Well laid out. Plenty of parking, great wildlife. Some paved trails and some limestone trails. 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. read more

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

This is a great forest preserve. Miles of marked trails, so much wildlife, river access, and great spaces to picnic. As a woman who always walks alone, I also appreciate the presence of police on bicycles, patrolling the grounds. I always feel safe here I've been here for all seasons and it's always beautiful. A great option to get my 15k steps for the day read more

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve - Ducklings and mama duck - Hiking Near Me

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Always a beautiful place to enjoy a walk especially on a sunny day. There are groomed wide trails lined with trees and well marked. Plenty of parking is available in a paved lot The sound of the rushing water was very soothing. read more

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Convenient, quiet, and clean. I always enjoy walking and hiking through this park. I've never encountered any weird people or felt uncomfortable here. The trails easily loop well over 5 miles with very scenic views. I'm not sure about the wildlife, but most I've seen are birds, chipmunks, and squirrels. DuPage County definitely keeps this park clean and protected. read more

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve - Hiking Near Me

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Beautiful area for walking..running..biking and birding. Gravel and grass trail loops. Canoe and kayak launch. Plenty of parking . Facilities as well. Dogs welcome. read more

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve - Hiking Near Me

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During the Depression, McDowell Grove was a camp for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps work program), and they built things here as part of the New Deal such as the limestone picnic areas when you first drive up. During the war the grove was used as a secret radar school! Now it's used for its its nearly 7 miles of trails, access to the West Branch of the DuPage River, fishing, picknicking, and all the beautiful fall colors. Don't miss out. read more

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Enjoyed the beautiful outdoors by hiking this trail in Naperville! The trails were very easy to find and to stay on your route! They offered a combination of paved, grassy and gravel routes to suite whatever you are in the mood for. My favorite was hiking through the tree- covered path. It was so cool and gave a nice retreat from the hot sun! Would recommend to anyone looking for a casual hike in the area. read more

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve - Beautiful hike on the trail! - Hiking Near Me

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This is a wonderful oasis. You can still hear the traffic on I-88, but that was only a faint reminder that you are near civilization. Don't be afraid to go off the main trail into the game trails! You never know what you will come across! I saw some deer, chipmunks, squirrels, and birds galore! Trails have just been redone. You can dip you feet in the river. Good for biking. Great for families. Or for taking a walk on a lunch break. Free. read more

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve - Hiking Near Me

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NOTHING like a early morning run....Love this place, winter, summer, spring or fall...all the runners or people who are just walking their dogs are always so friendly. In the morning there are police supervision and its cool because they do not bother you. Great place to have a quick run and enjoy the trails...Plus I have not ran into a scary bug yet..but if I did, Im sure my runs would be more effective read more

A terrific place to run!!!! A few different trails to take. It might be a bit smaller than your big ticket forest preserves but it was still plenty of trail. read more

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What a great forest preserve for running! So there are a few great options when you run here. If you park off Raymond Rd. in the main parking lot, you can either go north to Warrenville Rd, or you can also head southward. I did not realize until today that the southbound trail actually hooks up with the Naperville Riverwalk. There are quite a few offshoots to this trail, but to get to the Riverwalk (and make it an 8 mile roundtrip) you head south out of the preserve. When you get to the dam on the DuPage river, follow it around the dam and watch for the buildings on Ogden. If you follow the turns towards the building, you will eventually cross Ogden and then Jefferson to get to the Riverwalk. This is a really nice preserve overall... there were a decent amount of runners out but shade was hard to find. Still, this is a very secluded and picturesque setting. Looking forward to logging many more miles around here. Bonus too for being close to Lifetime Fitness.... always a nice alternative to the treadmill. read more

This is a fantastic trail to run or ride your bike. Wouldn't think you could feel so remote in such a busy area... and wave hello to the folks always fishing at the dam. read more

I'm fortunate enough to live super close to McDowell Forest Preserve. We just checked this place out on Christmas day, and I'm so glad we did! There are multiple trails that you can take when you get into the main entrance. They range from 1 miles to 3.3 miles. There are trails that follow a nice river, and ones that go deeper into the actual forest. Overall, well maintained, open, and doesn't feel crowded. There's a nice picnic area for anyone who wants to bring a grill and have a gathering. There are bins to dispose of coals and hot waste. There are not too many forest preserves that make me really want to continue to visit - I'd rather go to a more remote forest and hike; however, this place is big enough that I feel I will return for some more long walks in the woods. read more

Forest preserve containing scenic areas for running, walking, biking, or just sightseeing. Parking is extensive and the waterways that are contained within the park adds a nice touch to the scenic nature read more

Not a good trail for runners. Nothing is clearly marked and it doesn't loop back to the start of the trail. It's fine for nearby office workers wanting to get an afternoon stroll, but this isn't a runners trail. Nothing pretty about this place. Very basic. Also, saw a drug transaction in the parking lot. So that was neat. read more

Beautiful place, nice open areas for kids, as well as great space to just sit and take in the scenery

Great walking and biking paths and beautiful scenery. There are several paths to choose from, so it doesn't get old. Try it for peace of mind... Nature is the natural healer. read more