Get your Walking In! DuPage County Forest Preserve Overview

My family enjoys making the most of any opportunity to spend time outside enjoying the weather and getting some exercise. We particularly enjoy taking advantage of what our wonderful country offers in terms of state and national parks which are abundant in our land of plenty. There are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy local forest preserves and parks and the Illinois county I live in, DuPage County, is particularly blessed in this regard. That's the focus of this post.

Please read on below as I provide a general overview of what you can find at some of my favorite parks and nature areas in DuPage County.

Seven Gables Park

• Seven Gables Park is a 66.5-acre recreational facility located at 1750 S Naperville Rd in Wheaton, Illinois. The park offers a variety of amenities, including sports fields, tennis courts and playgrounds. I particularly enjoy the 2 plus mile loop path which winds around the tennis courts and takes you to the other side of this expansive park. With ponds on the inside and homes on the outside, it's a pleasant stroll through your typical park (with sports fields and playgrounds), but also includes this impressive walking path which borders a neighborhood with a whole bunch of green all around.

  
  

Morton Arboretum

• Morton Arboretum isn't part of the forest preserve system and requires a fee to enter. However, I included it because its such a special place. This 1700 acre Arboretum is a top nature spot in the state of Illinois with 16 miles of hiking trails and 9 miles of paved roads to drive or bike on. It offers impressive diversity in its tree and plant collections and gardens and incorporates art installations throughout. Its great for families, hosts numerous events and has a children's garden and restaurant.

  
  

Hidden Lake

• If you want to get just a taste of Morton Arboretum for free, try Hidden Lake. Its right next door with a fence separating Hidden Lake from the Arboretum.

• You can boat, fish, picnic, hike, jog and walk in this 390 acre preserve in Downers Grove. With a 1.9 mile loop trail broken into 2 very different sections, this is one of my favorite places to get a nice 2 to 4 mile walk in. There's nature (including many impressive birds and turtles) all around and what makes this place special is the variance between the two different areas of the preserve. The less secluded .9 mile Round Lake Meadow Trail encompasses the portion of the reserve with all the amenities (bathrooms, picnic tables, parking) and borders Butterfield Road. On the other hand, Hidden Lake also offers the very secluded fishing and silence friendly 1 mile Eagle Lake Trail which you need to walk across a bridge to access. It's like there are 2 different parks (one busy and one secluded) in the same preserve.

  
  

Fullersburg Woods

• With 6 miles of trails that meander in different directions (and then intersect at points) in this 220 acre forest preserve in Oak Brook, this is a great spot to walk in any season. With Salt Creek running through the preserve, this is a scenic place to walk and is full of wildlife. This includes many tame deer (they love this place) in addition to beavers and many birds, including egrets and herons. I enjoy coming here in any season and taking in the 2.5 mile Fullersburg and Graue Mill loop and Riverbend and Night Heron trails.

  
  

Four Seasons Park

• A true gem of a park in Lombard. This is essentially my backyard, its so close to our townhome community. The have areas to fish, sports fields, pickleball courts, a sledding hill, playgrounds and a nice 1 mile paved path. This path was recently extended and it encircles a beautiful pond which is stocked by the village and is frequented by those looking to fish or make use of the many nearby picnic tables for a picturesque Iunch or dinner.

  
  

Herrick Lake

• Herrick Lake Forest Preserve is an 885-acre nature sanctuary located near Wheaton, Illinois, offering diverse hiking opportunities. The preserve features approximately 7 miles of mostly crushed limestone trails that form a multi-circular design, allowing hikers to easily adjust their route length.

• The main Lake Trail circles the 22 acre Herrick Lake which offers canoe rental options and is a terrific place to explore. The trails connect with St. James Farm, the Prairie Path and the Danada-Herrick Regional Trail.

  
  

Danada

• The 797-acre Danada Forest Preserve features prairies, woods and wetlands. Its scenic rolling terrain offers trails, fishing, and picnicking areas.

• Nearly 3 miles of the nationally designated Danada-Herrick Regional Trail wind through its prairie, woodland, and marsh habitats, providing a scenic place to walk, bike, jog and enjoy nature.

  
  

St James Farm

• St. James Farm, located in Warrenville, Illinois, is a 595-acre forest preserve managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

• This is a place with enough space for the horses to run, as they do on this farm. It also has plenty of space for walkers and joggers to appreciate the beauty and the wide open space. You could easily toss a blanket wherever you feel comfortable and enjoy a picnic or read a book in between your walks.