Belleau Woods features woodland, shrub meadows, vernal ponds, and a small stream. It doesn't have parking or designated trails.

Because Belleau Woods is a state-designated land and water reserve, bicycles and horses are not allowed at the preserve, and pets must remain on the unmaintained footpaths.

The McCormicks donated the property to the Illinois National Guard in 1947. In 1965 the land was given to the Forest Preserve District. Additional acquisitions have been made in the intervening years, particularly north of Roosevelt Road.

Big Woods is a 459-acre patchwork of prairie and wetland restorations, woodland, a lake, and a stream adjacent to the Batavia Spur of the Illinois Prairie Path. It doesn't have parking.

You can fish for bluegill and largemouth bass at the 9-acre Poss Lake, but visit our Fishing page  for creel limits and other regulations.

Several regionally rare plants grow here, such as trailing ground pine, pagoda dogwood and purple duckweed. Due to its diversity of habitats, a variety of birds forage and nest here, including state and regionally rare species such as the least bittern, black-billed cuckoo, pied-billed grebe, American coot and field sparrow.

The Forest Preserve District acquired the biggest parcel — 362.17 acres — of Big Woods in 1991. The second largest land acquisition came in 1992 when the District bought an additional 78.66 acres. Between 2000 and 2015, the District acquired an additional 18 acres. Some of the wetland areas in the preserve were mitigated for nearby road and housing developments. 

Black Willow Marsh is a 13-acre natural area operated for stormwater-management purposes by Bloomingdale Township and is jointly owned by DuPage County. It doesn't have trails or parking.

Broadview Slough is an 8-acre natural area operated and jointly owned by Lombard Park District.

Brush Hill is a 51-acre natural area adjacent to Route 83 that provides stormwater detention in its 13 acres of marsh. It doesn't have trails or parking.

Here, an immature forest of native and non-native woody vegetation, prairie remnants and a natural wetland are home to songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and a variety of other wildlife. The forest preserve features shrub meadow, marsh and small pockets of dry prairie. It is home to Illinois rose, goldenrod, false pennyroyal and regionally rare short green milkweed and butternut trees. 

Brush Hill provides habitat for the state-endangered black-crowned night-heron and great egret as well as beavers, American toads, western chorus frogs, and common whitetail dragonflies.

Community Park and its amenities are owned by Carol Stream and are maintained by Carol Stream and the Carol Stream Park District. The Forest Preserve District owns a 16-acre natural area at the park's perimeter.

The 87-acre Des Plaines Riverway  is comprised of wet and wet-mesic bottomland forest, marsh, shrub and tallgrass meadows, vernal ponds and a creek and the Des Plaines Riverway Nature Preserve. It doesn't have trails or parking.

In 2012 the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission gave the entire forest preserve an extra level of protection by designating it a state nature preserve. 

Des Plaines Riverway represents the county's finest example of wet and wet-mesic bottomland forest and supports populations of state-endangered or threatened plants and birds, including marsh speedwell, cerulean warblers, black-crowned night-herons, and black-billed cuckoos. Numerous Illinois species in greatest need of conservation and regionally rare amphibians, birds and native plants have also been found here. 

East Branch Riverway is a 129-acre complex of wetlands surrounding the East Branch DuPage River. It doesn't have trails or parking.

The marshes provide water detention across two miles along Interstate 355 and feature a wide variety of rushes, milkweeds and sedges, and regionally rare species such as pickerel weed and swamp rose mallow.

The forest preserve attracts state-endangered black-crowned night-herons and rare pied-billed grebes, northern rough-winged swallows and common nighthawks. Spotted sandpipers and mallards have been observed nesting here, and beavers, mink, muskrat, bullfrog, common whitetail dragonfly and giant floater mussel are also known to frequent this preserve.

The Forest Preserve District acquired parcels of East Branch Riverway between 1935 and 2005. It was used as wetland mitigation during the construction of Interstate 355 in 1988. Marshes at the forest preserve provide water detention along 2 miles of the interstate.

The 110-acre Egermann Woods is one of the few remaining pre-settlement oak forests in DuPage County. It has a 0.3-mile mowed-turf trail but no parking.

In addition to its oak forests, Egermann Woods has several ephemeral ponds and 15 acres of reforested native trees and plants, making it a valuable habitat for amphibians, birds and other wildlife.

