or with a small group or team.
Surface variety matters too. Crushed limestone on the canal trails works well for easy long runs. The single-track mountain bike trails at The Forge and in Palos require more focus. If you're training for a race with technical terrain, this is one of the few places nearby where you can actually get that work in.
Races That Use the Terrain
The hills and trails have drawn a solid race calendar throughout the year.
In March, the Muddy Shamrock at The Forge puts on a half-marathon and quarter-marathon through wooded single-track around the quarries. It's one of the few long-distance trail races in the Chicago area. March weather in the Midwest being what it is, expect mud.
May brings the Quarryman Challenge, which has become the go-to hill race for the region. The 5K and 10-mile courses run through Lemont's neighborhoods, and people drive in from all over specifically for this one.
Summer has the Forge Gravel Triathlon if you want to mix it up with a quarry swim, gravel bike, and trail run.
Then in November, the Trail Run Festival offers everything from a 10K up to a 60K on single-track at The Forge. Running an ultra in the Chicago suburbs isn't something you get to do very often.
The full calendar with dates and registration is on our Hustle in the Hills page.
Come Out and Train
You don't need to wait for race day. The trails are open year-round, and plenty of runners from across Chicago make the trip out here for hill workouts.
If you want a guided introduction, the Waterways of Lemont Running Tour is a self-guided 4.2-mile route with six stops covering local history. Good for an easy day when you want to explore.
For serious hill work, head to the Palos trails (right next to Lemont) for 26+ miles of the most elevation you'll find near the city. Or use the I&M Canal Trail for flat, fast crushed limestone when you need a recovery run.
If you're getting ready for a hilly race somewhere else, or you're just tired of the Lakefront Path, the drive out here is worth it.
Downtown Lemont sits at the center of 60+ miles of trails, with year-round races and restaurants waiting at the finish line. Learn more at lemontdowntown.com.