We had a little extra time on a chilly fall day and decided to check out Lippold Park because the…read moreplayground looked interesting. There is a climbing teepee (at least that's what it looks like), a seesaw, and several play areas not necessarily suitable for toddlers. There's a great little boardwalk area where you can see beavers, ducks, and other wildlife. There's also a bike path running in front i f the park with tons of parking. There's also a nice raised deck area with several picnic tables where you could enjoy a snack or meal and the nice view.

Such a cool park, I didn't even know this park was here. My sister and I decided to take our 6 kids…read morehere (ages 2-12). We hit up the obstacle course first, which all the kids enjoyed. Next we walked over to the pond area where we saw an otter, deer, frogs, turtles, and lots of tadpoles. Just about a 10 minute walk up the trail is red oak nature center, so we did that next. Lippold park has really nice bathroom and facilities. We will be back!

AWESOME park. Hidden little trails for biking that'll mess you up! Very short trail thoughread more

The forest preserve here includes a mixture of forest, at least one wildflower meadow, and a lazy…read moreriver. The Prairie Path bicycle trail runs through it. It also contains what the park announces is "Illinois' most important archaeological site," but it is poorly marked and hard to see once you get there. The meadows are lovely in the summer and there are (not very sweet) black raspberries in the forest, but if you're looking for the mounds, I would recommend looking for a guided tour. The Park District does these occasionally and they are $5-$8. Unlike me you might then actually see the mounds; I walked all around the sign saying "here you are" and all I saw was underbrush. If you're going by yourself, look up the directions (the signs aren't much help) and go early in the season before all the plants get tall and leafy. On the bright side, the meadow full of wildflowers was lovely; I saw a couple of monarchs and some dragonflies; and I got in a good mile walk round trip. (If you're on your bike, please note that you'll have to trek the last bit on foot both to obey park regulations and as a practical matter; the path is quite narrow.)

Good forest preserve...Know what you are getting. It's pretty much a there and back path, unless…read moreyou head off North on the gravel path. That one is more adventurous. If you'd like a big loop, or winding trails, Fitchie Creek is not for you. If you have an 8, 9 or 10 year old that you trust to ride straight and turn back, this is a good path. I can let my 9yo go ahead of me on his bike and turn around to meet me on his way back while I'm still walking. We can continue this until I do a there and back, which I think is a 2ish mile walk, I think. The northern path is gravel, I like the path course, but I hate gravel in my shoes ;-)

Beautiful gem of a preserve near home. A variety of scenery for walkers, cyclists, and horse…read moreriders ranging from prairie, grassland, to woods and wetland. Nice picnic area at the main trailhead. Two and a half miles of trails (one mile paved, the rest crushed limestone). Lovely area.

This narrow path is surrounded by lush trees & is ideal for biking and walking. There are also…read moreseveral picnic spots along the way. Parking is easy to find, & this forest preserve is located between Batavia & North Aurora. The gate is locked at the end of the day.

Beautiful at this time of year because it is full of goldenrod and cup plants. Many American…read moreGoldfinch hanging out. Bike trail along the river is popular for families which is nice to see. Several fishermen but surprised they brought boom boxes to such a lovely nature spot. Nice place for picnics and has bathroom facilities.

The park is impeccably maintained and offers a vast expanse of space, along with ample parking…read more There are numerous activities available besides walking, biking, picnicking. Visitors can enjoy amenities such as a baseball park, pickleball courts, paddle boats, workout machines, beach volleyball, and bocce. The bike path runs alongside the scenic Fox River, providing breathtaking views. Benches are plentiful, inviting visitors to relax and soak in the surroundings. It's the perfect spot to set up a pop-up tent and/ r picnic blanket and fully immerse oneself in nature. Additionally, the park is conveniently located near a variety of restaurants on Main Street in St. Charles.

How no one else has reviewed this beautiful park is beyond me. I have been coming here since I was…read morea teenager because I simply love walking along the fox river as well as walking up to downtown St. Charles to grab a bite to eat. Since the last time I came here they have added so much stuff! I look forward to having a picnic in the park next time I am out in this neck of the woods. St. Charles is and always will be one of my favorite towns out in the suburbs.

The DuPage River Trail runs from Royce Road & Washington to Burr Oak Park along the west branch of…read morethe DuPage River. This flat trail is well maintained and used by bikers, runners, walkers and dog walkers. At a distance of approximately 7 miles in one direction, it is my favorite route to run near my house. The trail connects a few parks. You can stop and eat at picnic tables or use the new canoe launch to paddle down the river. This trail now runs all the way to Waldon Lake in Bolingbrook. This is a great trail - thanks to all those who helped make it happen

Awesome trail. Flat with a mix of shade & sun, paved, and wide enough to accommodate the runners,…read morewalkers, bikers, strollers and dogs that frequent it. I used to always hop on near Bailey and Washington and go south toward Ring Road, but the newer arm of the trail going north under 75th and to downtown Naperville is also great. I'm not sure if it's still considered part of the DuPage River Trail when you cross Washington at Ring Road and go back through Knoch Knolls Park, but either way, it's a convenient connecting trail that traces all the way back to Whalon Lake and makes for a compelling bike ride/long run route. I take advantage of this trail as much as I can when I'm back visiting in Napes.

Easy access from Army Trail Road near the historic Wayne train station with a circle drive parking…read morearea Dunham Forest Preserve is a little utilized gem. So many varieties of native plants that attract a nice variety of birds, bees, dragonflies and butterflies of many kinds. The gravel trail is not a loop so you'll have to backtrack. They are two picnic tables and a relief station. So many flowers are in bloom now but not appreciated from the road so take a hike!