This is a hidden little gem right near downtown Lake Zurich that many locals don't even seem to…read moreknow about. The entrance is tucked between two residential homes, and it boarders the private LZ Golf Course on another side. Growing up in Lake Zurich I remember learning that the Kuechmann family donated the property to the village and I can remember a house standing on the property when I visited. When the vegetation isn't overgrown in winter, you can still see where the house was further back in the arboretum. More recently, the wonderful Ancient Oaks Foundation has taken over care of the property and have done an outstanding job make this a neat spot to visit. The arboretum walking path is a mulched trail. It's a fairly short little loop, perfect for taking young ones on a manageable walk. I am lucky enough to live close enough that I run through frequently in the morning and I have often seen deer and on one occasion a red tailed fox! The Ancient Oaks Foundation recently installed a wonderful natural play scape for kids. It's a great area to bring kids to enjoy being in nature.

What a little hidden gem!!!! I was in the area and stumbled upon it and am so happy I did! My…read moretoddler had a lot of fun exploring the nature set ups, swing, campfire area and the boat. We will definitely be back!

We looked at this park for accessibility for mobility challenged people. Know before you go! Here…read moreis what we found: - Four handicap accessible parking spots - No handicap accessible restrooms or water fountains - Terrain is wood chips - About 700 feet from main attraction to parking - Two parks to get into park and no play ramps - One handicap accessible swing Nice Park!!!

Such an amazing trail to walk, run, and bike!! I first visited in middle of summer, truly such a…read morebeautiful walking experience that made it so memorable. Everyone walking/running by was friendly!! The environment is so well taken care of, I can tell the community puts a significant effort into up keeping it! It made me want to volunteer as well!! 100% recommend taking a walk here to decompress, get exercise in and/or to run since the trail does provide different paths along with different sets of intervals that can help!

Cuba Marsh is a nice preserve with the marsh its name alludes to, and many other wetlands…read moresupporting many waterfowl and migratory birds. The trails are all crushed rock and easy to navigate whether on a bike or foot. There are no steep grades or climbs here. There are quite a few groves of pine trees throughout the preserve that are just a little too perfectly spaced and lined up to make you think they just grew that way naturally. Pretty though to hike through if the sun is hot and you need some shade. This is a nice local preserve but I do appreciate preserves with more variety - Cuba Marsh is flat and very sunny!! I tend to avoid it on the hotter summer days because I have a very healthy appreciation for shade!! If you want a nice hike or bike ride and love the sun, Cuba Marsh is definitely worth a visit. I prefer this preserve in the Spring, Fall, and cooler days when the temps and humidity don't get very high. If you are a sun-lover, this is the place to be on a hot day!!

A small but complete park located right on Diamond Lake. There are plenty of activities to do such…read moreas fishing, a playground, picnic area, and areas to sit right by the lake and enjoy the view. Parking is convenient right on the edge of the park.

A must visit for wonderful bird watching. Bring binoculars! Parking lot off of northwest highway &…read morehillside ave to see the heron rookery and the Dundee entrance for osprey nest & grass walking trails.

I came here to see the osprey…read more Baker's Lake is west of Route 14. There is an entrance on the north off of Hillside and an entrance on the south off of Dundee. I used the entrance on the south as this is where to post is located with the osprey. This area is literally a road with a few parking spots at the end of it. There are no identifiable paths or walkways. There is a break in the tall grass on the east side of where you can park. This rounds around the right and brings you back directly to where the perch is located. The osprey was there when I visited but he didn't do much. Not sure if it was because it was drizzling, he was tired, or he didn't like my presence. Either way it was still pretty cool. The north end probably has a better view of the lake and the "bird island" that this lake holds. It is a truly phenomenal sight. If you like birds, Baker's lake is home to thousands of water friendly birds.

Beautiful park that offers a little something for everyone! If you're up for a walk there is a nice…read morepath that follows the perimeter of the park, and if you want a further distance the path links up to Cuba Marsh. The playground and treehouse are a lot of fun for kids, and there is also and area with tennis courts. There are flush toilets connected to a space that can be rented out, and there is also a stage for various events. Gorgeous scenery in a well-maintained park.

Lovely grounds for a stroll on a nice day. It's very close to the downtown Barrington area. The…read moresetting is very calm--perfect place to bird-watch, read a book, or just relax.

We looked at this park for accessibility for mobility challenged people. Know before you go! Here…read moreis what we found: - 2 handicap accessible parking spaces and bathrooms - Terrain is rubber composite - Ramps to get into park & play ramps - Handicap accessible water fountains & swing Nice park!

Park is fun for the kids but can get real busy at times. There are multiple baseball and soccer…read morefields here. Bathrooms are never open. They do have a port a potty but not that clean.

Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve offers a nice place for a relaxing 1.9 mile hike. There is an option…read moreto go farther by following the various offshoot paths. Parking is very limited off of Old Hicks Road but there are not many people going onto the path so you should be fine. There is a varied turf combination of paved and gravel. The path is pretty even, smooth, well kept and good for all ages We saw what seemed to be a grasshopper migration (9/21/25). We stopped counting after 25! However we did count 7 furry caterpillars crossing the path. There were many species of prairie willow, berry trees, cat tails and a few wild mushrooms too. Lake County is offering a hiking challenge over the next couple months and it's a fun way to see all that Lake County Forest Preserves has to offer!

The Buffle Creek Forest Preserve is a good place for an easy walk. The day we were there we had no…read moreissue with parking, but it was not crowded. It is mainly an open prairie with low growing plants and few trees. The walking path winds through wide-open restored prairies and some creeks. I can imagine in the summer it get hot since there is very little covering to offer shade.