Portions of the preserve were grazed by cattle in the early part of the 20th century, and a homesite sat along Hobson Road. During World War I, nearly all of the walnuts were cut down and sold for the manufacture of gunstocks.

Fearing the majestic oaks found in the woods would be threatened by development in the early 1970s, a neighbor of the woods formed a "Save Egermann Woods" Committee and garnered support from local environmental groups and the media to persuade the Forest Preserve District to purchase the property. In 1974, their efforts succeeded, and the land was protected for future generations. A smaller parcel was added in 2002.

Fischer Woods is a 148-acre patchwork of prairie, meadow, wetland, woodlands, and swamps. It doesn't have parking or designated trails.

It features several rare plants, including maidenhair fern, winterberry, and dozens of sedges. It also features Fischer Farm, one of the county's oldest remaining homesteads where the Bensenville Park District hosts programs and events.

A 100-year-old wet upland forest with calm, ponded areas offers chance sightings of elusive white-tailed deer, coyotes, and minks and provides an abundance of fall colors courtesy of mature maples, elms, red and white oaks, and basswoods. 

Because of these diverse habitats, the forest preserve hosts a variety of birds, including long-eared owls, common nighthawks, common gallinules, Wilson’s snipes, and other state and regionally rare species. Ecologists have also recorded southern flying squirrels, muskrats, red foxes, masked shrews, red-bellied snakes, and over 100 types of butterflies, moths, and dragonflies.

The 67-acre Fox Hollow is primarily meadows, upland forests, wetlands, and a pond. It doesn't have trails or parking.

Fox Hollow is home to several types of birds, including state-endangered osprey and black-crowned night-herons. Several nest at the forest preserve, too, such as great blue herons, great horned owls and brown thrashers. Ecologists have recorded green frogs, beavers, coyotes, garter snakes and midland painted turtles here as well.

In presettlement times, this area was swampy and dry prairie. Most of the area was under cultivation after settlement, bisected by a large wetland area and a farmstead.

Land purchases began in the late 1980s, when the forest preserve was named Darien-Chestnut, and continued through 2010. It was renamed Fox Hollow in the late 1990s.

The 6.29-acre Glen Oak features woods and a small prairie. It doesn't have trails or parking.

Glen Oak contains restored prairies, reforested areas and floodplains and a variety of native sedges, rushes and knotweeds. It's home to several types of birds, including breeding great blue herons, American goldfinches, and killdeer, and ecologists have spotted brown thrashers, sora rails, and other rare birds here as well.

In presettlement times, this small preserve was a prairie. The Forest Preserve District acquired most of the forest preserve in the mid-1980s and used a building at the site as its headquarters at one time.

The 31-acre Hickory Grove is an undeveloped natural area. It doesn't have trails or parking.

Formerly part of the Seven Bridge Golf Club, this diverse and variable oak woodland hosts a small ephemeral stream and is rich in the number of plant species that thrive here. Hickory Grove is a variable oak woodland with a small ephemeral stream that hosts a rich diversity of native plant and animals, including Cooper’s hawks, great horned owls, red-headed woodpeckers, tufted titmice, wood thrushes and tiger swallowtail butterflies.

In presettlement times, Hickory Grove was wooded. The Woodridge Golf Course ran a fairway through the middle and east side of today's preserve from some time before 1939 until 1988, when the Forest Preserve District purchased the property.

Hitchcock Woods is a 18.5-acre natural area operated and jointly owned by the Lisle Park District.

The 501-acre James "Pate" Philip State Park is owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and is managed by the Forest Preserve District. The nature center is operated by the Bartlett Park District. 

The state designated 31 acres as the Dwarf Bur-Reed Marsh Land and Water Reserve, providing an extra level of protection. You can walk, jog, bike, or cross-country ski on most trails at the park, but bicycles and pets must stay on the trail that circles the reserve. 

Philip State Park features remnant tallgrass prairie and wetlands that are home to white-tailed deer, beavers, yellow-headed blackbirds, common snapping turtles, and sandhill cranes. Visitors can enjoy watching waterfowl, warblers, beavers, and other wildlife at the Brewster Creek bridge.

Lincoln Marsh is a 111-acre natural area operated and jointly owned by the Wheaton Park District.

The 138-acre Lyman Woods is operated and jointly owned by Downers Grove Park District, which also operates the site's William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center.

