Deer Run Forest Preserve — Attraction in Cherry Valley Township

The trail is listed as the Epenschied park trail, but the trailhead is in Deer Run.

There are a number of trails, each color coded but I was unable to locate a map at the park or online with any explanation of the trails or colors.

The, "main" trail (as listed on the All Trails app) is a loop. About 1/2 wooded that follows a stream while the other 1/2 is field/Prarie. The trail has a few gentle inclines and declines but doesn't vary more than about 50 elevation in total. Trails are wide and well kept, wide enough for horses riding side-by-side.

A single pit toilet is well maintained at the loop trail parking lot.

I wouldn't make a long drive to use this trail, but for locals who can ride the trail or hike, it's a quiet diversion for a...

Another great local preserve. Great place to take your Labrador or any dog that needs a serious walk to wear them out. Many times I have gone and didn't see anyone else there, other times just a few other dog walkers. Great place to hike and enjoy the changing seasons. The bird variety is amazing (cranes, indigo bunting, eastern bluebird, even a gryfalcon passing through this winter) but haven't seen any deer or mammals yet. Plenty of deer and raccoon tracks, especially along the trails in the wooded northern part. Like Lance asked, please take out your trash! The only improvement I would suggest are more benches or even picnic tables along trails, there just a few in between...

It's sad that they don't do what the title of their government department is. Preserve forests. Instead they cut them down, plant weeds and then spend our tax dollars burning the weeds. Not to mention they murder all the deer in the preserve at our expense. They pay their employees to go deer hunting, until they have killed every last deer in the preserve, instead of making money to save us taxes by selling hunting permits to the public. Very very sad sad state of affairs in the winnebago forest...