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    Ryerson Woods Forest Preserve

    4.5 (23 reviews)

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    This might be my favorite new North Shore place. So quiet and peaceful and beautiful. It was our first time there and we got a little turned around on the trail, so it was helpful to have the AllTrails app to guide us back to the Visitor's Center. A great spot for a walk, trail run, or, apparently birdwatching, as that's what pretty much everyone else was doing!

    Katie M.

    My friend and I decided to come here on a whim yesterday, as we both wanted to enjoy the beautiful fall weather, but didn't want to fight the traffic off of 60 to get to our favorite hotspot. I LOVED the hiking trail here - absolutely peaceful and I enjoyed the fact that there were no paved paths on the hike, as it truly gave the walk a more of an authentic and organic feel (wear real sneakers, trust me). Just a heads up, though - the welcome center is closed on Mondays and closes at 5pm T-Su, so no potty breaks after 5! Restrooms are clean and overall, the property is very well maintained. Oh, and make sure you don't drink the toilet water ;)

    Riverwoods Rd. just north of Deerfield Rd.
    Jack P.

    Just call me 4-star Freddy . Seems to be my favorite number . But I guess I should be happy I'm finding so many places to be a fan of. This nature/forest preserve/hiking trial is one of the nicer ones I've been to in awhile. I joined friends for a Sunday morning "birthday hike", and I suspect we did a good 2-3 miles on the well-groomed and well-marked trails here. There are also a number of authentic cabins and farm buildings which I understand are used for educational purposes. The other nice thing is while it is a suburban preserve, you really have no sense of being in the suburbs with traffic noise, etc. And the suburban Riverwoods area is already pretty nice from a "woodsy" perspective. The woods, the trails, the dam and the little rest areas are all really rustic and inviting, and quiet. There were very few people there on a Sunday morning. The welcome center has lots of information and staff to help with resources for other Lake County hikes. We learned that, for instance, the Des Plaines River runs 129 miles, and that there is a biking/hiking path on the west side of the river from Lake-Cook Road running for several miles north. Frankly, I never suspected a walk along the Des Plaines River, which follows the peripheral trail, could be so nice. At one point, six or seven deer came flying through the woods about 25 feet ahead of us. It felt like a movie. Hollywood deer! Best of all, it's just a 35-40 minute drive from my area of the city. A close, convenient and beautiful escape.

    Trail
    Roseann M.

    I ventured from the north side of Chicago all the way to Lake County in search of forested trails and cheaper gas. I found the trails. Even for a dazzling urbanite like me, Ryerson Woods is easy to find. Just take Lake Cook Road west to Saunders Road and go north. The entrance is well-marked. Unless you're driving 80 miles per hour on that 35 mph road, you'll have no trouble seeing the turnoff. When I came on a Saturday morning in September, there was plenty of parking in the lot. I parked near the Visitors Center. This is a modern building with flush toilets, always something an old hiker like me appreciates. Water fountains, too. The Visitors Center is closed on Monday. There was a young woman at the desk, and she advised me. I wanted to walk the longest trail, which was a 3-mile loop, and she directed me to the trail head, which was just behind the building. The trails are groomed, not paved. They are also not marked in any way. You can pick up a trail map at the Visitors Center or on-line. That would be helpful if you had the slightest clue where you were on the trails. There are a couple abandoned cabins, and you can orient yourself a bit from there. The trail bobs along the Des Plaines River and back into the woods. There are some short bridges, and some wooden sidewalks over wetlands areas. This is not a trail system for anyone in a wheelchair. While there is no elevation change, making this an easy walk, the trails are woods trails. There are plenty of tree roots and bumps in the ground, so you do need to pay attention to where you are going. The woods and river views are beautiful. For most of the time, you can't hear any traffic noise, and only occasionally does an airplane fly over. It is peaceful here. If you want to "get away from it all" but still get a cellphone signal, this is the place for you. Only twice did I see anyone else on the trails. My only complaint is the lack of any kind of trail markers or signage. You do see the occasional sign about restoration of an area, but that's it. I plunged myself onto the trail, figuring I couldn't get lost. Well, guess what? You can get misdirected here. There are trails not listed on the map. When you come to a Y, you have no idea which way to go. I was beginning to wonder if I was going around in circles. It would be immensely helpful to have some signage, if only "this way to the visitors center." I think I walked a lot more than the 3 miles, if the burning feeling in my quadriceps is any indication. I did recognize a couple landmarks eventually, and, more helpfully, I ran into a family group that were just starting their walk. A woman pointed me in the right direction. Yes, I was having visions of trying to phone the visitors center and saying, I'm lost. Or maybe crossing a road and calling a Lyft. As it was, I did find eventually find my way back, as you can tell since you are still reading my post. Four stars from me. With decent signage, this would definitely be a 5-star review. Ryerson Woods is a beautiful place.