Medinah Wetlands is a 61-acre area with wetlands and upland forests. It has a 0.1-mile footpath but no parking.

The preserve is home to a variety of birds, including great blue herons, Baltimore orioles, barn and tree swallows, killdeer, and willow flycatchers. Beaver are among the other wildlife at the preserve.

In pre-settlement times, the preserve was made up of wet and dry prairie. After settlement, the land was cultivated and drainage ditches were dug to divert water from the fields.

Night Heron Marsh s a 137-acre undeveloped site featuring prairie restorations, wetland, upland forest, and agricultural fields. It doesn't have trails or parking.

True to its name, this forest preserve is home to the state-endangered black-crown night-heron, but it also provides habitat for state-listed American and least bitterns, common gallinules, and osprey as well grassland and marshland birds, northern leopard frogs, beavers, red foxes, least weasels, midland painted turtles, and fox snakes.

In summer 2017, the Forest Preserve District began creating and improving 87 acres of habitat at Night Heron Marsh for monarch butterflies and other insect pollinators as part of the collaborative Fox Valley Monarch Corridor Project. 

In presettlement times, the preserve was made up of wet and dry prairie. After settlement, the land was cultivated and drainage ditches were dug to divert water from the fields.

Oak Grove is a 3.5-acre natural area containing oak and hickory trees. It's maintained and jointly owned by the Burr Ridge Park District.

This 18-acre natural areas is part of the greater 42-acre Red Hawk Park, which is operated by the Carol Stream Park District.

The 50-acre Salt Creek Greenway is a collection of separate parcels along 1.4 miles of Salt Creek that contains marshes, meadows, re-created prairies and wetlands, and a forest. The Elmhurst Park District operates more than 75% of the land. 

If you're paddling on Salt Creek, you can exit the water at the landing at Hunter Road, but you cannot put in there. 

Belted kingfishers, chimney swifts, northern rough-winged swallows, red-headed woodpeckers, spotted sandpipers and several other types of birds rely on the area for habitat as do beavers, coyotes, masked shrews, red foxes and spiny softshell turtles.

The Forest Preserve District purchased most of the preserve in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The 153-acre Salt Creek Marsh is a collection of disjointed parcels along 1.3 miles of Salt Creek.  It doesn't have trails or parking.

More than 245 different kinds of native plants grow at Salt Creek Marsh, which contains marshes, meadows, re-created prairies and wetlands, and a bottomland forest. State-endangered Wilson’s phalaropes, black-crowned night-herons, common gallinules, ospreys and several other types of birds rely on its wetlands for habitat as do American toads, beavers, coyotes, meadow voles and plains garter snakes.

The 115-acre Swift Prairie is an undeveloped natural area. It doesn't have trails or parking.

The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission gave the forest preserve an extra level of protection by designating it as the Swift Prairie Nature Preserve.

Its wetlands, ponds, and a rich remnant prairie complex support some rare marsh and prairie vegetation and is home to a variety of wildlife. Its mosaic of marshes, wet prairie, meadow, re-created prairie, immature upland forest, ponds, and creek are home to rare plants including cream wild indigo, prairie thistle, and Illinois sensitive plant.

Dozens of rare birds forage at the preserve, including the state-endangered American bittern, the black-crowned night heron, the state-threatened least bittern. Many breed here as well. Other wildlife species found here include the northern leopard frog, green frog, white-footed mouse, masked shrew, garter snake, midland brown snake, and midland painted turtle. Additionally, ecologists have identified over 60 types of butterflies, moths, dragonflies and damselflies at the preserve, including the great spangled fritillary, hummingbird clearwing moth, meadowhawk dragonfly, and bluet damselfly.

In presettlement times, this preserve was prairie. Marsh areas survived after settlement, but much of the surrounding prairie had been converted to farmland. A home site sat where a second-growth forest is now found along Army Trail Road. The creek was very likely channelized along the southern end of its path through the preserve.

Wayne Grove is a 164-acre area featuring prairies, wetlands, and woodlands. It doesn't have trails or parking.

The preserve contains a high-quality oak woodland with diverse ground vegetation, ponds, wetlands, and meadows.

In presettlement times, the preserve was made up of scattering timber, with a small prairie and marsh pocket to the north. After settlement, some of the land was under cultivation, but much of the woodland survived.

West Branch Riverway is a 57-acre natural area jointly owned by Naperville Park District. It doesn't have trails or parking.