Loved that there was next to a bicycle trail, you could see people passing by…read more We saw two deers, ducks and lots of birds and squirrels.

I like the trail along the river here where I have spotted many land and shore birds. It's quiet…read moreand shady so it's a good spot on a hot day. That being said, it can be muddy so be prepared. Also wear bug repellent and watch out for fallen limbs across the trail. At least those keep the bikers off the path.

So beautiful! Feel like it's been AI, it's paradise. Great experience, what a sanctuary.read more

A wonderful and peaceful place to be if you want to get away from the bustle but not drive too far…read moreout of town. A must if you love great scenery and wide open spaces. Has about 5 miles of trails and recently they have added on off leash area for dogs, with plenty of room to run and play. The park itself is not as big as other forest preserves, but still big enough to be secluded and peaceful. The winding trails take you through heavily wooded areas and prarie areas... I come hear a lot to explore with my dog and go on walks with my fiance. Its nice!

Bluff Spring Fen is probably one of the most unique natural areas in the Chicago region. Bluff…read moreSpring Fen is a spring whose water is a year-round 50 some degrees so the spring never freezes. It also supports unique plant and animal communities that need the alkaline-rich soil and water to survive. To get to the entrance you have to enter and park in the Bluff City Cemetery and drive to the rear section for parking and access to the preserve. The cemetery closes at different times during the year so pay attention to the signs! (For cemetery buffs, Bluff City is spectacular - rolling hills of mature oak among the headstones and memorials...) Bluff Spring Fen is located on gravel hills that were left behind when the Wisconsin Glacier retreated around 20,000 years ago. Gravel is a soil type, and I've climbed a large hill full of purple cone flowers and realized I was standing on a bed of gravel!! That's pretty cool in my nerdy book!! This preserve is also adjacent to a gravel mine and I'm told the preserve almost became a gravel mine until it was saved and turned into a preserve. There is also a group of FPCC volunteers who have been working here for many years. There are many single track hiking trails here. I don't believe bikes are allowed and this is a good thing - the trails are narrow and go through tall grasses and flowers - not an ideal biking area. Come and see Bluff Spring Fen in person and enjoy this very unique natural Cook County area.

Beautiful, hidden away nature preserve!read more

Explore this beautiful forest preserve, perfect for picnics, capturing stunning fall photos,…read moreenjoying outdoor casual sports with family & friends & leisurely strolls. The park offers expansive vistas, rolling hills & scenic trails for walking, running & cycling. Don't miss the breathtaking sunset views! It's an ideal place to immerse yourself in nature, esp during the colorful autumn season! Parking is never a problem here, but there are no porta-johns. A few picnic tables are spread around the area, but most bring their picnic blankets and enjoy the grass & scenery!

When it's a lovely day for a picnic and boating with family, Blackwell Forest Preserve is a really…read moregood destination. There's even a campground for overnight camping (with reservation). This Summer, when we drove over to the boat launch area to set up a picnic for our kids & grandkids after their boating, I noticed a volleyball net and families playing. Such a delightful place that is well maintained and equipped to help friends and families make happy memories. The property is vast for a "way-out-there" feel, as opposed to nearby Herrick Lake which has the outdoor party ambiance.

Hidden gem in LITH!! Peaceful, lovely scenic trails. It's a beautiful walk. The pavilion is great…read morefor a packed lunch or hanging out with a good book.

This place is a true hidden gem. You would never know it existed if not for stopping in and taking…read morea walk down a trail. The kids and I love to take in a trail and go amateur bird watching. My son loves fishing and he's participated in a few fishing derbies here as well as caught a few on a couple of quick trips out. The little ponds have all sorts of fish, but we've only really seen the bluegill and the sunfish. The trails on the west side entrance are grassy paths with various states of brush and shrub. There are even some stone formations for sitting or for the kids to play on. I've seen people jog and walk their dogs at safe distances, though now and again some inconsiderate patrons leave animal waste on the trails. I haven't been on the east side trails in a while, but from what I remember, they are more hilly. If you are in the area, you have to stop by... it's a natural wonder!