    Debbie S.

    These trails are well maintained and secluded from the busy roads. This is my family's go to local spot for a quick getaway and to connect with nature. During warmer months, there is a small animal farm where you're able to pet and feed smaller farm animals. The trails are especially peaceful in the winter and incredibly beautiful with a dusting of snow!

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    3 years ago

    Trails are very narrow. Lots of bugs. Definitely use bug repellent when going here. It was very beautiful.

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    14 years ago

    This place is beautiful....im sad i never went here before. I did get lost tho i dont know if i would blame it on the trail...haha.

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    Ask the Community - Ryerson Woods Forest Preserve

    Review Highlights - Ryerson Woods Forest Preserve

    Also, being along the Des Plaines River, it's natural wetland, so the trails can get very muddy after a rain, and stay that way for days.

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    Deerfield Historic Village

    Deerfield Historic Village

    4.3(4 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    It's unfortunate that Deerfield Historic Village has such limited hours as the buildings have great…read moredisplays within them with lots of details about the history and a broad timeframe of history covered between them. The Caspar Ott Log House really takes you back to 1837 with an impressive array of items such as a bed, dresser, toys, chairs, table, and other items from the area. This is definitely impressive in the comprehensiveness and presentation, as well as being the oldest standing building in Lake County. Outside of Volo Auto Museum, I'm not sure if I've seen as many antique vehicles and farm equipment as there is in the Carriage House. It's a really great experience to be able to view these magnificent vehicles up close and see all the unique details that went into their construction. I also enjoyed seeing the large selection of historical farming tools. The Sack House has a wonderful assortment of items from the early 1900's, once again really giving me a feel for what life may have looked like back then with an impressive assortment of art, common household items, fully furnished bedrooms, and lots of signs with explanations The Brand Luther House has a nice visitors center with a neat set of displays that show an eclectic mix of history covering everything from music to Sara Lee. The volunteers here were very helpful in explaining some details in different buildings. Finally, the Little Red Schoolhouse is a neat replica of a one-room school house complete with small desks, a stove, old books and map. Though it was built in 1981, the old furnishings and items really give a feeling of stepping back in time. Overall, definitely worth a visit for any history lover. A great free experience with well designed displays.

    The historic village in downtown deerfield is home to various historic cabins which rest on a small…read moreplot of land. The historically society opens the doors to the cabins Sundays during the summer months and pulls out the old wagons and lets you tour the inside of each dwelling. The volunteers are helpful and offer some history for those who inquire. It's not a site I would go out of my way to visit or recommend but a nice piece of history to walk thru if you happen upon it while strolling around deerfield.

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    Deerfield Historic Village
    Deerfield Historic Village
    Deerfield Historic Village

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    Celebrate Highwood

    Celebrate Highwood

    5.0(2 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    Thank you Angela, Charisse and the event organizer, Wendy Gimbel, for a wonderful evening…read more This was a well-organized and well-sponsored event to benefit the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory. The line up of food and drinks from Highwood bars and restaurants, the live music from the MYAC band, the items for the silent auction, and the Casino for this event were all fantastic. The stand out dishes for me were the chicken from Clucker's Charcoal Chicken, the tortellini from Pastificio, and the super yummy Cookie Jar Ice Cream and Chocolate Chip Cookie from Mike's! It's great to be able to attend an amazing event for a good cause. Again, many thanks for this opportunity and experience! Congratulations to all the winners:)

    Celebrate Highwood is the organization that puts together events and festivals to help bring the…read morecommunity together. The events and festivals also help promote the area as a wonderful place to live, eat, work and play. I love all things Highwood. Pumpkin Festival isn't taking place this year due to Covid, but that didn't stop the organization and town from creating Skeleton Invasion! The entire town has been invaded by skeletons everywhere. It's so worth the visit to walk through the town and enjoy or drive through and take it all in. A fantastic and safe activity that's fun for the whole family. I didn't want to ruin all the fun surprises with my photos, but there are some really great skeleton displays you should see. From the mini Wizard of Oz skeleton display at the City Hall lawn, to Billy's auto garage (intentionally not pictured), to 28 Mile Vodka, this event is so worth checking out. Top tip: Be careful if you are driving through town. It's hard to keep your eyes on the road with all the fun displays! LOL!

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    Celebrate Highwood
    Celebrate Highwood
    Celebrate Highwood

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    Ryerson Woods Forest Preserve - hiking - Updated June 2026

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