Great trails to do a 5k today for hike for Health. We were able to stay on paved trails for the…read moremost part which limited the amount of mud we had to wade through and the gorgeous weather certainly helped create an enjoyable event.

This green space is only twenty minutes from my home, but never knew it was there. A friend thought…read moreI should check it out and Leroy Oakes did not disappoint. In early May the Forest Preserve was crowded on a weekday, people getting out during the Covid19 crisis I imagine. There's a nature center, miles of trails, a historic home museum and a one room schoolhouse. At the height of the coronavirus all of the buildings were closed, but these should definitely be worth a revisit.

Well laid out. Plenty of parking, great wildlife. Some paved trails and some limestone trails…read more Occasional Porta Johns( they could use more) this is a great place to walk, bike, hike. They also have several shelters to picnic. I like to go meet Family here and catch up. For the most part , people you pass are friendly.

Apparently my old review disappeared. I love McDowell for a nice walk. It's nice in any season…read more Plenty of parking. Only one porta pottie at entrance. Suprisingly, it's usually kept decently clean.

We came here for the Autumn Fair (September 20, 2025). It was a free event with a lot of fun…read moreactivities: hay rides, kids games, pumpkin painting, demonstrations. They also had other activities for a small cost: pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house. We also purchased food and participated in the gift basket raffle. We were there for at least 3 hours. The park is great for kids older than 4. There's also a water area that is fun for both older and younger kids. The butterfly house was also a hit. Many butterflies landed on us while we were in there. Overall a great place to visit, definitely stop by as well when an event is going on for extra activities.

Star gazing at Peck Farm Park was so interesting. Saw Jupiter and four of its moons. The moon was…read morealso spectacular! The astronomy club has outreached on Saturday of every month, weather permitting. Great experience.

We looved the plenty of parking, shaded walk to the cave, and playing near the lake…read more We didn't get to see the animals so will have to come back! There are a lot of bikers in the pathway to the cave so I highly recommend holding your kids hands and staying to one lane because we almost had an incident. The cave is small but definitely something unique. The lake is dirty but cool that you can be so close to both! Would definitely come back here and explore more.

Recently came here to enjoy a walk with my wife. We are happy to see that there is plenty of…read moreparking here. I enjoy that there is a main trail and there are Spurs that create their own small Trail as well. This place has plenty of Scenic views to observe. Please be cautious that there are many bikers along the main trail, I do feel like there are not enough public restrooms so you may have to walk all the way down to the south side of the trail to find a porta potty but thankfully they were brand new and squeaky clean. Plenty of people can be observed kayaking, and just having fun Outdoors. I personally enjoyed coming here and having fun on a fully paved path. Solid recommendation!

Great park located around Yorkville with a few big lakes. It has lots of hiking trails. Silver…read moreSprings State Park gets its name from the pool of bubbling water. Of course, there's tons of other things to see around it. The popular activities include boating, fishing, and picnicking. Bigger park with a lot of history. It's an area that was purchased by the state in 1969 and turned into a park. The park was originally 1,250 acres, and added a prairie restoration project in 1980 among expansions since. Kind of what the land was like before settlers took it. There's a path that goes through it where visitors can check out animals, grass, and wildflowers. A few man made lakes are highlights. Loon Lake is the biggest one, popular for fishing or getting photos. A refreshment stand is located by it. The spring is the biggest attraction of the park though. Amazingly the water in it never freezes. There's amazing plantlife around it including watercress. Also fun when it's colder. There's a toboggan hill that's fairly steep. Among the kinds of trails are equestrian. There's also plenty for basic hiking. Has lots to look at here for hours and you can even stay overnight by camping. It's got an area that's available for youth groups. This area is only reachable through backpacking so it's far away from loud noises or vehicles.

Serene lake with a good 2-mile hike along lake, river, woods amd some prairie. It was a quiet…read moremid-day walk one snowy day... until I pass by a group of kids screaming and sledding along a slope, how fun :)